2021 NWSL Draft

The 2021 NWSL Draft was the ninth annual meeting of National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) franchises to select eligible college players. It was held on January 13, 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the first NWSL Draft to be held virtually via videoconferencing and web streaming.

2021 NWSL Draft
General information
SportSoccer
Date(s)January 13, 2021
Time7:00 PM ET
Network(s)Twitch
Overview
40 total selections in 4 rounds
LeagueNational Women's Soccer League
First selectionEmily Fox,
Racing Louisville FC
Most selectionsKansas City NWSL and Racing Louisville FC (6 picks)
Fewest selectionsOL Reign (1 pick)

Format

COVID-19 pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NWSL made the following changes to the draft regulations that apply only to the 2021 NWSL Draft:

  • Due to the disruption of college soccer and resulting NCAA D-I spring season in 2021, the NWSL applied for and received a waiver from the NCAA so that D-I players who are drafted could choose to report immediately for the 2021 NWSL season and forfeit their remaining collegiate eligibility, or remain with their collegiate teams until the conclusion of the NCAA D-I spring season in May 2021.[4]
  • The NWSL waived registration requirements so that all D-I players who had exhausted three years of collegiate soccer eligibility prior to the 2020–21 academic year were automatically eligible to be drafted.[5]
  • The NWSL playing rights of drafted players will be held until the start of the 2022 preseason rather than the end of the 2021 season as was the case previously.[6]

Results

Key
+ Denotes player who has been selected as NWSL Most Valuable Player
* Denotes player who has been selected for an NWSL Best XI or NWSL Second XI team
^ Denotes player who has been selected as NWSL Rookie of the Year
# Denotes player who has never appeared in a competitive NWSL game (regular season, playoff, or Challenge Cup)

Picks
Round Pick Nat. Player Pos. NWSL team Notes College
Round 1 1 United StatesEmily Fox *DRacing Louisville FCNorth Carolina
2 United StatesTrinity Rodman *^FWashington Spirit[R1 trade 1]Washington State
3 United StatesBrianna PintoMSky Blue FCNorth Carolina
4 United StatesKiki PickettDKansas City NWSL[R1 trade 2]Stanford
5 United StatesEmina EkicMRacing Louisville FC[R1 trade 3]Louisville
6 United StatesYazmeen RyanMPortland Thorns FC[R1 trade 4]TCU
7 United StatesMadison Haley #FChicago Red Stars[R1 trade 5]Stanford
8 United StatesTara McKeownFWashington Spirit[R1 trade 6]USC
9 United StatesViviana VillacortaMOrlando Pride[R1 trade 7]UCLA
10 CanadaDeanne Rose #FNorth Carolina CourageFlorida
Round 2 11 United StatesTaylor OttoMRacing Louisville FCNorth Carolina
12 United StatesSam Coffey*MPortland Thorns FCPenn State
13 United StatesKirsten DavisFRacing Louisville FC[R2 trade 1]Texas Tech
14 United StatesMikayla ColohanMOrlando PrideBYU
15 CanadaVictoria PickettMKansas City NWSL[R2 trade 2]Wisconsin
16 EnglandLucy Parker #DKansas City NWSLUCLA
17 United StatesAddie McCainMKansas City NWSL[R2 trade 3]Texas A&M
18 United StatesKelsey TurnbowFChicago Red Stars[R2 trade 4]Santa Clara
19 United StatesAnna HeilfertyFWashington SpiritBoston University
20 United StatesAlyssa MalonsonDNorth Carolina CourageAuburn
Round 3 21 United StatesParker GoinsFRacing Louisville FCArkansas
22 United StatesAmirah AliFPortland Thorns FCRutgers
23 United StatesTaryn TorresMSky Blue FCVirginia
24 United StatesKerry AbelloDOrlando PridePenn State
25 United StatesBrianna Alger #DChicago Red StarsWashington State
26 United StatesJoelle AndersonMHouston Dash[R3 trade 1]Pepperdine
27 United StatesMakamae Gomera-StevensFHouston DashWashington State
28 MexicoJimena LópezDOL ReignTexas A&M
29 JamaicaSydney Schneider #GWashington SpiritUNC Wilmington
30 United StatesMyra Konte #DNorth Carolina CourageVanderbilt
Round 4 31 United StatesEmily Smith #DRacing Louisville FCCalifornia
32 United StatesChanning FosterFChicago Red Stars[R4 trade 1]Ole Miss
33 United StatesDelanie SheehanDSky Blue FCUCLA
34 United StatesKaylie CollinsGOrlando PrideUSC
35 United StatesAlissa Gorzak #FChicago Red StarsVirginia
36 United StatesAlex LoeraMKansas City NWSLSanta Clara
37 United StatesHannah BetfortDPortland Thorns FC[R4 trade 2]Wake Forest
38 United StatesBrookelynn Entz #MKansas City NWSL[R4 trade 3]Kansas State
39 VenezuelaMariana SpeckmaierFWashington SpiritClemson
40 United StatesTess BoadeFSky Blue FC[R4 trade 4]Duke

Notable undrafted players

Below is a list of undrafted rookies who appeared in a competitive NWSL game in 2021.

Nat. Player Pos. Original NWSL team College Notes
United StatesAmber MarshallMHouston DashUtah State
United StatesParker RobertsMOrlando PrideFlorida
MexicoKarina RodríguezDWashington SpiritUCLA

Trades

Round 1:

  1. Portland Thorns FC → Sky Blue FC → Washington Spirit. Washington Spirit received a first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft as well as the No. 4, No. 13 and No. 17 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft from Sky Blue FC in exchange for Mallory Pugh.[7] Sky Blue FC had acquired Portland Thorns FC's natural first-round pick from in exchange for Raquel Rodríguez.[8]
  2. Orlando Pride → Chicago Red Stars → Sky Blue FC → Kansas City NWSL. Kansas City NWSL acquired the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft from Sky Blue FC in exchange for $175,000 in allocation money.[9] Sky Blue FC had acquired the No. 4 and No. 8 picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft, a conditional first round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, and an international slot for 2021 and 2022 from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for Mallory Pugh and Sarah Woldmoe.[10] Chicago Red Stars had previously acquired the natural first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, the No. 19 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, Rachel Hill and $50,000 of allocation money from Orlando Pride in exchange for the No. 3 and No. 26 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[11]
  3. Chicago Red Stars → Racing Louisville FC. Racing Louisville FC acquired the natural first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft as well as forwards Yuki Nagasato and Savannah McCaskill, and an international roster spot for both the 2021 and 2022 seasons from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for full roster protection in the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft.[12]
  4. Utah Royals FC → Chicago Red Stars → Portland Thorns FC. Portland Thorns FC acquired the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for the No. 7 and No. 32 picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft and an international slot in 2021.[13] Chicago Red Stars had acquired the natural first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft as well as the No. 4 and No. 13 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and two first-round picks (No. 1 and No. 7) in the 2019 NWSL College Draft from Utah Royals FC in exchange for the rights to Christen Press and Samantha Johnson.[14]
  5. Houston Dash → Portland Thorns FC → Chicago Red Stars. Chicago Red Stars acquired the No. 7 and No. 32 picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft and an international slot in 2021 from Portland Thorns FC in exchange for the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft.[13] Portland Thorns FC acquired the 7th and 37th picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft from Houston Dash in exchange for Emily Ogle and Gabby Seiler.[15]
  6. OL Reign → Chicago Red Stars → Sky Blue FC → Washington Spirit. Washington Spirit acquired the No. 8 pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft from Sky Blue FC in exchange for $100,000 in allocation money and Washington's natural second-round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft.[16] Sky Blue FC had acquired the No. 4 and No. 8 picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft, a conditional first round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, and an international slot for 2021 and 2022 from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for Mallory Pugh and Sarah Woldmoe.[10] Chicago Red Stars had previously acquired the natural first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft and natural third-round pick (No. 24) in the 2020 NWSL College Draft from OL Reign in exchange for a first-round pick (No. 9) in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[17]
  7. Washington Spirit → Orlando Pride. Orlando Pride acquired the 9th pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, a first-round pick in either the 2022 or 2023 NWSL Draft (TBD), $140,000 in allocation money and Meggie Dougherty Howard from Washington Spirit in exchange for Emily Sonnett.[18]

Round 2:

  1. Sky Blue → Racing Louisville FC. Racing Louisville FC acquired the No. 13 pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft and $35,000 in allocation money from Sky Blue FC in exchange for Jennifer Cudjoe.[19]
  2. Chicago Red Stars → Utah Royals FC. Utah Royals FC acquired the natural second-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for Makenzy Doniak.[20]
  3. Houston Dash → Utah Royals FC. Utah Royals FC acquired the natural second-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft and natural second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft from Houston Dash in exchange for Utah Royals FC's third-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and Katie Stengel.[21]
  4. OL Reign → Orlando Pride → Chicago Red Stars. Chicago Red Stars acquired the lowest second-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft held by Orlando Pride under the terms of a June 21, 2020 trade. Orlando Pride had acquired the natural second-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft from OL Reign in exchange for Dani Weatherholt.[22]

Round 3:

  1. Utah Royals FC → Houston Dash. Houston Dash acquired a third-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft from Utah Royals FC in exchange for the rights to Aminata Diallo.[23]

Round 4:

  1. Portland Thorns FC → Chicago Red Stars. Chicago Red Stars acquired the No. 7 and No. 32 picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft and an international slot in 2021 from Portland Thorns FC in exchange for the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft.[13]
  2. Houston Dash → Portland Thorns FC. Portland Thorns FC acquired the 7th and 37th picks in the 2021 NWSL Draft from Houston Dash in exchange for Emily Ogle and Gabby Seiler.[15]
  3. OL Reign → Kansas City NWSL. Kansas City NWSL acquired the 38th pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, Darian Jenkins, and the rights to Meg Brandt from OL Reign in exchange for Tziarra King and a second-round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft.[24]
  4. North Carolina Courage → Sky Blue FC. Sky Blue FC acquired a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft and McCall Zerboni from North Carolina Courage in exchange for the rights to Hailie Mace.[25]

Summary

In 2021, a total of 28 colleges had players selected. Of these, five had a player drafted to the NWSL for the first time: Boston University, Kansas State, Louisville, UNC Wilmington, and Vanderbilt.

Schools with multiple draft selections
Selections Schools
3North Carolina, UCLA, Washington State
2Penn State, Santa Clara, Stanford, Texas A&M, USC, Virginia

Selections by college athletic conference
Conference Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Total
ACC 3114 9
Big Ten 0220 4
Big 12 1101 3
Colonial 0010 1
Pac-12 5123 11
Patriot League 0100 1
SEC 1231 7
West Coast 0211 4

Selections by position
Position Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Total
Goalkeeper 0011 2
Defender 2243 11
Midfielder 4522 13
Forward 4334 14

See also

References
  1. "NWSL Opens Player Registration and Announces Current Selection Order for the Renamed 2021 NWSL Draft". NWSL. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  2. "Kansas City Returns to the NWSL as Expansion Team in 2021". NWSL. December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  3. "NWSL Announces List of Players Registered for the 2021 NWSL Draft". www.nwslsoccer.com.
  4. "Player Registration Guidelines" (PDF). NWSL. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  5. "NWSL eliminates draft registration requirement, expands eligible athlete pool". NWSL. January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  6. Hamlin, Steve (January 11, 2021). "2021 NWSL Draft Preview: All you need to know before the first pick". NWSL. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  7. "Sky Blue FC Acquires Mallory Pugh from the Washington Spirit". www.skybluefc.com. January 16, 2020. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  8. "Sky Blue FC Acquires Margaret "Midge" Purce from Portland Thorns FC". Sky Blue FC. January 8, 2020. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  9. "No. 4 draft pick trade". Sky Blue FC twitter. January 13, 2021.
  10. "Chicago Acquires Mallory Pugh and Sarah Killion Woldmoe from Sky Blue FC". Chicago Red Stars. December 29, 2020. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  11. "Chicago Acquires Rachel Hill, Drafts Five in 2020 NWSL College Draft". www.chicagoredstars.com. January 16, 2020. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  12. "Racing Louisville FC Adds Franchise's First Roster Addition in Trade with Chicago". www.nwslsoccer.com. October 26, 2020.
  13. "No. 6 draft pick trade". Chicago Red Stars twitter. January 13, 2021.
  14. "Chicago Acquires Brooke Elby and Six NWSL College Draft Picks". Chicago Red Stars. June 18, 2018. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  15. "Thorns FC acquire seventh, 37th picks in 2021 NWSL Draft from Houston Dash". www.timbers.com. December 16, 2020. Archived from the original on December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  16. "Washington Spirit Acquire Eighth Pick In 2021 NWSL Draft". www.washingtonspirit.com. January 13, 2021.
  17. "Reign FC Acquires First Round Pick in 2020 College Draft". www.reignfc.com. January 10, 2020.
  18. "Orlando Pride Acquires Pair of First Round Draft Picks, Allocation Money and Meggie Dougherty Howard". www.orlandocitysc.com. December 24, 2020.
  19. "Sky Blue FC Acquires Midfielder Jennifer Cudjoe From Racing Louisville FC". www.skybluefc.com. January 13, 2021. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  20. "Chicago Acquires Makenzy Doniak". Chicago Red Stars. December 19, 2019. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  21. "Houston Dash acquire forward Katie Stengel from Utah Royals FC". www.houstondynamo.com. January 8, 2020.
  22. "Orlando Pride Acquires 2021 Second Round Draft Pick From Reign FC". www.orlandocitysc.com. January 22, 2020.
  23. "Utah Royals FC Signs French Midfielder Aminata Diallo". Real Salt Lake. March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  24. "OL Reign acquires Tziarra King and draft pick from Kansas City". OL Reign. January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  25. "North Carolina Courage Trade McCall Zerboni to Sky Blue FC for the Rights to Hailie Mace". www.nccourage.com. January 10, 2020. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
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