NWSL Draft

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The NWSL Draft is an annual event which takes place in January of each year where the teams of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) select players who are in their senior season in college or have exhausted their collegiate eligibility. Prior to 2021, it was known as the NWSL College Draft.[1]

The NWSL Draft was first instituted in 2013 a few months prior to the start of the inaugural season of the league. The draft is composed of four rounds in which each club has a selection, the order of which is determined by a combination of the teams' playoff and regular season positions, with the last-placed team or any expansion teams picking first.[2]

Eligible players[]

Players from the NCAA and the NAIA who have completed their senior season or who are no longer eligible to play collegiate soccer are eligible to participate in the draft.[3] If a collegiate player is eligible but does not register for the draft, that player will not be available for selection by a team until the upcoming season is complete. In those cases, the player will become available to teams as a discovery player.[3] Any player that registered for the draft but was not drafted becomes available to all NWSL teams as a discovery player.[3][4]

Rules of draft selection[]

The draft order is primarily built upon the team's final ranking during the previous season. If teams were tied, the league follows Tie Breaking procedures.[3] Draft order may also be impacted by trades involving draft picks and expansion teams.[3]

List of NWSL Drafts[]

Main article: List of drafts held by the NWSL
Year Date Rounds Picks Location First
selection 		Team
2013 January 18, 2013 4 32 Indianapolis, IN United States Zakiya Bywaters Chicago Red Stars
2014 January 17, 2014 4 36 Philadelphia, PA United States Crystal Dunn Washington Spirit
2015 January 16, 2015 4 36 Philadelphia, PA United States Morgan Brian Houston Dash
2016 January 15, 2016 4 40 Baltimore, MD United States Emily Sonnett Portland Thorns FC
2017 January 12, 2017 4 40 Los Angeles, CA United States Rose Lavelle Boston Breakers
2018 January 18, 2018 4 40 Philadelphia, PA United States Andi Sullivan Washington Spirit
2019 January 10, 2019 4 36 Chicago, IL United States Tierna Davidson Chicago Red Stars
2020 January 16, 2020 4 36 Baltimore, MD United States Sophia Smith Portland Thorns FC
2021 January 13, 2021 4 40 via videoconference United States Emily Fox Racing Louisville FC
2022 December 18, 2021 4 50 via videoconference United States Naomi Girma San Diego Wave FC

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "NWSL Opens Player Registration and Announces Current Selection Order for the Renamed 2021 NWSL Draft". NWSL. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  2. ^ Ogutu, Blaise (2021-12-24). "NWSL Draft: How does it work?". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  3. ^ a b c d e "2016 Roster Rules". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  4. ^ Linehan, Meg (April 25, 2013). "Some Answers on NWSL's Rosters, Rules and Regulations". The Equalizer. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
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