The NWSL draft is officially here, with the league’s 12 clubs set to make their selections Thursday ahead of the 2023 season. The Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia will serve as the host for the event, which will air on CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ and CBS Sports HQ at 6 p.m. ET. Featuring four rounds, with 12 picks per round, 48 players will be selected by the night's end as teams pick from a pool of over 100 eligible athletes.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Thursday’s draft:
Peter van den Berg/USA TODAY Sports
The First Pick
A flurry of activity has set the table for an exciting draft night, with a four-team blockbuster trade securing Angel City FC the night’s first pick a week ahead of selections. The Los Angeles club is expected to use its coveted top selection to draft 18-year-old U.S. women’s national team star Alyssa Thompson, according to Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times. The teenage sensation is coming off a banner year, with Thompson making her senior national team debut during the USWNT’s 2–1 loss to England in October—at the time, she was just 17 years old. “This was a tough first camp for a 17-year-old to be in,” USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski said after Thompson’s first call-up, “but she’s handled it very well. I just believe this is going to be the first of many." The Harvard-Westlake star, who previously committed to Stanford before registering to go pro, is set to join an impressive ACFC roster that includes USWNT veterans Christen Press and Sydney Leroux, both currently recovering from injury.
NJ/NY Gotham FC’s Rebuild Begins
NJ/NY Gotham FC finished the 2022 season last in the NWSL standings despite making big offseason moves, including the signing of USWNT midfielder Kristie Mewis and World Cup champions Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris. Eager to move up the league rankings, Gotham FC made another big signing ahead of this year’s draft, acquiring midfielder Yazmeen Ryan and $250,000 in allocation money from ACFC in exchange for its No. 1 pick. The club won't be knocked too far down the order, though, boasting the night’s second selection.
Notching only 16 goals—six fewer than any other NWSL squad—last season, the NJ/NY club may want to boost its attacking presence, which is anchored by Midge Purce and Ifeoma Onumonu. Michelle Cooper, who announced her decision to go pro in December, would undoubtedly add an explosive presence to the club’s forward pool, with the Duke sophomore finishing the 2022 campaign with 19 goals and 11 assists through 21 starts. As the 2022 MAC Herman trophy winner, Cooper will be off the board early if she’s not scooped up by Gotham FC with the second pick.
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Who Needs the Draft Most
Kansas City leads all clubs with eight picks at its disposal heading into Thursday, although the Current’s roster is already stacked. Pulling off arguably the biggest signing of NWSL free agency, Kansas City agreed to a multiyear contract with Brazilian star Debinha, who was reportedly being sought by clubs across various leagues. During her five-year tenure with the North Carolina Courage, Debinha helped lead the club to two NWSL championships and three NWSL Shields as one of the league’s most prolific players. In addition to Debinha, the Current also acquired free agents Morgan Gautrat and Vanessa DiBernardo, two starting midfielders from the Chicago Red Stars.
Other teams aren't in the Current’s same position and will have pressure to get more out of the draft with fewer picks in hand. The Orlando Pride have a considerable amount of allocation money following last week’s splashy trade, which saw the Pride receive $350,000 in exchange for its No. 2 pick awarded to NJ/NY Gotham FC. After losing veterans Leroux, Harris, Kreiger, and Alex Morgan, among others, last year, Orlando needs to continue to replenish with the third pick of the evening.
New coach Seb Hines has some attacking talent to build around, including all-time great Marta and a young talent in Aly Watt. Santa Clara forward Izzy D’Aquila would not only be a big get in the first round, she would also add a reliable goalscorer to the Pride’s forward lineup.
Defensively, Orlando could also use some help, with the club conceding 45 goals last season—just one fewer than Gotham’s league-worst 46 goals allowed. With that in mind, will the club decide to forgo the temptation of taking D’Aquila off the board and instead opt for a defensive-minded player? While that remains to be seen, what is established is the Pride’s need to improve upon last year’s draft. After losing their first-round pick, Mia Fishel, who instead opted to sign with Mexico’s Tigres Femenil, the Pride will be eager to make this year’s selection count.
The Washington Spirit and Chicago Red Stars, which both lost critical players during free agency, also have a lot of work to do Thursday. With just two midfielders listed on their roster, the Red Stars need to fill out the center of the pitch. Alabama’s Reyna Reyes, if still available come the seventh selection, could be a critical pick-up for Chicago. Reyes is a versatile defender that can also play in the attack and slot into the midfield, an area of the pitch where the Red Stars are desperate for more depth.
The Spirit also need to bulk up after losing marquee defender Kelley O’Hara to Gotham FC during free agency. With only five defenders listed on their roster, the Spirit are in need of a creative playmaker on the flanks to help bolster the defense and spring Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez forward. The 2021 NWSL Champions will need to make the most of their three picks in the second, third and fourth rounds to pad out their relatively thin roster.
First-Round Order
1. Angel City FC
2. NJ/NY Gotham FC
3. Orlando Pride
4. Racing Louisville FC
5. Portland Thorns FC
6. North Carolina Courage
7. Chicago Red Stars
8. Houston Dash
9. North Carolina Courage
10. NJ/NY Gotham FC
11. North Carolina Courage
12. Portland Thorns
