The 2020 NWSL College Draft was the eighth annual meeting of National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) franchises to select newly eligible college players for the 2020 NWSL season. It was held on January 16, 2020, in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches Convention at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland.[1]
| 2020 NWSL College Draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Sport | Soccer |
| Date(s) | January 16, 2020 |
| Time | 11:00 AM ET |
| Location | Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland |
| Overview | |
| 36 total selections in 4 rounds | |
| League | National Women's Soccer League |
| First selection | Sophia Smith, Portland Thorns FC |
| Most selections | Orlando Pride (7 picks) |
| Fewest selections | Houston Dash (2 picks) |
Format edit
- NWSL teams took turns making their selections over four rounds, with nine picks per round. Draft order was determined by the final 2019 regular season standings.
- The draft was broadcast live via the NWSL website, Facebook and YouTube.[2]
- Final list of registered players was released on January 15, 2020.[3]
- The 2020 draft was the first since the introduction of allocation money, and the league's first transactions exchanging allocation money involved picks in this draft.[4]
Results edit
As of July 2, 2023[update].
Key edit
| + | 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, Challenge Cup, or 2020 Fall Series) |
Picks edit
Notable undrafted players edit
Below is a list of undrafted rookies who appeared in a competitive NWSL game in 2020.
| Nat. | Player | Pos. | Original NWSL team | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Machaela George | D | Reign FC | Santa Clara | |
| |
Madison Hammond | D | Reign FC | Wake Forest | First Native American to play in the NWSL[22] |
| |
Kim Hazlett | D | Reign FC | Portland | |
| |
Sarah Luebbert | F | Chicago Red Stars | Missouri | |
| |
Meghan McCool | M | Washington Spirit | Virginia | |
| |
Zoe Redei | F | Chicago Red Stars | North Carolina | |
| |
Dani Rhodes | F | Chicago Red Stars | Wisconsin | |
| |
Autumn Smithers | D | Portland Thorns FC | Notre Dame | |
| |
Savanah Uveges | M | Orlando Pride | Nebraska | |
| |
Brittany Wilson | G | Orlando Pride | Denver |
Trades edit
Round 1:
- ^ Orlando Pride → Portland Thorns FC. Portland Thorns FC received Orlando Pride's No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for the No. 7 and No. 14 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, Emily Sonnett and the rights to Caitlin Foord.[5]
- ^ Sky Blue FC → Chicago Red Stars → Portland Thorns FC. Portland Thorns FC acquired the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for the No. 15 and No. 16 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and $70,000 of allocation money. Chicago Red Stars acquired the No. 2 and No. 3 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft from Sky Blue FC in exchange for the No. 4 and No. 5 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and $80,000 of allocation money.[6]
- ^ Houston Dash → Chicago Red Stars → Sky Blue FC → Chicago Red Stars → Orlando Pride. Orlando Pride acquired the No. 3 and No. 26 picks in the 2020 NWSL College draft in exchange for the No. 19 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, Orlando's natural first-round selection in the 2021 NWSL College Draft, Rachel Hill and $50,000 of allocation money. Chicago Red Stars acquired the No. 2 and No. 3 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft from Sky Blue FC in exchange for the No. 4 and No. 5 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and $80,000 of allocation money.[6] Sky Blue FC received Chicago Red Stars' highest first-round pick and a second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for Savannah McCaskill.[7] Chicago Red Stars' highest first-round pick was acquired from Houston Dash along with Christen Press in exchange for Sofia Huerta and Taylor Comeau.[8]
- ^ Utah Royals FC → Chicago Red Stars → Sky Blue FC → Washington Spirit. Washington Spirit acquired the No. 4, No. 13 and No. 17 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and a first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft from Sky Blue FC in exchange for Mallory Pugh.[9] Sky Blue FC acquired the No. 4 and No. 5 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and $80,000 allocation money from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for the No. 2 and No. 3 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[6] Chicago Red Stars acquired Utah Royals FC's first and second-round picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft as well as the number one overall 2019 NWSL College Draft pick, another first-round draft pick in 2019 and Utah's natural first-round pick in 2021 in exchange for the rights to Christen Press and Samantha Johnson.[8]
- ^ Washington Spirit → Chicago Red Stars → Sky Blue FC. Sky Blue FC acquired the No. 4 and No. 5 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and $80,000 of allocation money from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for the No. 2 and No. 3 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[6] Chicago Red Stars acquired Washington Spirit's natural first-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and a third-round pick (No. 20) in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for a first-round pick (No. 7) in the 2019 NWSL College Draft.[10]
- ^ Reign FC → Chicago Red Stars → North Carolina Courage. North Carolina Courage acquired the No. 6 pick from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for the No. 9 and No. 18 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[11] Chicago Red Stars had acquired Reign FC's natural first-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for a 2019 international roster spot.[12]
- ^ Portland Thorns FC → Orlando Pride. Orlando Pride received Portland Thorns FC's No. 7 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft as well as the No. 14 pick, Emily Sonnett and the rights to Caitlin Foord in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[5]
- ^ Chicago Red Stars → Utah Royals FC. Utah Royals FC acquired Chicago Red Stars' natural first-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for $60,000 of allocation money.[13]
- ^ North Carolina Courage → Chicago Red Stars → Reign FC. Reign FC acquired the No. 9 pick in the 2020 NWSL College draft from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for Reign FC's natural third-round pick (No. 24) in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and natural first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft.[14] Chicago Red Stars had received North Carolina Courage's No. 9 pick as well as the No. 18 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for the No. 6 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[11]
Round 2:
- ^ Houston Dash → Utah Royals FC. Utah Royals FC received Houston Dash's natural second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and natural second-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft in exchange for Utah Royals FC's third-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and Katie Stengel.[15]
- ^ Utah Royals FC → Chicago Red Stars → Sky Blue FC → Washington Spirit. Washington Spirit acquired the No. 4, No. 13 and No. 17 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and a first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft from Sky Blue FC in exchange for Mallory Pugh.[9] Sky Blue FC received Chicago Red Stars' highest first-round pick and a second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for Savannah McCaskill.[7] Chicago Red Stars had acquired the pick from Utah Royals FC along with a 2020 first-round pick, the number one overall 2019 NWSL College Draft pick, another first-round draft pick in 2019 and Utah's natural first-round pick in 2021 in exchange for the rights to Christen Press and Samantha Johnson.[8]
- ^ Washington Spirit → Portland Thorns FC → Orlando Pride. Orlando Pride received Portland Thorns FC's No. 14 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft as well as the No. 7 pick, Emily Sonnett and the rights to Caitlin Foord in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[5] Portland Thorns FC acquired Washington Spirit's natural second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and a fourth-round pick (No. 31) in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 17) in the 2019 NWSL College Draft.[10]
- ^ Reign FC → Portland Thorns FC → Chicago Red Stars. Chicago Red Stars acquired he No. 15 and No. 16 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and $70,000 of allocation money from Portland Thorns FC in exchange the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[6] Portland Thorns FC received Reign FC's natural second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and Caitlin Foord in exchange for Allie Long.[16]
- ^ Portland Thorns FC → Chicago Red Stars. Chicago Red Stars acquired he No. 15 and No. 16 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and $70,000 of allocation money from Portland Thorns FC in exchange the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[6]
- ^ Chicago Red Stars → Sky Blue FC → Washington Spirit. Washington Spirit acquired the No. 4, No. 13 and No. 17 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and a first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft from Sky Blue FC in exchange for Mallory Pugh.[9] Sky Blue FC received Chicago Red Stars' highest second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and a first-round pick (No. 6) in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for Katie Johnson.[17]
- ^ North Carolina Courage → Chicago Red Stars → Houston Dash. Houston Dash acquired the No. 18 pick and Katie Naughton from Chicago Red Stars in exchange for Kealia Ohai.[18] Chicago Red Stars had received the No. 9 pick from North Carolina Courage along with the No. 18 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for the No. 6 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[11]
Round 3:
- ^ Orlando Pride → Chicago Red Stars. Chicago Red Stars acquired the No. 19 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, Orlando's natural first-round selection in the 2021 NWSL College Draft, Rachel Hill and $50,000 of allocation money in exchange for the No. 3 and No. 26 picks in the 2020 NWSL College draft.[6]
- ^ Houston Dash → Orlando Pride. Orlando Pride received Houston Dash's natural third and fourth-round picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for Christine Nairn.[19]
- ^ Utah Royals FC → Houston Dash. Houston Dash received Utah Royals FC's natural third-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and Katie Stengel in exchange for Houston Dash's natural second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 NWSL College Drafts.[15]
- ^ Reign FC → Chicago Red Stars. Chicago Red Stars acquired Reign FC's natural third-round pick (No. 24) in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and natural first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft in exchange for a first-round pick (No. 9) in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[14]
- ^ Chicago Red Stars → Orlando Pride. Orlando Pride acquired the No. 3 and No. 26 picks in the 2020 NWSL College draft in exchange for the No. 19 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, Orlando's natural first-round selection in the 2021 NWSL College Draft, Rachel Hill and $50,000 of allocation money.[6]
Round 4:
- ^ Orlando Pride → North Carolina Courage. North Carolina Courage received Orlando Pride's natural fourth-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for Morgan Reid.[20]
- ^ Houston Dash → Orlando Pride. Orlando Pride received Houston Dash's natural third and fourth-round picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for Christine Nairn.[19]
- ^ Portland Thorns → Reign FC. Reign FC received Portland Thorns FC's natural fourth-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for Christen Westphal.[21]
Summary edit
In 2020, a total of 27 colleges had players selected. Of these, four had a player drafted to the NWSL for the first time: Auburn, Bowling Green, NC State and South Florida.
Schools with multiple draft selections edit
| Selections | Schools |
|---|---|
| 3 | UCLA, Virginia |
| 2 | Stanford, Kansas, Nebraska, USC, Washington State |
Selections by college athletic conference edit
| Conference | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACC | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| Big East | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Big Ten | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Big 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Ivy League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mid-American | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Missouri Valley | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Pac-12 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| SEC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Summit | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| The American | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| West Coast | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Selections by position edit
| Position | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Defender | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
| Midfielder | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 11 |
| Forward | 6 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 13 |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "2020 NWSL Draft to take place in Baltimore, MD on January 16". www.nwslsoccer.com.
- ^ "NWSL announces 2020 College Draft broadcast details and talent". NWSL.
- ^ "NWSL 2020 College Draft". www.nwslsoccer.com.
- ^ Walker, Sean (January 14, 2020). "Utah Royals FC historic trade lands first-round pick, No. 8 overall from Chicago". KSL. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Orlando Pride Trades for Emily Sonnett, Rights to Caitlin Foord and Pair of 2020 Draft Picks". www.orlandocitysc.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Chicago Acquires Rachel Hill, Drafts Five in 2020 NWSL College Draft". www.chicagoredstars.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ a b "Sky Blue FC Acquires First & Second Round Picks in 2020 NWSL College Draft". www.skybluefc.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Chicago Acquires Brooke Elby and Six NWSL College Draft Picks". www.chicagoredstars.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Sky Blue FC Acquires Mallory Pugh from the Washington Spirit". www.skybluefc.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ a b "Every pick of the 2019 NWSL College Draft". www.nwslsoccer.com.
- ^ a b c Brown, Morgan (January 6, 2020). "NC Courage Acquires Sixth Overall Pick in 2020 NWSL Draft in Trade with Chicago Red Stars". North Carolina Courage.
- ^ "Reign FC 2019 Roster Announced". www.reignfc.com.
- ^ "Utah Royals FC acquires first round draft pick in 2020 NWSL college draft". www.rsl.com.
- ^ a b "Reign FC Acquires First Round Pick in 2020 College Draft". www.reignfc.com.
- ^ a b "Houston Dash acquire forward Katie Stengel from Utah Royals FC". www.houstondynamo.com.
- ^ "Thorns FC acquire rights to Caitlin Foord, 2020 NWSL draft pick from Seattle Reign FC in exchange for Allie Long". www.timbers.com.
- ^ "Katie Johnson traded from Sky Blue FC to Chicago Red Stars". NWSL.
- ^ "Red Stars Acquire Kealia Ohai". Chicago Red Stars. January 6, 2020. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ a b "Dash acquire MF Christine Nairn in trade with Orlando Pride". www.houstondynamo.com.
- ^ "Orlando Pride Acquires Defender Morgan Reid From NC Courage". www.orlandocitysc.com.
- ^ "Reign FC selected three players in 2020 College Draft". Reign FC. January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ "Madison Hammond on Being the First Native American to Play In the NWSL". Just Women's Sports. October 25, 2020.