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The National Women’s Soccer League will welcome a new draft class on Thursday with the 2023 NWSL Draft. The 11th annual event will return to the United Soccer Coaches Convention and be hosted in person for the first time since 2020. All 12 NWSL clubs will participate and make their player selections from the Philadelphia Convention Center. The draft will air across CBS and Paramount+ platforms. You can stream the whole thing, starting at 6 p.m. ET on Paramount+ and CBS Sports HQ as well as catch the first hour on CBS Sports Network from 6 p.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET.
Fans can watch draft coverage from Philadelphia hosted by CBS Sports’ Poppy Miller alongside analysts Jordan Angeli, Jen Cooper, Lori Lindsey and Saskia Webber, and reporter Marisa Pilla. Coverage of the draft will feature each selection and include commentary and analysis of the draft, interviews with draft picks, league and team executives and special guests.
Additionally, CBS Sports’ Attacking Third podcast will host a live show featuring in-depth analysis of the draft and interviews with draftees and other guests.
Here’s how you can keep up with the NWSL Draft:
Viewing Information
Date: Thursday, Jan. 12 Time: 6 p.m. ETLocation: Philadelphia Convention Center — PhiladelphiaLive stream: Paramount+ and CBS Sports HQ TV channel: CBS Sports Network (6 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
Draft order
Round 1
1. Angel City FC2. NJ/NY Gotham FC3. Orlando Pride4. Racing Louisville FC5. Portland Thorns FC 6. North Carolina Courage7. Chicago Red Stars8. Houston Dash9. North Carolina Courage 10. Kansas City Current 11. North Carolina Courage12. Portland Thorns FC
Round 2
13. San Diego Wave (acquired in Draft Day trade with NJ/NY Gotham FC)14. Washington Spirit15. Kansas City Current 16. Racing Louisville FC17. Racing Louisville FC18. Kansas City Current 19. Chicago Red Stars20. Houston Dash21. Orlando Pride22. Houston Dash23. OL Reign24. Portland Thorns FC
Round 3
25. Orlando Pride26. Washington Spirit27. Angel City FC28. Racing Louisville FC29. Orlando Pride30. North Carolina Courage31. Racing Louisville FC32. OL Reign33. San Diego Wave FC34. Orlando Pride35. Kansas City Current 36. Portland Thorns FC
Round 4
37. Washington Spirit38. Kansas City Current 39. Orlando Pride40. Racing Louisville FC41. Orlando Pride42. Kansas City Current 43. Chicago Red Stars44. NJ/NY Gotham FC45. San Diego Wave FC46. OL Reign47. Kansas City Current 48. Portland Thorns FC
Four-team trade shifts draft order
The order selection for this year’s draft already made headlines with a multi-team trade that involved the overall number one pick. Just a week before the 2023 NWSL Draft, a massive four-team trade saw the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft go from NY/NJ Gotham FC to Angel City FC, and Gotham end up with the No. 2 pick. Here’s how the teams ended up with the No. 1 and No. 2 selections overall:
Angel City FC received the rights to forward Yazmeen Ryan from the Portland Thorns in exchange for $200,000 in allocation money, along with ACFC’s 2023 first-round draft pick and 2024 second-round draft pick.Angel City FC then traded Ryan’s rights and $250,000 to Gotham FC in exchange for the No. 1 draft pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft.Gotham FC then sent $350,000 and a 2024 fourth-round draft pick to the Pride in exchange for the No. 2 draft pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft.
Who are the top draft prospects?
The 2022 season saw several first-year players from the 2021 and 2022 drafts in key roles throughout the year. The 2023 draft class is already being considered full of prospects that can contribute to teams in the future. With 12 selections over four rounds, there may be some surprises that drop into later rounds. Here’s a few names to look out for on draft day, but make sure to check out our mock draft for some predictions on who will be selected in the first round.
Alyssa Thompson: F – Harvard Westlake Prep SchoolMichelle Cooper: F – Duke University Izzy D’Aquila: F – Santa ClaraEmily Madrill: D – Florida State University Reyna Reyes: D/M – Alabama
What’s next for NWSL after the draft?
The league announced a scheduling framework ahead of the 2023 season which is slated to kick off on March 25 and the NWSL Championship final that will take place on Nov. 11. Players may report to markets for preseason camps as early as January 23. The NWSL regular season schedule will be announced at a later date.
Complete player pool
First NameLast NameUniversity/SchoolPosition(s) PlayedJenniferAalbueGrace CollegeFWD, MIDNour ImaneAddiUniversity of South AlabamaMIDIsabelAguilarMontreat CollegeFWD, MIDAnnelizeAlexioNorthwest Missouri State UniversityMIDEmilyAmanoColgate UniversityMID, DEFAngelinaAndersonUniversity of California, BerkeleyGKAmyAndrewsWestern Illinois UniversityFWDAnsleyAtkinsonCreighton UniversityFWD, MID, DEFKeeleyAyalaUniversity of the Incarnate WordFWD, MIDAlexisBachWestern Kentucky UniversityGKGraceBarbaraUniversity of ArkansasGKIngridBarbosa de CastroWest Virginia State UniversityMID, DEFTalaniBarnettOhio State UniversityMID, DEFJenniferBartlettThe College of St. RoseFWD, MIDKelisBartonUniversity of Central FloridaMID, DEFBlytheBeldnerOklahoma State UniversityFWD, MID, DEFJessicaBerlinSeattle UniversityGKHannahBlakeUniversity of MichiganFWD, MIDSamBlazekLindenwood UniversityGKJewelBolandSouthern Methodist UniversityFWDLaurenBonavitaUniversity of Massachusetts, AmherstFWD, MIDLetyciaBonifacioNorthwest Missouri State UniversityMID, DEFLyzaBosselmannGonzaga UniversityGKAbbyBoyanUniversity of GeorgiaMID, DEFTanyaBoychukUniversity of MemphisFWD, MIDBrookeBoydSt. John’s UniversityDEFEmilyBrandenburgUniversity of TulsaDEFSophiaBraunGonzaga UniversityMID, DEFJordanBrewsterWest Virginia UniversityDEFMessiahBrightTexas Christian UniversityFWDKaytlinBrinkmanCal State FullertonFWD, MIDAd?liaBristotGraceland UniversityFWD, MIDCameronBrooksUniversity of Texas AustinDEFLaurenBrzykcyUniversity of California Los AngelesGKMary GraceBunchDavidson CollegeGKEmilyBunnellSeattle UniversityMID, DEFAbbeyBurdetteUniversity of TennesseeFWD, MID, DEFJennaButlerNorth Carolina State UniversityMID, DEFErinCembraleHuntingdon CollegeFWD, MIDSamanthaChangUniversity of South CarolinaMIDMadisonChavezUniversity of California IrvineDEFRylanChildersUniversity of KansasMIDJulissaCisnerosSouthern Methodist UniversityFWDSarahClarkUniversity of VirginiaMID, DEFSydneyCollinsUniversity of California, BerkeleyMID, DEFClaireConstantUniversity of VirginiaMID, DEFRomeeContrerasNorth Greenville UniversityFWDShannonCookeLouisiana State UniversityMID, DEFMichelleCooperDuke UniversityFWDChaiCortezUniversity of OregonDEFJessicaCraveroFlorida Institute of TechnologyFWDM.E.CravenAuburn UniversityDEFMcKinleyCroneUniversity of AlabamaGKPeytonCutshallVanderbilt UniversityFWD, MIDMia RoseDalyUniversity of Southern IndianaDEFIzzyD’AquilaSanta Clara UniversityFWDHaileyDavidsonUniversity of PittsburghFWD, DEFMikaylaDayesUniversity of MarylandFWDMalikaeDayesUniversity of MarylandDEFLaurenDeBeauMichigan State UniversityFWD, MIDJessicaDe FilippoUniversity of ArkansasFWD, MIDIsabelDehakizSanta Clara UniversityFWD, MIDGiovannaDeMarcoWake Forest UniversityMIDMadelynDesianoUniversity of California Los AngelesDEFKaraboDhlaminiOakland UniversityMID, DEFRubyDiodatiMichigan State UniversityDEFWasilaDiwura-SoaleLouisiana State UniversityFWD, MIDChelseaDomondSyracuse UniversityFWDNicoleDouglasArizona State UniversityFWDGeorgiaEaton-CollinsUniversity of Central FloridaDEFJadynEdwardsUniversity of New MexicoFWD, MIDBlueEllisSyracuse UniversityFWD, MID, DEFSierraEngeStanford UniversityMID, DEFLilyFabianUniversity of Massachusetts LowellFWD, MID, DEFMollyFeighanSt. John’s UniversityFWD, MIDSamiFellerUniversity of DenverFWD, MIDKaylaFischerOhio State UniversityFWD, MIDKamrynFisherUniversity of MarylandFWD, MIDShanaFlynnUniversity of ArkansasFWD, MID, DEFCieraFoxVillanova UniversityMID, DEFDanielleFuentesUniversity of South AlabamaFWD, MIDAbbyFuscaElon UniversityMID, DEFAleighGamboneUniversity of North Carolina – Chapel HillFWD, MIDAlesiaGarciaLouisiana State UniversityFWD, MIDGabrielleGayleUniversity of South AlabamaDEFMackenzieGeorgeUniversity of TennesseeFWD, DEFNataleeGerenUniversity of Arkansas – Little RockDEFCarleeGiammonaPepperdine UniversityMID, DEFKatGonzalezMarshall UniversityMIDAubreyGoodwillSacramento State UniversityDEFAnnaGomez VilaPalm Beach Atlantic UniversityMIDMakennaGottschalkNew Mexico State UniversityGKDelaneyGrahamDuke UniversityFWD, MID, DEFTameirGrosvenorTexas Wesleyan UniversityFWDPaulaGubaUniversity of Louisiana – MonroeMID, DEFLuisaGuttenbergerNorth Carolina State UniversityMID, DEFMeredithHaakensonUniversity of MichiganFWD, MIDBrionnaHalversonSaint Louis UniversityDEFKayleeHammerKennesaw State UniversityGKSarahHammondWesleyan UniversityGKToriHansenUniversity of North CarolinaDEFJyllissaHarrisUniversity of South CarolinaMID, DEFTiannaHarrisKent State UniversityDEFZoeHasenauerUniversity of OregonFWD, DEFErinHealyGonzaga UniversityFWD, MIDLibbyHelversonFlorida Gulf Coast UniversityFWD, MID, DEFMajaHenrikssonKeiser UniversityDEFNataleeHenryNorthwestern State UniversityFWD, DEFNicoleHenryNorthwestern State UniversityMID, DEFEnyaHernandezPortland State UniversityGKMoneserratHernandezCal Poly San Luis OpispoFWD, MIDElailyHernandez-ReprezaWashington State UniversityMID, DEFKelseyHillPepperdine UniversityDEFGloHinojosaUniversity of California IrvineGKSophieHirstHarvard UniversityMIDIlianaHockingUniversity of ArizonaMID, DEFPenelopeHockingPenn State UniversityFWD, MIDShaeHolmesUniversity of WashingtonDEFHaleyHopkinsUniversity of VirginiaFWDAsiaHorneAmerican UniversityDEFChaylynHubbardTexas Christian UniversityDEFAmberHuffUniversity of California, IrvineFWD, MID, DEFBryanaHunterUniversity of ArkansasMID, DEFHaleyHustedArkansas State UniversityFWD, DEFLindsiJenningsLouisiana State UniversityDEFGabrielleJohnsonVirginia TechMIDHaleyJohnsonUniversity of Wisconsin – MilwaukeeFWD, MIDMeghanJohnsonLouisiana State UniversityFWD, MIDMikhailJohnsonNorthern Arizona UniversityMID, DEFMaryJohnstonUniversity of WashingtonDEFSophieJonesDuke UniversityMIDLaurenKarabinMonmouth UniversityFWD, MID, DEFAidaKardovicCreighton UniversityMIDNatalieKelchnerMarist CollegeGKEmilyKellyUniversity at BuffaloGKLaurenKozalMichigan State UniversityGKRaffertyKuglerUniversity of KentuckyMID, DEFCivanaKuhlmannUniversity of ColoradoFWDAdrianaKurylaColumbia UniversityMID, DEFGiKrstecFlorida Atlantic UniversityMIDCamilleLafaixCal Poly San Luis OpispoFWD, MIDHaileyLandrusFlorida Atlantic UniversityDEFJulianaLimaWest Virginia State UniversityDEFAnnaLoftusLouisiana TechMIDSamiLopezOakland UniversityFWD, MIDJuelleLoveCreighton UniversityFWD, MIDSavannahMaddenUniversity of Texas, AustinGKEmilyMadrilFlorida State UniversityDEFKarleeMaesUniversity of New MexicoFWD, DEFDestineeManzoUniversity of California IrvineFWD, MIDBriannaMartinezUniversity of Notre DameMID, DEFSydneyMartinezUniversity of South FloridaGKMeaganMcClellandRutgers UniversityGKKalaMcDanielUniversity of WashingtonMID, DEFMarykateMcGuireUniversity of MississippiFWDErykaMcIntyreOklahoma State UniversityMID, DEFMollyMcLaughlinXavier UniversityMIDAaqilaMcLynWashington State UniversityFWD, MID, DEFSabrinaMcNeillAuburn UniversityFWD, MIDBrennaMcPartlanLouisiana State UniversityMIDDevanMcSwainUniversity of DenverDEFAlyssaMedranoUniversity of Saint KatherineMIDMorganMessnerPenn State UniversityGKPaigeMetayerUniversity of California, BerkeleyMIDIdaMiceliNiagara UniversityFWD, DEFHaleyMillerAmerican High School OregonMIDChloeMillsUniversity of North CaroliWna WilmingtonMID, DEFMykiaaMinnissWashington State UniversityDEFSarahMirrLoyola University MarylandFWD, MIDReeseMoffattOregon State UniversityDEFLibbyMooreUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillMID, DEFCarlaMorichOld Dominion UniversityFWD, MIDMaliahMorrisClemson UniversityFWDReidMorrisonUniversity of the PacificMID, DEFEliciaMulvaneyYoung Harris CollegeFWD, MIDGwenMummertMississippi State UniversityDEFArianaMunozUniversity of North FloridaFWD, MIDDaniMurguiaUniversity of GeorgiaFWD, MIDEmilyNelsonUniversity of Massachusetts LowellFWD, MIDJennaNighswongerFlorida State UniversityFWD, MIDIsabelNinoUniversity of MichiganGKMalloryOlssonUniversity of Central FloridaFWDAshleyOrkusUniversity of MississippiGKJenaePackardUniversity of the PacificMIDSydneyParkerDePaul UniversityDEFRileyMattingly ParkerUniversity of AlabamaFWD, MIDMaggiePierceUniversity of North Carolina – Chapel HillMID, DEFHannahPinkusProvidence CollegeMID, DEFMackenziePluckDuke UniversityFWD, MIDAlyssaPoarchUniversity of MarylandFWD, MIDDaryaRajaeeUniversity of Central FloridaMIDMackenzieRastatterGrambling State UniversityMID, DEFEmmaReganUniversity of Texas, AustinMID. DEFReynaReyesUniversity of AlabamaMID, DEFMargotRidgewayUniversity of MichiganDEFClaraRobbinsFlorida State UniversityFWD, MID, DEFMadelynRobbinsFairleigh Dickinson UniversityFWD, MIDGabrielleRobinsonWest Virginia UniversityFWD, MID, DEFKatRobinsonOhio State UniversityGKJesiRossmanMonmouth UniversityFWD, MID, DEFAmandaSchaferUniversity of MarylandFWD, DEFAllySchlegelPenn State UniversityFWD, MIDKristenScottUniversity of Central FloridaFWDCamrynScullyUniversity of the PacificDEFCourtneySebazcoSouthern Methodist UniversityMIDOliviaSekanyUniversity of WashingtonGKAshlynnSerepcaUniversity of AlabamaFWD, MIDShayeSeyffartUniversity of WashingtonDEFEllaShamburgerVanderbilt UniversityDEFCatSheppardUniversity of New HampshireGKLenaSilanoLong Beach State UniversityFWDJordanSilkowitzIowa State UniversityGKKionnaSimonOklahoma State UniversityFWD, DEFGraceSklopanAuburn UniversityMIDKaceySmekrudClemson UniversityFWD, MID, DEFLexySmithBall State UniversityDEFMadelineSmithUniversity of MarylandGKFrancieleSoares CupertinoWest Virginia State UniversityFWD, MIDKatieSoderstromButler UniversityFWD, MIDRachelSorkennGeorge Washington UniversityFWD, MIDCroixSotoUniversity of OregonDEFAlexaSpaanstraUniversity of VirginiaFWD, MIDCecilyStouteUniversity of GeorgiaDEFKendalStovallUniversity of Nevada – RenoGKSydneyStuderWashington State UniversityFWD, MID, DEFKatieSullivanFlorida Gulf Coast UniversityGKAbbySwansonLoyola University ChicagoMID, DEFRachaelSweigardColumbus State UniversityMIDRileyTannerUniversity of AlabamaFWD, MIDKyilanThomasAlbany State UniversityGKAlyssaThompsonHarvard-Westlake School (Prep School)FWDJennaTivnanSyracuse UniversityDEFMadisonTumaGrace CollegeFWD, MIDLaurenTurnerIndiana Wesleyan UniversityFWD, MID, DEFLynetteUre?a DiazDelaware State UniversityMID, DEFMadelineVerguraUniversity of UtahFWD, MIDJennyVetterMinnesota State University, MankatoFWD, MID NatalieViggianoUniversity of Wisconsin- MadisonFWD, MIDKurstenvon KlahrKansas State UniversityFWD, MIDChristaWatermanUniversity of MarylandDEFTrinityWatsonPepperdine UniversityFWD, MID, DEFKayleighWebbUniversity of ColoradoFWD, MID, DEFMcKenzieWeinertUniversity of WashingtonFWDSamanthaWhiteMichigan State UniversityDEFHaileyWhitakerAuburn UniversityFWD, DEFMaisieWhitsettUniversity of LouisvilleFWD, DEFMonicaWilhelmUniversity of IowaGKOliviaWilkesLouisiana State UniversityMID, DEFJadaWilsonSan Jose State UniversityDEFGraceWiltgenUniversity of KansasFWD, DEFOliviaWingateUniversity of Notre DameFWDAbigailWolfUniversity of the PacificDEFMackenzieWoodUniversity of Notre DameGKAutumnWoodardGardner Webb UniversityFWDBreukelenWoodardJohns Hopkins UniversityFWD, MIDSummerYatesUniversity of WashingtonFWD, MIDGraceYochumOklahoma State UniversityMIDJoanaZaninUniversity of South DakotaFWD, MID, DEF