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The 2023 National Women’s Soccer League Draft will take place on Thursday, and be held in person for the first time since 2020. After multiple virtual drafts, the event returns to the United Soccer Coaches Convention, and 48 players will hear their name called at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Fans can watch the draft across CBS platforms beginning at 6 p.m. ET on Paramount+ and CBS Sports HQ from with the first hour from 6 p.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network as well.
Previously known as the NWSL College Draft, the annual event has evolved over time. So let’s take a look at what’s new to the 2023 draft and go over the rules and procedures. You can find the NWSL’s complete rules here.
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Complete NWSL 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. NJ/NY Gotham FC14. 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
Here’s what’s new to the draft
In the early wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the NCAA approved a waiver requested by the NWSL that allowed student-athletes who registered for the 2021 NWSL Draft and are selected by a NWSL team to decide if they will report to their NWSL club before or after their spring collegiate season. It was a unique edition to the draft brought on by global circumstances and this year’s 2023 draft includes new processes.
For the 2023 draft the league introduced a new entry mechanism for players under the age of 18 who wish to enter the league. With the entry mechanism, there must be consent of the player and their parent or legal guardian. Teams can place eligible players on an Under-18 Entry List and they may be selected under specific criteria:
Each team is limited to two Under-18 players between its senior roster and the Entry ListPlayers must be signed to a guaranteed contract within 30 days of being placed on the list and the contract term must run through the season in which the player turns 18Players will occupy a full roster spot and may be placed on or called up from the list at any time during the season Players may not be waived or traded until the player has turned 18 or the team has received consent from both the player and parent or legal guardian Players may not be selected in the expansion process Players must reside with a parent or legal guardian until their 18th birthday Players must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States Under-18 Entry List slots are not tradeable
Draft selection process
Unlike last year, the 2023 draft does not feature expansion sides, and there are no compensatory picks in the draft. All 12 clubs will participate and there will be 12 draft picks per round for a total of 48 selections. In the first round, each team will have five minutes to announce their picks. Teams should submit their pick as soon as it is prepared and per official rules teams should not hold picks until the selection clock time expires if the pick is ready prior to clock expiration. After the first round, teams will have three minutes to announce their pick or forfeit their selection during rounds two, three, and four.
Draft rules and procedures
Draft day often includes trades with swapping of picks and player movement. All trades must be approved by the League before they are official and announced to the public. Players must be notified of the trade before details can be made public. That old phrase “a player to be named later” will be used in those instances when a player name cannot be announced per the rules.
Timeouts are also a factor throughout the draft. Teams may request three timeouts during the draft for further discussion, rule clarification or trade discussion. Timeouts are three minutes long and cannot be “stacked.” For example: Team A can call a timeout for discussions or trades with Team B, but Team B cannot call a timeout to continue those same discussions or trades with Team A after the initial three-minute period from Team A expires. A pick must be made after the timeout. If a team fails to make or forfeit its selection in that time, it loses the opportunity to make its selection for the round.
The league also has the power to call timeouts at any time to resolve procedural issues or any other reason at its discretion. There will be a five-minute break after the first round and a two-minute organizational break between each later rounds.
Drafted players
Drafted players will be invited to participate in NWSL preseason training by the teams that drafted them in the season immediately following the draft. There will be protected period following the draft and the rights to any players selected in the NWSL Draft shall be assigned to the drafting club’s College Protected List. Rights to players on a team’s College Protected List are considered assets of the Club and may be kept, waived or traded during the signing window.
Teams will have an exclusive signing window for respective players drafted during the NWSL draft. A team may offer a Standard Player Agreement, trade the player’s rights to another Team, or waive the player’s rights. The signing sindow is 60 days and begins on the first day the drafted players report for training. If drafted players are waived and not selcted off waivers by a diffferent club, the player becomes discovery eligible.
For any player whose rights were acquired by a Team via trade or waivers and has never a) signed a professional contract, and b) was selected by another Team in the NWSL Draft, the Team will have a Signing Window that begins on the date the player reports to the Team to offer an SPA, trade the player’s rights, or waive the player’s rights.
Undrafted players
If a player eligible and registered for the 2023 NWSL Draft goes undrafted, they will be assigned as discovery eligible the day following the draft. Per NCAA, undrafted players may return to school and retain their collegiate eligibility if they notify their institution’s Director of Athletics within 72 hours following the NWSL Draft. The player would be required to register for a subsequent NWSL Draft in order to play in the league in the season following the NWSL Draft.
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