NWSL Expansion Draft results, tracker: San Diego Wave trade Kristie Mewis, Angel City FC get Dani Weatherholt

The 2022 Expansion Draft is in the books as seven of nine possible picks were made

The NWSL Expansion Draft is in the books as Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC expanded their rosters Thursday ahead of their inaugural seasons in 2022. Angel City selected Dani Weatherholt from OL Reign with their first pick while San Diego went with USWNT mid Kristie Mewis from the Houston Dash with their top choice, but then traded her rights to NJ/NY Gotham FC in exchange for $200,000 in allocation. Mewis has been reportedly linked to an overseas move to Tottenham Hotspur in FA Women's Super League.

All in all, seven out of nine possible picks were made as San Diego passed on two pics before ending the expansion draft by selecting defender Kaleigh Riehl from Racing Louisville. The league then announced a flurry of trades following the conclusion of the draft, including the Wave's move for Alex Morgan.

"We're certainly balanced with what we wanted and we were strategic," former USWNT coach and current San Diego president Jill Eilis told CBS Sports following the draft. "We're super excited and feel like we're building a fantastic squad."

The virtual event saw the two California sides build on their recent trade window -- where each franchise made a number of deals in exchange for roster protection ahead of the expansion draft. For a look at which players were protected, click here. 

Los Angeles coach Freya Coombe and San Diego manager Casey Stoney still have plenty of roster-building left on their plates as NWSL shifts its attention to the league-wide college draft on Saturday on Paramount+ and CBS Sports HQ beginning at 2 p.m. ET.

Below, you can find the complete results of the Expansion Draft and the trades made after the trade window reopened.

NWSL Expansion Draft results

PICK	TEAM	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HOMETOWN	PREVIOUS TEAM
1	Angel City FC	Dani Weatherholt	MID	27	Laguna Beach, CA	OL Reign
2	San Diego Wave FC	Kristie Mewis*	MID*	30*	Hanson, MA*	Houston Dash*
3	Angel City FC	Claire Emslie	FWD	27	Penicuik, Scotland	Orlando Pride
4	San Diego Wave FC	Kristen McNabb	DEF	27	Montville, NJ	OL Reign
5	Angel City FC	Jasmyne Spencer	FWD	31	Bay Shore, NY	Houston Dash
6	San Diego Wave FC	PASS	--	--	--	--
7	Angel City FC	Paige Nielsen	DEF	28	Lincoln, NE	Washington Spirit
8	San Diego Wave FC	PASS	--	--	--	--
9	San Diego Wave FC	Kaleigh Riehl	DEF	25	Fairfax Station, VA	Racing Louisville

*San Diego traded the rights to Kristie Mewis to Gotham FC in exchange for $200,000 in allocation money.

Trade tracker

Angel City FC get: No. 6 overall pick in 2022 NWSL Draft
Houston Dash get: No. 26 overall pick in 2022 NWSL Draft and $125,000 in allocation money.

NJ/NY Gotham FC get: Rights to Kristie Mewis
San Diego Wave FC get: $200,000 in allocation money

San Diego Wave FC get: Christen Westphal and rights to Amirah Ali
Portland Thorns FC get: $50,000 in allocation money

San Diego Wave FC get: Alex Morgan
Orlando Pride get: Angharad James, $275,000 in allocation money

[Dec 16, 2021 at 8:14 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

What a round! Quick reaction I'm going with Angel City FC as the winners here, though it was always going to be a tough night for some clubs considering only a handful of them were selection eligible after the wild trade window that took place ahead of the expansion draft. 

[Dec 16, 2021 at 8:00 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

We've got a pass on the sixth pick by San Diego. It will be interesting to see what they decide to add to their team but with players worth adding still on the board, there must be a plan in mind.

[Dec 16, 2021 at 7:55 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Four picks, two for each side already, sold picks for both teams. Dani Weatherholt and Claire Emsile for Angel City, and Kristie Mewis and Kristen McNabb for San Diego Wave FC. Big losses in this first round for OL Reign.

[Dec 16, 2021 at 7:24 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

We're gearing up for Angel City FC to kick things off with the first pick of the expansion draft in about 20 minutes. Given that the roster is already coming together in a balanced way, they could go in any direction which adds to the anticipation building for the pick.

[Dec 16, 2021 at 6:27 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Attacking Third also did a closer view of Angel City's need for midfielders

[Dec 16, 2021 at 6:25 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

In the leadup to the expansion draft, be sure to check out Attacking Third's preview