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.
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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. ET
Location: Philadelphia Convention Center -- Philadelphia
Live 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 FC
- 2. NJ/NY Gotham FC
- 3. Orlando Pride
- 4. NJ/NY Gotham FC (acquired in draft day trade with Racing Louisville)
- 5. Portland Thorns FC
- 6. North Carolina Courage
- 7. Chicago Red Stars
- 8. Houston Dash
- 9. North Carolina Courage
- 10. Kansas City Current
- 11. North Carolina Courage
- 12. Portland Thorns FC
Round 2
- 13. San Diego Wave (acquired in Draft Day trade with NJ/NY Gotham FC)
- 14. Washington Spirit
- 15. Kansas City Current
- 16. Racing Louisville FC
- 17. Racing Louisville FC
- 18. Kansas City Current
- 19. Chicago Red Stars
- 20. Houston Dash
- 21. Orlando Pride
- 22. Houston Dash
- 23. OL Reign
- 24. Portland Thorns FC
Round 3
- 25. Orlando Pride
- 26. Washington Spirit
- 27. Angel City FC
- 28. Racing Louisville FC
- 29. Orlando Pride
- 30. North Carolina Courage
- 31. Racing Louisville FC
- 32. OL Reign
- 33. San Diego Wave FC
- 34. Orlando Pride
- 35. Kansas City Current
- 36. Portland Thorns FC
Round 4
- 37. Washington Spirit
- 38. Kansas City Current
- 39. Orlando Pride
- 40. Racing Louisville FC
- 41. Orlando Pride
- 42. Kansas City Current
- 43. Chicago Red Stars
- 44. NJ/NY Gotham FC
- 45. San Diego Wave FC
- 46. OL Reign
- 47. 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 School
- Michelle Cooper: F - Duke University
- Izzy D'Aquila: F - Santa Clara
- Emily 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 Name | Last Name | University/School | Position(s) Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer | Aalbue | Grace College | FWD, MID |
| Nour Imane | Addi | University of South Alabama | MID |
| Isabel | Aguilar | Montreat College | FWD, MID |
| Annelize | Alexio | Northwest Missouri State University | MID |
| Emily | Amano | Colgate University | MID, DEF |
| Angelina | Anderson | University of California, Berkeley | GK |
| Amy | Andrews | Western Illinois University | FWD |
| Ansley | Atkinson | Creighton University | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Keeley | Ayala | University of the Incarnate Word | FWD, MID |
| Alexis | Bach | Western Kentucky University | GK |
| Grace | Barbara | University of Arkansas | GK |
| Ingrid | Barbosa de Castro | West Virginia State University | MID, DEF |
| Talani | Barnett | Ohio State University | MID, DEF |
| Jennifer | Bartlett | The College of St. Rose | FWD, MID |
| Kelis | Barton | University of Central Florida | MID, DEF |
| Blythe | Beldner | Oklahoma State University | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Jessica | Berlin | Seattle University | GK |
| Hannah | Blake | University of Michigan | FWD, MID |
| Sam | Blazek | Lindenwood University | GK |
| Jewel | Boland | Southern Methodist University | FWD |
| Lauren | Bonavita | University of Massachusetts, Amherst | FWD, MID |
| Letycia | Bonifacio | Northwest Missouri State University | MID, DEF |
| Lyza | Bosselmann | Gonzaga University | GK |
| Abby | Boyan | University of Georgia | MID, DEF |
| Tanya | Boychuk | University of Memphis | FWD, MID |
| Brooke | Boyd | St. John's University | DEF |
| Emily | Brandenburg | University of Tulsa | DEF |
| Sophia | Braun | Gonzaga University | MID, DEF |
| Jordan | Brewster | West Virginia University | DEF |
| Messiah | Bright | Texas Christian University | FWD |
| Kaytlin | Brinkman | Cal State Fullerton | FWD, MID |
| Adélia | Bristot | Graceland University | FWD, MID |
| Cameron | Brooks | University of Texas Austin | DEF |
| Lauren | Brzykcy | University of California Los Angeles | GK |
| Mary Grace | Bunch | Davidson College | GK |
| Emily | Bunnell | Seattle University | MID, DEF |
| Abbey | Burdette | University of Tennessee | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Jenna | Butler | North Carolina State University | MID, DEF |
| Erin | Cembrale | Huntingdon College | FWD, MID |
| Samantha | Chang | University of South Carolina | MID |
| Madison | Chavez | University of California Irvine | DEF |
| Rylan | Childers | University of Kansas | MID |
| Julissa | Cisneros | Southern Methodist University | FWD |
| Sarah | Clark | University of Virginia | MID, DEF |
| Sydney | Collins | University of California, Berkeley | MID, DEF |
| Claire | Constant | University of Virginia | MID, DEF |
| Romee | Contreras | North Greenville University | FWD |
| Shannon | Cooke | Louisiana State University | MID, DEF |
| Michelle | Cooper | Duke University | FWD |
| Chai | Cortez | University of Oregon | DEF |
| Jessica | Cravero | Florida Institute of Technology | FWD |
| M.E. | Craven | Auburn University | DEF |
| McKinley | Crone | University of Alabama | GK |
| Peyton | Cutshall | Vanderbilt University | FWD, MID |
| Mia Rose | Daly | University of Southern Indiana | DEF |
| Izzy | D'Aquila | Santa Clara University | FWD |
| Hailey | Davidson | University of Pittsburgh | FWD, DEF |
| Mikayla | Dayes | University of Maryland | FWD |
| Malikae | Dayes | University of Maryland | DEF |
| Lauren | DeBeau | Michigan State University | FWD, MID |
| Jessica | De Filippo | University of Arkansas | FWD, MID |
| Isabel | Dehakiz | Santa Clara University | FWD, MID |
| Giovanna | DeMarco | Wake Forest University | MID |
| Madelyn | Desiano | University of California Los Angeles | DEF |
| Karabo | Dhlamini | Oakland University | MID, DEF |
| Ruby | Diodati | Michigan State University | DEF |
| Wasila | Diwura-Soale | Louisiana State University | FWD, MID |
| Chelsea | Domond | Syracuse University | FWD |
| Nicole | Douglas | Arizona State University | FWD |
| Georgia | Eaton-Collins | University of Central Florida | DEF |
| Jadyn | Edwards | University of New Mexico | FWD, MID |
| Blue | Ellis | Syracuse University | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Sierra | Enge | Stanford University | MID, DEF |
| Lily | Fabian | University of Massachusetts Lowell | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Molly | Feighan | St. John's University | FWD, MID |
| Sami | Feller | University of Denver | FWD, MID |
| Kayla | Fischer | Ohio State University | FWD, MID |
| Kamryn | Fisher | University of Maryland | FWD, MID |
| Shana | Flynn | University of Arkansas | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Ciera | Fox | Villanova University | MID, DEF |
| Danielle | Fuentes | University of South Alabama | FWD, MID |
| Abby | Fusca | Elon University | MID, DEF |
| Aleigh | Gambone | University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill | FWD, MID |
| Alesia | Garcia | Louisiana State University | FWD, MID |
| Gabrielle | Gayle | University of South Alabama | DEF |
| Mackenzie | George | University of Tennessee | FWD, DEF |
| Natalee | Geren | University of Arkansas – Little Rock | DEF |
| Carlee | Giammona | Pepperdine University | MID, DEF |
| Kat | Gonzalez | Marshall University | MID |
| Aubrey | Goodwill | Sacramento State University | DEF |
| Anna | Gomez Vila | Palm Beach Atlantic University | MID |
| Makenna | Gottschalk | New Mexico State University | GK |
| Delaney | Graham | Duke University | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Tameir | Grosvenor | Texas Wesleyan University | FWD |
| Paula | Guba | University of Louisiana – Monroe | MID, DEF |
| Luisa | Guttenberger | North Carolina State University | MID, DEF |
| Meredith | Haakenson | University of Michigan | FWD, MID |
| Brionna | Halverson | Saint Louis University | DEF |
| Kaylee | Hammer | Kennesaw State University | GK |
| Sarah | Hammond | Wesleyan University | GK |
| Tori | Hansen | University of North Carolina | DEF |
| Jyllissa | Harris | University of South Carolina | MID, DEF |
| Tianna | Harris | Kent State University | DEF |
| Zoe | Hasenauer | University of Oregon | FWD, DEF |
| Erin | Healy | Gonzaga University | FWD, MID |
| Libby | Helverson | Florida Gulf Coast University | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Maja | Henriksson | Keiser University | DEF |
| Natalee | Henry | Northwestern State University | FWD, DEF |
| Nicole | Henry | Northwestern State University | MID, DEF |
| Enya | Hernandez | Portland State University | GK |
| Moneserrat | Hernandez | Cal Poly San Luis Opispo | FWD, MID |
| Elaily | Hernandez-Repreza | Washington State University | MID, DEF |
| Kelsey | Hill | Pepperdine University | DEF |
| Glo | Hinojosa | University of California Irvine | GK |
| Sophie | Hirst | Harvard University | MID |
| Iliana | Hocking | University of Arizona | MID, DEF |
| Penelope | Hocking | Penn State University | FWD, MID |
| Shae | Holmes | University of Washington | DEF |
| Haley | Hopkins | University of Virginia | FWD |
| Asia | Horne | American University | DEF |
| Chaylyn | Hubbard | Texas Christian University | DEF |
| Amber | Huff | University of California, Irvine | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Bryana | Hunter | University of Arkansas | MID, DEF |
| Haley | Husted | Arkansas State University | FWD, DEF |
| Lindsi | Jennings | Louisiana State University | DEF |
| Gabrielle | Johnson | Virginia Tech | MID |
| Haley | Johnson | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | FWD, MID |
| Meghan | Johnson | Louisiana State University | FWD, MID |
| Mikhail | Johnson | Northern Arizona University | MID, DEF |
| Mary | Johnston | University of Washington | DEF |
| Sophie | Jones | Duke University | MID |
| Lauren | Karabin | Monmouth University | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Aida | Kardovic | Creighton University | MID |
| Natalie | Kelchner | Marist College | GK |
| Emily | Kelly | University at Buffalo | GK |
| Lauren | Kozal | Michigan State University | GK |
| Rafferty | Kugler | University of Kentucky | MID, DEF |
| Civana | Kuhlmann | University of Colorado | FWD |
| Adriana | Kuryla | Columbia University | MID, DEF |
| Gi | Krstec | Florida Atlantic University | MID |
| Camille | Lafaix | Cal Poly San Luis Opispo | FWD, MID |
| Hailey | Landrus | Florida Atlantic University | DEF |
| Juliana | Lima | West Virginia State University | DEF |
| Anna | Loftus | Louisiana Tech | MID |
| Sami | Lopez | Oakland University | FWD, MID |
| Juelle | Love | Creighton University | FWD, MID |
| Savannah | Madden | University of Texas, Austin | GK |
| Emily | Madril | Florida State University | DEF |
| Karlee | Maes | University of New Mexico | FWD, DEF |
| Destinee | Manzo | University of California Irvine | FWD, MID |
| Brianna | Martinez | University of Notre Dame | MID, DEF |
| Sydney | Martinez | University of South Florida | GK |
| Meagan | McClelland | Rutgers University | GK |
| Kala | McDaniel | University of Washington | MID, DEF |
| Marykate | McGuire | University of Mississippi | FWD |
| Eryka | McIntyre | Oklahoma State University | MID, DEF |
| Molly | McLaughlin | Xavier University | MID |
| Aaqila | McLyn | Washington State University | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Sabrina | McNeill | Auburn University | FWD, MID |
| Brenna | McPartlan | Louisiana State University | MID |
| Devan | McSwain | University of Denver | DEF |
| Alyssa | Medrano | University of Saint Katherine | MID |
| Morgan | Messner | Penn State University | GK |
| Paige | Metayer | University of California, Berkeley | MID |
| Ida | Miceli | Niagara University | FWD, DEF |
| Haley | Miller | American High School Oregon | MID |
| Chloe | Mills | University of North CaroliWna Wilmington | MID, DEF |
| Mykiaa | Minniss | Washington State University | DEF |
| Sarah | Mirr | Loyola University Maryland | FWD, MID |
| Reese | Moffatt | Oregon State University | DEF |
| Libby | Moore | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | MID, DEF |
| Carla | Morich | Old Dominion University | FWD, MID |
| Maliah | Morris | Clemson University | FWD |
| Reid | Morrison | University of the Pacific | MID, DEF |
| Elicia | Mulvaney | Young Harris College | FWD, MID |
| Gwen | Mummert | Mississippi State University | DEF |
| Ariana | Munoz | University of North Florida | FWD, MID |
| Dani | Murguia | University of Georgia | FWD, MID |
| Emily | Nelson | University of Massachusetts Lowell | FWD, MID |
| Jenna | Nighswonger | Florida State University | FWD, MID |
| Isabel | Nino | University of Michigan | GK |
| Mallory | Olsson | University of Central Florida | FWD |
| Ashley | Orkus | University of Mississippi | GK |
| Jenae | Packard | University of the Pacific | MID |
| Sydney | Parker | DePaul University | DEF |
| Riley | Mattingly Parker | University of Alabama | FWD, MID |
| Maggie | Pierce | University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill | MID, DEF |
| Hannah | Pinkus | Providence College | MID, DEF |
| Mackenzie | Pluck | Duke University | FWD, MID |
| Alyssa | Poarch | University of Maryland | FWD, MID |
| Darya | Rajaee | University of Central Florida | MID |
| Mackenzie | Rastatter | Grambling State University | MID, DEF |
| Emma | Regan | University of Texas, Austin | MID. DEF |
| Reyna | Reyes | University of Alabama | MID, DEF |
| Margot | Ridgeway | University of Michigan | DEF |
| Clara | Robbins | Florida State University | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Madelyn | Robbins | Fairleigh Dickinson University | FWD, MID |
| Gabrielle | Robinson | West Virginia University | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Kat | Robinson | Ohio State University | GK |
| Jesi | Rossman | Monmouth University | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Amanda | Schafer | University of Maryland | FWD, DEF |
| Ally | Schlegel | Penn State University | FWD, MID |
| Kristen | Scott | University of Central Florida | FWD |
| Camryn | Scully | University of the Pacific | DEF |
| Courtney | Sebazco | Southern Methodist University | MID |
| Olivia | Sekany | University of Washington | GK |
| Ashlynn | Serepca | University of Alabama | FWD, MID |
| Shaye | Seyffart | University of Washington | DEF |
| Ella | Shamburger | Vanderbilt University | DEF |
| Cat | Sheppard | University of New Hampshire | GK |
| Lena | Silano | Long Beach State University | FWD |
| Jordan | Silkowitz | Iowa State University | GK |
| Kionna | Simon | Oklahoma State University | FWD, DEF |
| Grace | Sklopan | Auburn University | MID |
| Kacey | Smekrud | Clemson University | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Lexy | Smith | Ball State University | DEF |
| Madeline | Smith | University of Maryland | GK |
| Franciele | Soares Cupertino | West Virginia State University | FWD, MID |
| Katie | Soderstrom | Butler University | FWD, MID |
| Rachel | Sorkenn | George Washington University | FWD, MID |
| Croix | Soto | University of Oregon | DEF |
| Alexa | Spaanstra | University of Virginia | FWD, MID |
| Cecily | Stoute | University of Georgia | DEF |
| Kendal | Stovall | University of Nevada – Reno | GK |
| Sydney | Studer | Washington State University | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Katie | Sullivan | Florida Gulf Coast University | GK |
| Abby | Swanson | Loyola University Chicago | MID, DEF |
| Rachael | Sweigard | Columbus State University | MID |
| Riley | Tanner | University of Alabama | FWD, MID |
| Kyilan | Thomas | Albany State University | GK |
| Alyssa | Thompson | Harvard-Westlake School (Prep School) | FWD |
| Jenna | Tivnan | Syracuse University | DEF |
| Madison | Tuma | Grace College | FWD, MID |
| Lauren | Turner | Indiana Wesleyan University | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Lynette | Ureña Diaz | Delaware State University | MID, DEF |
| Madeline | Vergura | University of Utah | FWD, MID |
| Jenny | Vetter | Minnesota State University, Mankato | FWD, MID |
| Natalie | Viggiano | University of Wisconsin- Madison | FWD, MID |
| Kursten | von Klahr | Kansas State University | FWD, MID |
| Christa | Waterman | University of Maryland | DEF |
| Trinity | Watson | Pepperdine University | FWD, MID, DEF |
| Kayleigh | Webb | University of Colorado | FWD, MID, DEF |
| McKenzie | Weinert | University of Washington | FWD |
| Samantha | White | Michigan State University | DEF |
| Hailey | Whitaker | Auburn University | FWD, DEF |
| Maisie | Whitsett | University of Louisville | FWD, DEF |
| Monica | Wilhelm | University of Iowa | GK |
| Olivia | Wilkes | Louisiana State University | MID, DEF |
| Jada | Wilson | San Jose State University | DEF |
| Grace | Wiltgen | University of Kansas | FWD, DEF |
| Olivia | Wingate | University of Notre Dame | FWD |
| Abigail | Wolf | University of the Pacific | DEF |
| Mackenzie | Wood | University of Notre Dame | GK |
| Autumn | Woodard | Gardner Webb University | FWD |
| Breukelen | Woodard | Johns Hopkins University | FWD, MID |
| Summer | Yates | University of Washington | FWD, MID |
| Grace | Yochum | Oklahoma State University | MID |
| Joana | Zanin | University of South Dakota | FWD, MID, DEF |
