The 2024 NWSL Draft class has been finalized. After several hours and 56 selections made, several players took their first steps as professional footballers. The winners and losers of the NWSL Draft is up for debate as different team needs determined who got drafted. Expansion franchises Utah Royals FC and Bay FC held the No. 1 and No. 2 picks respectively and put the evening in motion with a selection of teenagers out of the University of North Carolina.
Utah opened the draft by selecting UNC midfielder Ally Sentnor. The 19-year-old is a top prospect and has experience at the United States women's youth national team level. Bay FC selected 18-year-old Savy King at No. 2. The freshman defender led UNC in total minutes and was a nominee for the 2023 U.S. Soccer Best Female Youth Player of the Year alongside UNC teammate Sentnor.
The draft also saw plenty of trade action between clubs as Washington Spirit traded defender Sam Staab to the Chicago Red Stars and midfielder Ashley Sanchez to the North Carolina Courage for higher picks in the first round.
Take a look at our first round draft grades and see who teams drafted:
Round 1
1. Utah Royals FC: MID/FWD Ally Sentnor, North Carolina
A versatile player who can also play as a forward and is a good finisher in front of goal. A great pick for an expansion side looking to build.
Grade: A+
2. Bay FC: DEF Savy King, North Carolina
A top prospect who can play along the backline. Her breakout freshman season just looked like an audition to go pro, and now she is with the Bay Area expansion side.
Grade: A+
3. Washington Spirit: MID Croix Bethune, Georgia (acquired via trade with Chicago for defender Sam Staab)
Possibly the most creative talent in the draft, the Spirit traded up to get their preferred player. Will be an asset in the attack with Ashley Hatch and Trinity Rodman.
Grade: A+
4. Utah Royals FC: MID/FWD Brecken Mozingo, BYU
The MAC Hermann finalist stays in her home state after a career-defining senior season. A strong, connective player and technical on the ball.
Grade: A-
5. Washington Spirit: DEF/MID Hal Hershfelt, Clemson (acquired via trade with North Carolina for forward Ashley Sanchez and $250,000 in allocation money)
Another player the Spirit jumped to grab and could be one that helps solidify their spine. Pure defensive midfielder among the draft class.
Grade: B+
6. Racing Louisville FC: FWD Reilyn Turner, UCLA
One of the best forwards available among the draft class and head coach Bev Yanez has a chance to develop a star attacker for the club for the first time in its short history.
Grade: A-
7. Washington Spirit: DEF Kate Wiesner, Penn State
The club opts to select a defensive player after trading Sam Staab. Wisner is an outside back, so what might that mean for recently signed free agent Casey Krueger?
Grade: B
8. Bay FC: MID Maya Doms, Stanford
A proven winner at the collegiate level and a strong leader. Will play a role in the middle third for an expansion side that needed to build out its midfield.
Grade: A
9. Orlando Pride: MID Ally Lemos, UCLA
A passing midfielder who can also provide attacking plays. Could be depth for a team looking to finally punch their ticket to the postseason.
Grade: B+
10. Chicago Red Stars: MID Leilanni Nesbeth, FSU (acquired via trade with North Carolina for $175,000 in allocation money)
They need ball winners in the midfield and they got one in this pick. Could be a game changer if she continues to develop with Lorne Donaldson.
Grade: B+
11. Portland Thorns FC: FWD Peyton Linnehan, Penn State
A selection with an eye on the future perhaps. Sophia Smith is under contract through 2024, and how Lennehan contributes could shape things moving forward.
Grade: B+
12. San Diego Wave FC: DEF Kennedy Wesley, Stanford
A steal late in the first round due to her interchangeability on the backline. A versitle pick up for the Wave.
Grade: A
13. Washington Spirit: DEF/MID/FWD Makenna Morris, Clemson
The definitive versatile player in the draft and racked up goals as a defender in her final collegiate season. Where will she feature on the backline?
Grade: A
14. NJ/NY Gotham FC: DEF Maycee Bell, North Carolina
Could be a longer term answer alongside Tierna Davidson or can slot in during her absence. A steal for the NWSL champions to close out the round.
Grade: A-
Round 2
15. Chicago Red Stars: FWD Jameese Joseph, North Carolina State (acquired via trade with Louisville for Arin Wright and 125K allocation money)
16. Utah Royals FC: DEF/FWD Lauren Flynn, FSU
17. Seattle Reign FC: MID Sam Meza, North Carolina (acquired via trade with Chicago for $125,000 in allocation money)
18. Kansas City Current: DEF/MID/FWD Ellie Wheeler, Penn State
19. Houston Dash: DEF/MID/FWD Avery Patterson, North Carolina
20. Utah Royals FC: DEF Olivia Smith-Griffiths, BYU
21. Houston Dash: Kiki Van Zanten (acquired via trade with Utah for $120,000 in allocation money)
22. Orlando Pride: DEF/MID Cori Dyke, Penn State
23. Portland Thorns FC: DEF/MID/FWD Olivia Wade-Katoa, BYU
24. North Carolina Courage: DEF Natalia Staude, Virginia
25. Portland Thorns FC: DEF Keslea Kaufusi, Utah State
26. Utah Royals FC: MID/FWD Emma Jaskaniec, Wisconsin
27. Seattle Reign FC: MID/FWD Maddie Mercado, Notre Dame
28. Racing Louisville FC: MDI/FWD Emma Sears, Ohio State
Round 3
29. Utah Royals FC: DEF/MID Zoe Burns, USC
30. Bay FC: DEF/MID Jamie Shepard, Utah Valley
31. Chicago Red Stars: DEF Hannah Anderson, Texas Tech
32. Kansas City Current: GK Hailie Mackiewicz, Clemson
33. Utah Royals FC: GK Cristina Roque, FSU
34. Bay FC: MID/FWD Caroline Conti, Clemson
35. Washington Spirit: MID/FWD Anna Podojil, Arkansas
36. Houston Dash: FWD Amanda West, Pittsburgh
37. Angel City FC: MID Felicia Knox, Alabama
38. Houston Dash: GK Heather Hinz, South Carolina (acquired via trade with North Carolina in exchange for No. 40 pick and $10,000)
39. Portland Thorns FC: GK Kat Asman, Penn State
40. North Carolina Couarge: DEF Julia Dorsey, North Carolina (acquired via trade with Houston in exchange for No. 38 pick)
41. Chicago Red Stars: DEF/MID/FWD Bea Franklin, Arkansas
42. San Diego Wave FC: MID/FWD Mya Jones, Memphis (acquired via trade with Louisville in exchange for $40,000 and No. 54 pick)
Round 4
43. Seattle Reign FC: DEF/MID/FWD Makena Carr, Saint Mary's College of California
44. Angel City FC: MID/FWD Jessica Garziano, St. John's (acquired via trade with Utah in exchange for $15,000 in allocation money)
45. Chicago Red Stars: DEF/MID Celia Gaynor, Michigan State
46. Kansas City Current: GK Hope Hisey, Arizona
47. Houston Dash: DEF/MID Alyssa Bourgeois, Santa Clara
48. Racing Louisville FC: DEF Sam Cary, Iowa
49. Washington Spirit: MID Courtney Brown, Utah
50. Orlando Pride: MID/FWD Alex Kerr, Texas Tech
51. Angel City FC: DEF Madi Curry, Princeton
52. North Carolina Courage: MID/FWD Landy Mertz, Pittsburgh
53. Portland Thorns FC: MID Katie Duong, Stanford
54. Racing Louisville FC: GK Madison White, Texas Tech (acquired via trade with San Diego in exchange for No. 42 pick)
55. Bay FC: DEF Laveni Vaka, BYU
56. Orlando Pride: MID Talia Gabarra, University of Central Florida
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