2023 NWSL Draft tracker: Complete list of picks as phenom Alyssa Thompson goes No. 1 to Angel City FC

The four-round draft saw 48 players selected by the 12 clubs

The 2023 NWSL Draft saw California high school forward Alyssa Thompson go first overall to Angel City FC thanks to a series of wild trades made in the days leading up to the draft. Only 18, the Los Angeles native is expected to contribute right away and has unlimited potential if Angel City are able to develop Thompson well. In a normal draft, a high schooler going first overall would've been the wildest thing to happen, but in this 2023 NWSL draft, it was anything but normal.

Duke star forward Michelle Cooper went No. 2 while the first defender off the board was Emily Madril of Florida State, who landed with the Orlando Pride at No. 3 overall. 

With a record 12 trades during the draft, the Washington Spirit were able to take control of the draft in the third round after the North Carolina Courage used their draft capital to amass four first-rounders. There are plenty of ways to build a roster in the NWSL but the draft, especially this one, has talent up and down. With COVID allowing players to have a fifth year of eligibility and in some cases transfer to other schools, like Penelope Hocking of Penn State, this is a polished class and teams wanted to add depth, and many did just that. 

They'll need that depth when core players head to the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this summer, which is why not only were plenty of goalkeepers selected but some teams like the Kansas City Current essentially selected entirely new backlines. Hocking also saw her twin sister Iliana head to NJ/NY Gotham FC creating a new sibling rivalry in the league. It was an exciting, record-setting draft, one that saw U.S. women's national team forward Lynn Williams traded.

Here are the complete draft results:

Draft results

Round 1

• 1. Angel City FC -- Alyssa Thompson, FWD (Harvard-Westlake Prep)
• 2. Kansas City Current -- Michelle Cooper, FWD (Duke University) 
• 3. Orlando Pride -- Emily Madril, DEF (Florida State University) 
• 4. NJ/NY Gotham -- Jenna Nighswonger, MID (Florida State University)
• 5. Portland Thorns FC -- Reyna Reyes, DEF/MID (University of Alabama)
• 6. North Carolina Courage -- Olivia Wyngate, FWD (Notre Dame University)
• 7. Chicago Red Stars -- Penelope Hocking, MID/FWD (Penn State University) 
• 8. North Carolina Courage -- Sydney Collins, DEF/MID (California University)
• 9. North Carolina Courage -- Clara Robbins, MID/FWD (Florida State University)
• 10. Kansas City Current -- Alexa Spaanstra, MID/FWD (University of Virginia)
• 11. North Carolina Courage -- Haley Hopkins, FWD (University of Virginia)
• 12. Portland Thorns FC -- Izzy D'Aquila, FWD (Santa Clara University)

Round 2

• 13. San Diego Wave -- Sierra Enge, DEF/MID (Stanford) 
• 14. Chicago Red Stars -- Grace Yochum, MID (Oklahoma State)
• 15. Kansas City Current -- Gabrielle Robinson, DEF/MID/FWD (West Virginia University)
• 16. Racing Louisville FC -- Kayla Fischer, MID/FWD (Ohio State University)
• 17. Racing Louisville FC -- Brianna Martinez, DEF/MID (Notre Dame University) 
• 18. Kansas City Current -- Jordan Silkowitz, GK (Iowa State University)
• 19. OL Reign -- Shea Holmes, DEF (University of Washington)
• 20. Houston Dash -- Sophie Hirst, MID (Harvard University)
• 21. Orlando Pride -- Messiah Bright, FWD (Texas Christian University)
• 22. Houston Dash -- Jyllissa Harris, DEF/MID (University of South Carolina)
• 23. Chicago Red Stars -- Allison Schlegel, MID/FWD (Penn State University)
• 24. Portland Thorns FC -- Lauren DeBeau, MID/FWD (Michigan State University)

Round 3

• 25. Orlando Pride -- Tori Hansen, DEF (University of North Carolina)
  
• 26. Washington Spirit -- Nicole Douglas, FWD (Arizona State University)
• 27. Angel City FC -- Angelina Anderson, GK (University of California)
• 28. Washington Spirit -- Lyza Bosselmann, GK (Gonzaga) 
• 29. Racing Louisville FC -- Jaydn Edwards, MID/FWD (University of New Mexico)  
• 30. Washington Spirit -- Riley Tanner, MID/FWD (University of Alabama)
• 31. Racing Louisville FC -- Riley Mattingly Parker, MID/FWD (University of Alabama)
• 32. Portland Thorns -- Lauren Kozal, GK (Michigan State University)
• 33. San Diego Wave FC -- Lauren Brzykcy, GK (University of California, Los Angeles)
• 34. Washington Spirit -- Lena Silano, FWD (Long Beach State University)
• 35. Kansas City Current -- Mykiaa Minniss, DEF (Washington State University)
• 36. Houston Dash -- Lindsi Jennings, DEF (Louisiana State University)

Round 4

• 37. Washington Spirit -- Civana Kuhlmann, FWD (University of Colorado) 
• 38. Kansas City Current -- Ella Shamburger, DEF (Vanderbilt University)
• 39. Orlando Pride -- Summer Yates, MID/FWD (University of Washington)
• 40. Washington Spirit -- Delaney Graham, DEF/MID/FWD (Duke University) 
• 41. Orlando Pride -- Kristen Scott, MID/FWD (University of Central Florida)
• 42. Kansas City Current -- Rylan Childers, MID (Kanas University)
• 43. Chicago Red Stars -- Sophie Jones, MID (Duke University)
• 44. NJ/NY Gotham FC -- Iliana Hocking, DEF/MID (University of Arizona)
• 45. San Diego Wave FC -- Giovanna Demarco, MID (Wake Forest University)
• 46. OL Reign -- Natalie Viggiano, MID/FWD (University of Wisconsin)
• 47. Kansas City Current -- Ashley Orkus, GK (University of Mississippi)
• 48. Houston Dash -- Madelyn Desiano DEF (University of California, Los Angeles) 

[Jan 12, 2023 at 10:25 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Remember that player to be named later heading to OL Reign? It's Emily Sonnett

To wrap up the night, we've found out the full details of the Spirt's trade with OL Reign and it's a big one.

The full deal is broken down as Sonnett heading to the Reign for the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NWSL draft, which was used to select forward Lena Silano from Long Beach State University. The Spirit will also recieve the Reign's natural first round pick in the 2024 NWSL draft.

The United States International has been a critical member to the Washington Spirit starring in their NWSL Championship victory in 2021 but now she'll be switching coasts to improve the Reign by leaps and bounds. Sonnetts' inclusion shows why a first round pick needed to be included in the deal but this will leave big shoes to fill in Washington.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 10:06 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

48. Houston Dash Madelyn Desiano DEF (University of California, Los Angeles)

The Dash traded a pick in next year's draft and allocation money to make sure they could select Desiano immediately out of UCLA to close out the draft.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:59 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

47. Kansas City Current Ashley Orkus, GK (University of Mississippi)

The Current have taken not one but two goalkeepers in the draft.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:57 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

46. OL Reign Natalie Viggiano, MID/FWD (University of Wisconsin)

The Reign are figuring out who are depth players that can contribute during the World Cup and this is another name to look out for there.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:52 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

45. San Diego Wave FC Giovanna Demarco, MID (Wake Forest University)

The Wave are another team that will be happy to grab a sliding player.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:50 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

44. NJ/NY Gotham FC Iliana Hocking, DEF/MID (University of Arizona)

The twin sister of Penelope Hocking who went to the Chicago Red Stars, Hocking will be ready to hit the ground running and bring a bit of sibling rivalry to the league.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:46 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

43. Chicago Red Stars Sophie Jones, MID (Duke University)

The Red Stars are getting a technical midfielder who can add a lot if she's able to translate.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:43 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

42. Kansas City Current Rylan Childers, MID (Kanas University)

The fourth round is seeing local scouting take hold.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:40 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

41. Orlando Pride -- Kristen Scott, MID/FWD (University of Central Florida)

A local player stays in Florida to offer the Pride different looks.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:37 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

40. Washington Spirit Delaney Graham, DEF/MID/FWD (Duke University) 

A wide player who can slot anywhere, it's another good value pick for Washington.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:35 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

39. Orlando Pride Summer Yates, MID/FWD (University of Washington)

A midfielder that can be a big addition to the Pride, it was a surprise to see Yates slide this far. The Spirit have also traded allocation money for the 40th overall selection.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:30 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

38. Kansas City Current Ella Shamburger, DEF (Vanderbilt University)

Like clockwork, Kansas City are taking another center back.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:27 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

37. Washington Spirit Civana Kuhlmann, FWD (University of Colorado) 

Another grad transfer and another forward to the Spirit. If Kuhlmann can stay healthy, this could be quite an addition.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:23 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

36. Houston Dash Lindsi Jennings, DEF (Louisiana State University)

A key member of LSU's defense, Jennings can provide more depth to Houston.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:17 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

35. Kansas City Current Mykiaa Minniss, DEF (Washington State University)

Teams with clear needs have thrown a lot of resources at them and the Current are no different selecting another center back who will fight for a starting role.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:13 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

34. Washington Spirit Lena Silano, FWD (Long Beach State University)

In their goal to pick up all the depth in the draft, the Spirit are adding their third forward of the round. The team wants more goals and someone is going to score them.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:11 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

33. San Diego Wave FC Lauren Brzykcy, GK (University of California, Los Angeles)

Another keeper off the board as the late rounds are seeing teams get future pieces for depth spots.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 9:03 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

32. Portland Thorns Lauren Kozal, GK (Michigan State University) 

Another trade and another keeper off the board as the Dash and Thorns swap picks.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 8:56 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The trades just won't stop

The Washington Spirit have been central to the chaos this time acquiring OL Reign's third round pick and their natural first round selection in exchange for a player to be named later. It will be interesting to see who that player is as that's quite a bit for the Reign to give up for just anyone.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 8:54 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

31. Racing Louisville FC Riley Mattingly Parker, MID/FWD (University of Alabama)

Back to back picks from Alabama as their strong season is being rewarded.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 8:48 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

30. Washington Spirit Riley Tanner, MID/FWD (University of Alabama)

Another trade as Washington sent allocation money to Houston to get a deal done. The Spirit are making up for their lack of a first round pick by owning the third round to improve depth across the board.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 8:41 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Looking back at the swap between the Spirit and Louisville

[Jan 12, 2023 at 8:39 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

29. Racing Louisville FC Jaydn Edwards, MID/FWD (University of New Mexico)

Keeping the ball rolling with all the moving picks Edwards will need molding but can be a big contributor. 

[Jan 12, 2023 at 8:36 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

28. Washington Spirit  Lyza Bosselmann, GK (Gonzaga)

Another keeper off the board as the Spirit trade up to take Bosselmann. Teams with international keepers continue to add depth for the World Cup.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 8:22 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

27. Angel City FC Angelina Anderson, GK (University of California)

The second keeper off the board of the night.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 8:20 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

26. Washington Spirit Nicole Douglas, FWD (Arizona State University)

The Spirit are a team that needs to improve after finishing second to last and Douglas has great movement that can help them do that.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 8:17 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

25. Orlando Pride Tori Hansen, DEF (University of North Carolina)

This is a pick that shows how deep the pool is as Hansen is UNC's first pick of the draft. A polished center back, Hansen can help lead the back line while also being a threat from set plays.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 8:09 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

24. Portland Thorns FC Lauren DeBeau, MID/FWD (Michigan State University)

The latest addition for the Thorns, DeBeau scored 11 goals and assisted four more in 22 starts this past season.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 8:04 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

23. Chicago Red Stars Allison Schlegel, MID/FWD (Penn State University)

The Red Stars need attacking players and they're getting one in Schlegel. She'll also be reunited with her teammate Penelope Hocking in Chicago.

[Jan 12, 2023 at 8:01 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

22. Houston Dash Jyllissa Harris, DEF/MID (University of South Carolina)

Harris converted from midfield into defense setting a record for most minutes played in NCAA history and will hope to bring that experience into a growing Dash side.