The 2023 NWSL Draft is here.

From when and how to watch to which players could make waves, Just Women’s Sports breaks down everything you need to know.

When and where will the draft take place?

The NWSL draft is set for 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 12. The event will be held during the United Soccer Coaches Convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

How can I watch?

Fans can watch the draft on CBS Sports Network from 6-7 p.m., then on Paramount+ and CBS Sports HQ from 7-11 p.m. ET.

How many rounds are in the draft?

The draft includes four rounds of 12 picks each, with a total of 48 players selected.

Who has the first overall pick?

After a blockbuster trade, Angel City FC now holds the first overall pick (and intends to select 18-year-old phenom Alyssa Thompson), followed by Gotham FC. The North Carolina Courage have three first-round picks.

The Portland Thorns have the last pick of each round after winning their third NWSL championship to cap the 2022 season.

Which players are available in the draft?

Over 250 players have registered for the draft, with these prospects standing out as first-round talents. The NWSL has a full list available.

Who are players to watch?

Alyssa Thompson

The presumptive No. 1 pick will turn pro after originally committing to play college soccer at Stanford. Thompson earned her first cap with the U.S. senior national team in October after playing for the U-20s at the World Cup in August as the only high schooler on the roster.

Messiah Bright, TCU forward

Bright scored 49 career goals in five years with the Horned Frogs, including 10 in her final season. She also played for the U.S. U-23 women’s youth national team in summer 2022.

Michelle Cooper, Duke sophomore

The USWNT U-20 captain finished the 2022 college season with 19 goals and 11 assists for the Blue Devils.

Izzy D’Aquila, Santa Clara forward

D’Aquila finished second in scoring in the NCAA with 19 goals in 2022 and posted 50 career goals in 78 games across three seasons for the Broncos.

Emily Madril, BK Häcken FF midfielder

Madril starred for Florida State during its 2021 title run, then signed a contract with the NWSL to maintain her draft eligibility while she played for Swedish club BK Häcken FF. She also played for the U.S. U-23 women’s youth national team in the summer of 2022.

Reyna Reyes, Alabama defender

Reyes scored a career-high eight goals in 2022. She also led the Crimson Tide defense to 12 shutouts in 2022 en route to the SEC defender of the year award.

Alexa Spaanstra, Virginia forward

Spaanstra made a name for herself as a pass-first player but contributed eight goals and five assists for the Cavaliers in 2022. She also played for the U.S. U-23 women’s youth national team in the summer of 2022.

What is the full draft order?

First round

1. Angel City FC
2. NJ/NY Gotham FC
3. Orlando Pride
4. NJ/NY Gotham FC (acquired from Louisville via trade)
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

Second round

1. San Diego Wave (acquired from Gotham via trade)
2. Chicago Red Stars
3. Kansas City Current
4. Racing Louisville FC
5. Racing Louisville FC
6. Kansas City Current
7. Chicago Red Stars
8. Houston Dash
9. Orlando Pride
10. Houston Dash
11. OL Reign (acquired from Kansas City via trade)
12. Portland Thorns FC

Third round

1. Orlando Pride
2. Washington Spirit
3. Angel City FC
4. Racing Louisville FC
5. Orlando Pride
6. North Carolina Courage
7. Racing Louisville FC
8. OL Reign
9. San Diego Wave
10. Orlando Pride
11. Kansas City Current
12. Portland Thorns FC

Fourth round

1. Washington Spirit
2. Kansas City Current
3. Orlando Pride
4. Racing Louisville FC
5. Orlando Pride
6. Kansas City Current
7. Chicago Red Stars
8. NJ/NY Gotham FC
9. San Diego Wave
10. OL Reign
11. Kansas City Current
12. Portland Thorns FC

Read more:

• What every team needs in the 2023 NWSL draft
• NWSL 2023 mock draft: Projecting every first-round pick
• Alyssa Thompson: Get to know anointed No. 1 pick in NWSL draft
• Sophia Smith and the 2020 draft class that reshaped the NWSL

Ticket prices are skyrocketing across the WNBA, with commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressing the surge after several New York Liberty fans wore T-shirts in protest of the increase.

Donning orange shirts emblazoned with the phrase "We've been priced out," New York fans came together to express their frustrations at a recent game.

The WNBA fans' custom shirts referred to season ticket price jumps of more than 250%, saying the Liberty is asking upwards of $30,000 for 2026 renewals.

Some New York season ticket holders noted that their 2026 renewal more than triples the cost they paid for the team's 2024 championship-winning campaign.

The exponential increase isn't just occurring in the New York market, however — it points to an overall rise in ticket prices across the WNBA.

The WNBA's recent ticket surge has seen seats across the league jumping by an average cost increase of 43% in the last year alone.

"In order to fund all these investments that owners are making, and obviously paying the players more which we will do in this next CBA cycle…that's the reality," Engelbert said on Thursday's episode of In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams. "That's our responsibility as a league and team owners."

Calling the price hikes a result of "simple economics" and "high demand," Engelbert acknowledged the effect on fans, though did not address potential solutions.

"I realize there's some concern out there, certainly that we don't price out our kind of core fan base," she noted.

Chelsea FC is playing it close to the chest, with big-name new signing Alyssa Thompson and previously injured superstar Sam Kerr waiting in the wings as manager Sonia Bompastor teases a 2025/26 WSL season debut for the pair.

Kerr joined the 18-player game-day roster for Chelsea FC's opening-day victory over Manchester City last Friday, but saw her season debut delayed as the Australian remained an unused sub while Thompson greeted fans from the stands.

This Sunday's matchup against Aston Villa provides another chance for the standouts to take the pitch, as the six-time reigning WSL champs hunt another result.

"With Alyssa, we are looking for her to be able to play. We don't have the confirmation yet, but we are hoping for her to be able to play in this game," Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor said earlier today. "I think she has already shown some good things this week in training, and we can see what she can bring to the team."

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Bompastor went on to call last week's decision to keep Kerr on the bench "my choice," saying "She's doing everything she can to be available for the squad and available to start…. The next step for her is to be involved in a short game in the league, and maybe we'll see that on Sunday."

USWNT fans will not get a glimpse of defender Naomi Girma, however, as the January 2025 Chelsea addition sat out last Friday's clash with a calf injury and remains unavailable.

How to watch Aston Villa vs. Chelsea FC this weekend

With the possibility of Thompson and Kerr taking the WSL pitch, Chelsea will visit Aston Villa at 7 AM ET on Sunday, with live coverage of the match streaming on ESPN+.

Splashy new Gotham FC addition Jaedyn Shaw is returning West, as the No. 6 NY/NJ club preps for a Friday night clash against the No. 3 San Diego Wave — Shaw's original NWSL team — days after signing the USWNT prospect from the No. 11 North Carolina Courage.

"I'm so excited to be a part of this incredible club and community," the 20-year-old said after her NWSL-record $1.25 million transfer to Gotham. "I'm looking forward to playing alongside world class players and giving my all to help the team win another championship."

After finding immediate success with the Wave in 2023, Shaw requested a trade to the Courage in January 2025, initiating what turned out to be a short stint in Cary, NC.

"I've grown so much just over the past few months, being at the Courage," Shaw told ESPN on Thursday. "I feel like I've matured a lot. I've had to experience things that I haven't necessarily experienced in my career and having to deal with those things."

Gotham and Shaw are currently "working toward an updated and extended contract," per a team release on Thursday, with the young attacker looking to boost Gotham's offense while adding to her 16-goal and five-assist NWSL career tally.

How to watch the San Diego Wave vs. Gotham on Friday

Shaw could take the pitch for No. 6 Gotham in her new club's Friday night visit to the No. 3 San Diego Wave.

The match kicks off at 10 PM ET, with live coverage airing on Prime.

The No. 1 Kansas City Current are closing in on the 2025 NWSL Shield, gearing up for a Saturday night showdown against the No. 2 Washington Spirit that could inject insurmountable distance between the Current and the rest of the league.

With a 14-point lead at the top of the NWSL standings, Kansas City has already clinched a postseason berth, and the Current only need only a few more results to secure a franchise-first league trophy.

Even more, KC enters Saturday's match on an 11-game unbeaten streak, with the Current hosting the Spirit at their home CPKC Stadium — a pitch where Kansas City has yet to drop a match this year.

Despite that dominance, it may not be smooth sailing for the Current, as Washington's future is beginning to take shape behind recently returned star Trinity Rodman, whose brace lifted the Spirit over the No. 7 Seattle Reign last Sunday.

"She's not back, because she's a different player," Washington head coach Adrián González told reporters about Rodman's level of play. "After her injury, she's more prepared mentally. She's having enough time to get the minutes, the training, and the exposures that she needs with no pressure."

How to watch the Kansas City Current vs. Washington Spirit

The No. 1 Kansas City Current will host the No. 2 Washington Spirit on Saturday, with the top-tier match kicking off live at 7:30 PM ET on ION.