The 2024 NWSL draft is almost here, with the league descending upon Anaheim, California on Friday, Jan. 12.
The draft will air live at 8 p.m. ET on ION Television for the first two hours, while the remaining hours of the draft will air on ION Plus. The full draft, which features four rounds of 14 picks apiece, will go until 12 a.m. ET.
That number is up from 12 picks per round a year ago, as both Utah Royals FC and Bay FC will be joining the league this year. They have the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, respectively, in the draft.
Over 200 college players have entered the draft, but just 56 players will hear their names called. Among the top prospects are UCLA’s Reilyn Turner, Georgia’s Croix Bethune and Stanford’s Maya Doms.
Onyi Echegini, this year’s MAC Hermann Trophy winner, given to the top player in college soccer, opted to forego the NWSL and sign with Juventus instead.
The first round of the draft will go as follows (barring any trades):
- No. 1 – Utah Royals
- No. 2 – Bay FC
- No. 3 – Chicago Red Stars
- No. 4 – Utah Royals (from KC)
- No. 5 – North Carolina Courage (from HOU)
- No. 6 – Racing Louisville
- No. 7 – Washington Spirit
- No. 8 – Bay FC (from ORL)
- No. 9 – Orlando Pride (from LA)
- No. 10 – North Carolina Courage
- No. 11 – Portland Thorns
- No. 12 – San Diego Wave
- No. 13 – Washington Spirit (from SEA)
- No. 14 – Gotham FC