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

Chelsea FC is once again looking across the pond to bolster their roster, with the six-time reigning WSL champions reportedly aiming to make a deal with NWSL side Angel City to acquire ACFC and USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson, per The Guardian this week.

Though the two clubs have yet to reach terms, Chelsea would need to have the deal signed before the WSL transfer window closes next Thursday.

Any agreement for Chelsea to snag Thompson from Angel City will likely feature yet another historic transfer fee, with cost projections topping former Tigres UANL star Lizbeth Ovalle's record $1.5 million transfer to the Orlando Pride earlier this month.

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The 20-year-old phenom is currently under contract with ACFC through the 2028 season after inking a three-year extension this past January.

With six goals and two assists in her 16 regular-season appearances in 2025 so far, the 2023 NWSL Draft No. 1 pick is trailing only rookie Riley Tiernan's seven goals on this year's Angel City scoresheet.

Should the transfer go through, Thompson would be the third ACFC player in a week to be moving to the UK, with the NWSL club transferring defender Alanna Kennedy and midfielder Katie Zelem to the newly WSL-promoted London City Lionesses on Wednesday.

As for Chelsea, the Blues have been a major player in recruiting US players over the last few seasons, with Thompson potentially joining her USWNT teammates Catarina Macario and Naomi Girma in suiting up for the WSL side's upcoming 2025/26 season.

Two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka is looking like her old self this week, as the world No. 24 advanced to the 2025 New York Grand Slam's third round for the first time since 2021 with a straight-set win over the US's No. 47 Hailey Baptiste on Thursday.

"I don't make it my business to know anymore, I kind of just leave it up in the air," said the fan favorite following questions about a possible fifth Grand Slam title run. "I've trained really hard. I practiced really hard. If it happens, it happens."

After taking her lumps on the WTA Tour since returning from pregnancy in 2024, the 2025 US Open marks Osaka's first seeded entry into a major tournament since 2022 — and she appears to be embracing her competitive boost in style, complete with eye-catching outfits and a matching Labubu.

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The 27-year-old Japanese national next faces No. 18 Daria Kasatkina in the pair's third career meeting, with Osaka getting the best of the Australian in both previous matchups — most recently at the 2024 Italian Open.

Should Osaka advance to Sunday's Round of 16, she could be on a collision course toward a date with No. 3 Coco Gauff, after the US star advanced past her own emotionally challenging second-round battle on Thursday.

How to watch Naomi Osaka at the 2025 US Open

With times still to be announced, Osaka will next battle Kasatkina during the second day of 2025 US Open third-round play on Saturday.

Live coverage of the New York Grand Slam airs across ESPN platforms.

The No. 1 Kansas City Current have been unstoppable this season, riding a 10-match unbeaten streak into Saturday's game against the No. 9 North Carolina Courage and inching closer to claiming a franchise-first NWSL Shield.

The Current's dominant 12-point advantage over the No. 2 Washington Spirit marks the league's largest top-table margin since the Courage finished 15 points ahead in 2018.

Even more, Kansas City tops the NWSL in goals scored (34) while also registering the fewest goals allowed (10), entering the league's 18th weekend of play with a record-tying five consecutive shutouts.

After coming in fourth in 2024, the Current's defense has continued to improve under manager Vlatko Andonovski, while another MVP-level year from star forward Temwa Chawinga has bolstered Kansas City's offense.

Chawinga currently leads the 2025 NWSL Golden Boot race with 11 goals through 17 games, while sitting in the league's Top 3 for both shots and shots on goal.

"I think because we have such a powerful offense, the defensive things, maybe people don't notice as much," Kansas City forward Michelle Cooper said earlier this week. "I think something absolutely important to us is our entire back line and the commitment to get little touches in, to take [advantage] of angles, and block shots."

How to watch the Kansas City Current this weekend

No. 1 Kansas City will host No. 9 North Carolina — one of just two teams to defeat the Current all season — at 7:30 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage airing on ION.

The No. 5 New York Liberty are creeping back up the ladder, as the defending WNBA champions continued reversing their recent skid with Thursday's 89-63 win over the No. 10 Washington Mystics — all while the race to the 2025 WNBA Playoffs reaches its boiling point.

While Washington rookie Sonia Citron's 18 points led the game, New York pulled together a true team effort to secure Thursday's victory, with five Liberty players scoring double-digits — including a season-high 16 points off the bench from forward Isabelle Harrison in her return from concussion protocol.

"We're not looking at the other teams at this point," Liberty forward Emma Meesseman said after the game. "We're just looking at ourselves, to maybe send a message to ourselves."

Despite that focus, New York is still contending with injury woes that have overshadowed much of the Liberty's season, taking Thursday's court without starters Sabrina Ionescu (toe), Jonquel Jones (illness), and Natasha Cloud (nose), while leaning on recently returned forward Breanna Stewart.

"We need to win the rest of our games," acknowledged Stewart, with the team gearing up for visits to the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury, No. 8 Golden State Valkyries, and No. 7 Seattle Storm over the next week. "We need to go and be road warriors."

The Liberty will have their hands full against the Mercury this weekend, with Phoenix coming in hot off a three-game winning streak with postseason-clinching top-of-mind.

"It's like a playoff matchup," Stewart added. "It's a big game, big implications, and [we're] not shying away from that."

How to watch the New York Liberty this weekend

No. 4 Phoenix will host No. 5 New York at 10 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage airing on NBA TV.