With the second overall pick of the 2022 NWSL College Draft, Racing Louisville FC selected midfielder Jaelin Howell out of Florida State University.
With the #2 overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft presented by @Ally:@RacingLouFC selects Jaelin Howell of @FSUSoccer ✅ pic.twitter.com/hDEeXBCzl6— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) December 18, 2021
With the #2 overall pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft presented by @Ally:@RacingLouFC selects Jaelin Howell of @FSUSoccer ✅ pic.twitter.com/hDEeXBCzl6
Sources had told Just Women’s Sports earlier in the week that Howell would likely be taken at the No. 1 slot by San Diego Wave FC. However, as was reported on the eve of the draft by Jeff Kassouf, San Diego ended up going with Naomi Girma out of Stanford instead.
A two-time national champion with the Seminoles, Howell has earned high praises from the likes of USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski and was nominated for U.S. Soccer’s 2021 Young Player of the Year award. She wrapped up her senior year at FSU as one of the nation’s top players, being named a First Team All-American in 2021.
The 2020 MAC Hermann Trophy winner started 21 games as a midfielder this year, helping lead a group that recorded 23 shutouts while adding two goals and four assists — include the NCAA semifinals game winner.