2016 NWSL Draft: Top of the College Crop

Kieran Theivam reports from Baltimore on the fourth NWSL College Draft, where almost two hundred college players competed for forty places across four rounds. For the first time two English players were selected, both from Harrogate: former Leeds and Lincoln defender Rachel Daly, converted to a forward at St John’s University and taken sixth by Houston Dash, and fellow ex-Leeds player Leah Galton to Sky Blue FC. Portland Thorns held the first pick through the trade that took Alex Morgan to expansion side Orlando Pride, and used it on Virginia’s Emily Sonnett. Four British coaches – Laura Harvey, Tom Sermanni, Mark Parsons and Matt Beard – made up almost half those present. The feature carries scouting notes on all ten first-round picks and reaction from five of them.