Post by Monika on Dec 18, 2021 14:02:55 GMT -8
12/18/21 --
With their two second-round picks, the Portland Thorns bolstered the forward position, and worked to solidfy the middle and backfield today in the National Women's Soccer League Draft. With their third pick, they boosted the offense even more with a small-college standout.
The NWSL Draft took place today as the league's 12 teams collectively began selecting 50 players from the college pool. The first two selections of each round were awarded to the two newest teams, Angel City FC (Los Angeles) and San Diego Wave FC. The original order had San Diego with the top selection in the first and third rounds, and Angel City with the top selection in the second and fourth rounds. There, however, some trades which changed that in some rounds. Each team also originally had compensatory selections in later rounds.
The Wave selected defender/midfielder Naomi Girma with the first overall pick. It marks the second time in three seasons that a Stanford product was selected first overall. The Thorns made forward Sophia Smith the first overall pick in the 2020 draft. This draft marks the opening of the league's 10th season. It was held remotely and hosted by CBS Sports.
The Thorns selected Sydny Nasello, a forward from the University of South Florida, with the 13th overall pick (first pick of the second round). Nasello, 5'3", is a native of Land O' Lakes, Florida. Over a four-year career with the Bulls, she scored 15 goals along with 25 assists. She also had six game winners and 45 shots on goal over that span. She was team captain her senior year in high school and led the team to three state championships.
Later in the second round, Portland picked defender/midfielder Gabby Provenzano out of Rutgers with the 22nd overall pick. The 5'5" Provenzano hails from Sergeantsville, New Jersey. She started 86 of 103 career collegiate games, scoring five goals of 12 shots on goal. She kicked two game winners and logged 6,417 minutes. Prior to Rutgers, she competed on one of the top clubs in the United States, PDA Soccer Club, and has a brother who plays soccer for the College of New Jersey.
With the 48th overall pick (round four), the Thorns selected University of Denver forward Natalie Beckman. A native of Aurora, Colorado, Beckman is 5'2" and enjoyed a stellar career with the Pioneers. She had 21 goals and 47 assists in her four years there. She added 92 shots on goal and seven game winners, while logging 6,489 minutes over four years. She started 81 of the 83 games in which she played for the Poineers.
Photos (l-r): Sydny Nasello, Gabby Provenzano, Natalie Beckman (photos courtesy Florida St. Athletics, Rutgers Athletics and Denver Athletics, respectively).
Portland won the shield during the 2021 season, but came up short in their bid for a third championship as they fell to NJ/NY Gotham in the semifinals of the playoffs. Earlier in the year, The Thorns captured the Challenge Cup tournament championship.
The following are the entire draft results.
ROUND 1
1. San Diego Wave - Naomi Girma, D/M, Stanford
2. Racing Louisville - Jaelin Howell, M, Florida St.
3. North Carolina Courage - Emily Gray, M, Virginia Tech
4. Racing Louisville - Savannah DeMelo, M, USC
5. Orlando Pride - Mia Fishel, F, UCLA
6. North Carolina Courage - Diana Ordonez, F, Virginia
7. Kansas City Current - Elyse Bennett, F, Washington St.
8. NJ/NY Gotham - Zsannett Kajan, F, St. Johns
9. San Diego Wave - Marleen Schimmer, M/F, Grand Canyon
10. Orlando Pride - Caitlin Cosme, D, Duke
11. Orlando Pride - Julie Doyle, F, Santa Clara
12. North Carolina Courage - Kaitlin Fregulia, D, Long Beach St.
ROUND 2
13. Portland Thorns - Sydny Nasello, F, South Florida
14. Washington Spirit - Tinaya Alexander, F, LSU
15. Washington Spirit - Madison Elwell, M/F, Vanderbilt
16. Racing Louisville - Charme Morgan, D, Oklahoma St.
17. Kansas City Current - Chardonnay Curran, M/D, Oregon
18. Chicago Red Stars - Ava Cook, F, Michigan St.
19. Chicago Red Stars - Sammi Fischer, M, Notre Dame
20. OL Reign - Claudia Dickey, GK, North Carolina
21. OL Reign - Ryanne Brown, F, Wake Forest
22. Portland Thorns - Gabby Provenzano, D/M, Rutgers
23. Washington Spirit - Lucy Shepherd, F/M, Hofstra
24. NJ/NY Gotham - Kelly Anne Livingstone, D, Georgetown
25. San Diego Wave - Sydney Pulver, M/D, Washington St.
26. Racing Louisville - Jordan Bloomer, GK, Wisconsin
ROUND 3
27. San Diego Wave - Belle Briede, F/M, Stanford
28. Angel City - Hope Breslin, M, Illinois
29. Orlando Pride - Haeleigh Stackpole, F/M, Ole Miss
30. Racing Louisville - Jenna Menta, F, Wake Forest
31. Orlando Pride - Jada Talley, F, USC
32. OL Reign - Kaile Halvorsen, F/M, Santa Clara
33. OL Reign - Olivia Van der Jagt, M, Washington
34. NJ/NY Gotham - Hensley, Hancuff, GK, Clemson
35. Chicago Red Stars - Sarah Griffith, F, Purdue
36. OL Reign - Lily Nabet, M, Duke
37. Chicago Red Stars - Kayla McKeon, M, Arkansas
38. Washington Spirit - Audrey Harding, F/M, UNC-Wilmington
ROUND 4
39. Angel City - Miriael Taylor, F, Hofstra
40. San Diego Wave - Kayla Bruster, D, Georgia
41. Kansas City Current - Jena Winebrenner, D, TCU
42. Racing Louisville - Sydney Cummings, D, Georgetown
43. Kansas City Current - Izzy Rodriquez, D, Ohio St.
44. Houston Dash - Ryan Garies, F, South Carolina
45. North Carolina Courage - Marisa Bova, GK, Purdue
46. NJ/NY Gotham - Raleigh Loughman, M, Michigan
47. OL Reign - Marley Canales, M, UCLA
48. Portland Thorns - Natalie Beckman, F, Denver
49. Chicago Red Stars - Jayda Hylton-Pelaia, D, Arizona St.
50. Washington Spirit - Jordan Thompson, D, Gonzaga
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