University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Fox, Pinto, Otto Selected In 2021 NWSL Draft
January 13, 2021 | Women's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL – Emily Fox, Brianna Pinto and Taylor Otto were each chosen to continue their careers professionally in the NWSL draft on Wednesday evening.
Racing Louisville selected Fox with the first overall pick and Otto with the 11th selection, while Sky Blue FC drafted Brianna Pinto third overall.
Fox wrapped up a stellar career in Carolina Blue in the fall, where she competed in all 12 contests. Although her minutes were limited due to recovery from an ACL tear in 2019, Fox anchored a backline that surrendered just six goals.
A Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2019, Fox started and competed in 69 career matches for the Tar Heels. Fox tallied two goals, 20 assists and 24 points at UNC and logged over 4,500 minutes. During her junior season, Fox was the only collegiate soccer player to have earned a cap for the USWNT. The Ashburn, Va. Native was a two-time first-team All-ACC selection, in 2019 and 2020.
Fox is the second Tar Heel to go No. 1 in the draft's nine-year history. The Washington Spirit took Crystal Dunn with the first pick in the 2014 draft.
Pinto did not have to wait long to hear her name called on Wednesday night after being selected by Sky Blue FC with the third overall pick.
From Durham, N.C., Pinto is a three-time member of the first team All-ACC list, earning the honor in each season she has competed for the Tar Heels. She established herself early on in her career and started in 25 of 26 matches as a freshman. During her time as a Tar Heel, Pinto has tallied 23 goals and 16 assists in 65 games, 64 of which she started. Pinto was a 2019 Hermann Trophy semifinalist and was one of five finalists for the 2019 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year award.
Pinto will compete for the Tar Heels in the spring 2021 season.
The 2021 draft was the third time that to UNC women's soccer players have been taken in the first round. Crystal Dunn and Kealia Ohai were the first two picks in 2014, while Julia Ashley and Dorian Bailey went sixth and eighth in 2019.
Racing Louisville took its second Tar Heel off of the board when the club drafted Otto with the 11th overall pick in the second round. The Tar Heel midfielder finished her career at Carolina with 79 starts in 84 games. Otto scored 11 goals during her time in Chapel Hill and added 12 assists.
A captain since her sophomore season, Otto was a Second Team All-ACC selection in 2020 after being a Third Team member in 2019. In 2020, Otto scored a goal at Louisville, one that proved to be timely in the Tar Heels' comeback against the Cardinals.
Establishing herself as one of the premier midfielders in the country early in her career, the Apex, N.C. native was a 2019 Hermann Trophy watch list member.
The Tar Heels turn their focus to a Spring 2021 season after finishing 11-1-0 in the Fall.
Racing Louisville selected Fox with the first overall pick and Otto with the 11th selection, while Sky Blue FC drafted Brianna Pinto third overall.
Fox wrapped up a stellar career in Carolina Blue in the fall, where she competed in all 12 contests. Although her minutes were limited due to recovery from an ACL tear in 2019, Fox anchored a backline that surrendered just six goals.
A Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2019, Fox started and competed in 69 career matches for the Tar Heels. Fox tallied two goals, 20 assists and 24 points at UNC and logged over 4,500 minutes. During her junior season, Fox was the only collegiate soccer player to have earned a cap for the USWNT. The Ashburn, Va. Native was a two-time first-team All-ACC selection, in 2019 and 2020.
Fox is the second Tar Heel to go No. 1 in the draft's nine-year history. The Washington Spirit took Crystal Dunn with the first pick in the 2014 draft.
Pinto did not have to wait long to hear her name called on Wednesday night after being selected by Sky Blue FC with the third overall pick.
From Durham, N.C., Pinto is a three-time member of the first team All-ACC list, earning the honor in each season she has competed for the Tar Heels. She established herself early on in her career and started in 25 of 26 matches as a freshman. During her time as a Tar Heel, Pinto has tallied 23 goals and 16 assists in 65 games, 64 of which she started. Pinto was a 2019 Hermann Trophy semifinalist and was one of five finalists for the 2019 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year award.
Pinto will compete for the Tar Heels in the spring 2021 season.
The 2021 draft was the third time that to UNC women's soccer players have been taken in the first round. Crystal Dunn and Kealia Ohai were the first two picks in 2014, while Julia Ashley and Dorian Bailey went sixth and eighth in 2019.
Racing Louisville took its second Tar Heel off of the board when the club drafted Otto with the 11th overall pick in the second round. The Tar Heel midfielder finished her career at Carolina with 79 starts in 84 games. Otto scored 11 goals during her time in Chapel Hill and added 12 assists.
A captain since her sophomore season, Otto was a Second Team All-ACC selection in 2020 after being a Third Team member in 2019. In 2020, Otto scored a goal at Louisville, one that proved to be timely in the Tar Heels' comeback against the Cardinals.
Establishing herself as one of the premier midfielders in the country early in her career, the Apex, N.C. native was a 2019 Hermann Trophy watch list member.
The Tar Heels turn their focus to a Spring 2021 season after finishing 11-1-0 in the Fall.
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
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