University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
2024 NWSL Draft Takes Place Friday Night
January 11, 2024 | Women's Soccer
ANAHEIM, Calif. – The 2024 NWSL Draft presented by Ally takes place on Friday, Jan. 12, during the U.S. Coaches Convention in Anaheim, California. The Draft features four rounds, totaling 56 picks with 14 selections in each round.
Hosted at the Anaheim Convention Center, the first two rounds of the Draft will be televised live on ION from 8-10 p.m. ET (5-7 p.m. PT). All rounds will be streamed on ION Plus from 8-11 p.m. (5-8 p.m. PT).
The North Carolina women's soccer team has eight players registered for this year's Draft: Emmie Allen, Maycee Bell, Julia Dorsey, Savy King, Sam Meza, Emily Moxley, Avery Patterson and Ally Sentnor.
Players eligible to be selected are those who have registered for the Draft and have been vetted as meeting the eligibility requirements by the NWSL, which include:
Friday will mark the 12th Draft in league history. In the event's 11-year history, the Tar Heels have had two No. 1 overall picks: Crystal Dunn in 2014 to Washington Spirit and Emily Fox in 2021 to Racing Louisville.
The Tar Heels were well-represented in the 2021 NWSL Draft with Fox going first, Brianna Pinto selected at No. 3 and Taylor Otto chosen at No. 11 overall. Last year, All-America defender Tori Hansen was chosen in the third round to become the 21st Tar Heel taken in the NWSL Draft.
In total, North Carolina has produced six first-round selections since the inaugural NWSL Draft in 2013.
Carolina in the NWSL Draft
2013
Amber Brooks – No. 24 (Portland Thorns FC)
2014
Crystal Dunn – No. 1 (Washington Spirit) *
Kealia Ohai – No. 2 (Houston Dash) *
Megan Brigman – No. No. 17 (Seattle Reign FC)
2015
None
2016
Katie Bowen – No. 16 (FC Kansas City)
Paige Nielsen – No. 25 (Seattle Reign FC)
Alexa Newfield – No. 28 (FC Kansas City)
Summer Green – No. 30 (Seattle Reign FC)
2017
Cameron Castleberry – No. 36 (Washington Spirit)
2018
Megan Buckingham – No. 24 (Chicago Red Stars)
Abby Elinsky – No. 30 (Houston Dash)
Joanna Boyles – No. 32 (Boston Breakers)
2019
Julia Ashley – No. 6 (Sky Blue FC) *
Dorian Bailey – No. 8 (Washington Spirit) *
Alexandra Kimball – No. 32 (Utah Royals FC)
2020
Bridgette Andrzejewski – No. 18 (Houston Dash)
2021
Emily Fox – No. 1 (Racing Louisville) *
Brianna Pinto – No. 3 (Sky Blue FC) *
Taylor Otto – No. 11 (Racing Louisville)
2022
Claudia Dickey – No. 20 (OL Reign)
2023
Tori Hansen – No. 25 (Orlando Pride)
* denotes a first-round selection
Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Hosted at the Anaheim Convention Center, the first two rounds of the Draft will be televised live on ION from 8-10 p.m. ET (5-7 p.m. PT). All rounds will be streamed on ION Plus from 8-11 p.m. (5-8 p.m. PT).
The North Carolina women's soccer team has eight players registered for this year's Draft: Emmie Allen, Maycee Bell, Julia Dorsey, Savy King, Sam Meza, Emily Moxley, Avery Patterson and Ally Sentnor.
Players eligible to be selected are those who have registered for the Draft and have been vetted as meeting the eligibility requirements by the NWSL, which include:
- Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or a foreign national who is currently or was enrolled at a university in the United States during the 2023-24 academic year;
- Be an individual who has exhausted, lost, or renounced their remaining collegiate eligibility during the 2023 calendar year, including high school graduates choosing to forego;
- Be at least 18 years old on or before December 31, 2023;
- Not be under a current professional contract, nor have previously signed a contract to play soccer professionally.
Friday will mark the 12th Draft in league history. In the event's 11-year history, the Tar Heels have had two No. 1 overall picks: Crystal Dunn in 2014 to Washington Spirit and Emily Fox in 2021 to Racing Louisville.
The Tar Heels were well-represented in the 2021 NWSL Draft with Fox going first, Brianna Pinto selected at No. 3 and Taylor Otto chosen at No. 11 overall. Last year, All-America defender Tori Hansen was chosen in the third round to become the 21st Tar Heel taken in the NWSL Draft.
In total, North Carolina has produced six first-round selections since the inaugural NWSL Draft in 2013.
Carolina in the NWSL Draft
2013
Amber Brooks – No. 24 (Portland Thorns FC)
2014
Crystal Dunn – No. 1 (Washington Spirit) *
Kealia Ohai – No. 2 (Houston Dash) *
Megan Brigman – No. No. 17 (Seattle Reign FC)
2015
None
2016
Katie Bowen – No. 16 (FC Kansas City)
Paige Nielsen – No. 25 (Seattle Reign FC)
Alexa Newfield – No. 28 (FC Kansas City)
Summer Green – No. 30 (Seattle Reign FC)
2017
Cameron Castleberry – No. 36 (Washington Spirit)
2018
Megan Buckingham – No. 24 (Chicago Red Stars)
Abby Elinsky – No. 30 (Houston Dash)
Joanna Boyles – No. 32 (Boston Breakers)
2019
Julia Ashley – No. 6 (Sky Blue FC) *
Dorian Bailey – No. 8 (Washington Spirit) *
Alexandra Kimball – No. 32 (Utah Royals FC)
2020
Bridgette Andrzejewski – No. 18 (Houston Dash)
2021
Emily Fox – No. 1 (Racing Louisville) *
Brianna Pinto – No. 3 (Sky Blue FC) *
Taylor Otto – No. 11 (Racing Louisville)
2022
Claudia Dickey – No. 20 (OL Reign)
2023
Tori Hansen – No. 25 (Orlando Pride)
* denotes a first-round selection
Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender/Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward/Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder/Forward
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