9 Unique Things About the NWSL Drafts This Year

As the 2021 NWSL season comes to an end this month, we look forward to the 2022 season with the addition of two new teams. This season was super exciting and unpredictable. With all of the trading this season, the expansion and college drafts look a bit different. Here’s all you need to know about the NWSL Expansion Draft and the 2022 NWSL Draft.

Expansion Draft 

The Expansion Draft for Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC is on Thursday, December 16, in Los Angeles. This is the first time that the NWSL has welcomed two new teams in the same year, and consequently, some of the rules for the draft have changed. 

1. Each team can only protect nine players while only protecting one U.S. allocated player. This is down from 11 protected players last time and the ability to draft two U.S. allocated players.

2. ACFC and San Diego can choose to draft the U.S. allocated player or receive $150,000 in allocation from the league.

3. Racing Louisville and Angel City FC already completed a deal for Christen Press. ACFC received Press, and Racing received $75,000 in allocation and full roster protection from ACFC during the draft. 

4. The Kansas City Current is exempt from the draft due to their deal with Utah Royals FC last year, where Kansas City took over their roster. 

5. The nine teams drafted from will divide their roster into position groups: goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, forward. Each team can only lose one player from each group.

Overall, each team will be selecting nine players total to their roster, optionally including one U.S. federation player. Therefore, the two new teams will be drafting 18 players total, and each of the nine teams drafted from will lose two players each. 

NWSL College Draft

The 2022 NWSL Draft is set for Saturday, December 18, in Los Angeles. Player registration is open, but the official draft order is still pending on the results of the NWSL playoffs. Here’s how it will work 

1. Seniors can choose to enter the draft or return to play another college season in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

2. Some seniors already have their rights held from last January’s draft. Therefore, these players cannot be selected again.

3. ACFC will not start the first round of the draft because of their deal with Racing Louisville. So instead, either Racing or San Diego will get the first pick. 

4. The winner of the NWSL playoffs gets their natural pick moved to last place. So, if the number one seeded Thorns win, their natural pick will be moved to last

Overall, there are a lot more complicated nuances to both drafts and how they will operate. The exciting part is seeing ACFC and San Diego Wave FC start their rosters. Additionally, it’ll be interesting to see how the draft goes for a team like Kansas City, which had an unfortunate year. 

Featured image via @NWSL on Twitter

_

GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS