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What You Need To Know About Ally Sentnor, The No. 1 NWSL Draft Pick

The 2024 NWSL’s first draft pick, Ally Sentnor, is headed to Utah to play for the Utah Royals. She has had a fascinating journey leading up to this moment of signing as a professional player, and at 19 years old, she is paving the way as one of the NWSL’s youngest draftees.

 

Growing Up

 

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Sentnor grew up in Massachusetts, playing all ten of her club years with South Shore Select. Sentnor made constant appearances with the United States Youth National Team as a midfielder/forward and often played for a year as well.  In her youth soccer days, Sentnor committed to the University of North Carolina, and shortly after, she accepted the Sports Illustrated award for SportsKid of the Year in 2019.

 

Beginning of Collegiate Career

 

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Ally Sentnor ended up graduating a year earlier than anticipated in 2021 to play for UNC as a phenomenal midfielder/forward. A few months into her collegiate career, Senator tore her ACL. She kept followers updated with her steps towards recovery, including strength exercises and her first shots on goal.

 

Her Comeback

 

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Ally Sentnor made a fantastic comeback season, scoring ten goals and signing an NIL Deal with Nike in 2022. In the most recent 2023 NCAA Tournament, UNC made it to the quarter-finals, and Sentnor received AAC Midfielder of the Year honors. Her stats were through the roof, with 11 goals and seven assists throughout the season.

 

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Ally Sentnor shows grit and determination off the field, but her technical skills on the field are recognized globally. Sentnor has a rocket of a shot and stays incredibly composed on the ball. Since being in youth soccer, she has played with an incredible amount of maturity and selflessness, making both her and the surrounding players successful.

This past month was the NWSL draft. Sentnor was the first draft pick, leading a selection of phenomenal players. Her talent was picked by the Utah Royals. Keep an eye out for Sentnor’s professional debut as well as her involvement in the U-20 Women’s World Cup this summer.

 

Featured image via Getty Images

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