NWSL 2024 Draft Predictions: Parkside Picks!

As the 2024 NWSL draft approaches, anticipation is at its peak! On January 12, a total of 56 picks will be made by 14 clubs, marking the highest number of selections ever in the league. This is due to the expansion of the league, with two new clubs joining the ranks: the Utah Royals FC, making a comeback, and Bay FC, embarking on their inaugural season. Adding to the intrigue, the Utah Royals hold the coveted first pick in the draft.

Now that draft registration has concluded, and all eligible prospective players are in the mix, we reached out to the insightful co-founder of Parkside, Matt Peek, to gather his insights on the 1st round of the NWSL draft. Explore his draft preview and predictions and some fast facts of each prospect!

 

Round 1 Prospective Picks

TWIST: Matt Predicts – *Washington Spirit to send Ashley Hatch to Utah Royals for 1st Overall Pick

1. Savy King → Washington Spirit

Grade: Freshman

College: UNC Chapel Hill

Club: Slammers FC HB Koge

Hometown: West Hills, CA

Position: Defender

Highlights: One of only four Tar Heels to start all 23 matches, and the only freshman to do, Named to the US U20 Concacaf team, helped qualify for the 2024 U-20 World Cup • One of 5 nominees for 2023 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year

2. Maya Doms → Bay FC

Grade: 5th Year

College: Stanford

Club: Davis Legacy Soccer Club 

Hometown: Davis, CA

Position: Midfield

Highlights: NCAA Champion (2019), Competed with U-23 national team (2022), U-17 World Cup in Uruguay (2018)

 

3. Kiki Van Zanten → Chicago Red Stars

Grade: Grad Student

College: Notre Dame

Club: Eclipse Select Soccer Club

Hometown: Buffalo Grove, IL

Position: Midfield

Highlights: Made Jamaican National Team for 2023 Women’s World Cup, United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Region

4. Brecken Monzingo→ Utah Royals

Grade: Senior

College: BYU 

Club: Celtic FC/ Sparta

Hometown: Sandy, UT

Position: Midfield/Forward

Highlights: Mac Hermann Trophy finalist, United Soccer Coaches All-America first team, named 2024 Honda Sports Award finalist 

5. Ally Sentnor→ NC Courage

Grade: Redshirt Sophomore

College: Chapel Hill

Club: South Shore Select

Hometown: Hanson, MA

Position: Midfield/Forward

Highlights: ACC Midfielder of the Year, Finished the year with 11 goals, seven assists and 29 points, all which led the team, Named to the United States Under-20 Concacaf team, One of five nominees for 2023 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.

6. Reilyn Turner → Racing Louisville

Grade: Senior

College: UCLA

Club: SoCal Blues

Hometown: Aliso Viejo, CA

Position: Forward

Highlights: UCLA’s first-ever winner of the Pac-12 Forward of the Year award, Named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List, Selected to U.S. U-23 squad for the 2023 Thorns Preseason Tournament, member of youth USWNT since 2018

7. Croix Bethune → Washington Spirit

Grade: Senior

College: Georgia

Club: Concorde Fire SC

Hometown: Alpharetta, GA

Position: Midfield

Highlights: United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team (2021, 2022), Semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy (2021), Has been a member of the USWNT youth system since the age of 13 and was most recently a member of the U-18 squad.

8. Kennedy Wesley → Bay FC

Grade: Grad Student

College: Stanford

Club: SoCal Blues

Hometown: Rossmoor, CA

Position: Defender

Highlights: United Soccer Coaches All-Region third team, 2019 NCAA Champion, U17 US National Team experience

9. Ally Lemos → Orlando

Grade: Sophomore

College: UCLA

Club: Legends FC

Hometown: Glendora, CA

Position: Midfield

Highlights: Played with the U-20s at the 2023 Concacaf Championships

10. Avery Patterson → NC Courage

Grade: Senior

College: UNC Chapel Hill

Club: Florida Elite Soccer Academy

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL

Position: Forward/Midfield

Highlights: United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-America • United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team, Named to the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team in March 2023, Competed for Team USA in the Under-20 Concacaf World Championships 

11. Maycee Bell -→ Portland Thorns

Grade: Redshirt Senior

College: UNC Chapel Hill

Club: NC Courage Development Academy, Sporting Blue Valley DA (14-17)

Hometown: Wichita, KA

Position: Defender

Highlights: U.S. Youth National Team member from 2014 to the present at U16, U18, U19, U20 levels, Anchored UNC’s defense that allowed only 7.4 shots per game and held 20 of its 23 opponents to 10 shots or fewer, Named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List 

12. Makenna Morris → San Diego Wave

Grade: Senior

College: Clemson

Club:  McLean ECNL

Hometown: Germantown, MD

Position: Defender

Highlights: Helped Clemson advance to first NCAA Tournament semifinal in program history,  earned United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-America

13. Sam Meza → Washington Spirit

Grade: Senior

College: UNC Chapel Hill

Club: Solar Soccer Club

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Position: Midfield

Highlights: MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, U.S. National Team U17 Qualifier, World Cup U20 Qualifier

14. Lauren Flynn → Gotham FC

Grade: Senior

College: FSU

Club: Washington Spirit Advanced Development Program

Hometown: Arlington, VA

Position:Defender

Highlights: 2023 NCAA Champion, NCAA Tournament Defensive Most Outstanding Player (2023), Gave up no goals en route to the College Cup, tallied four straight clean sheets (11/24), Named to US U-23 National Team

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