What You Need to Know About Skipping College to Go Pro
In recent years, we’ve seen a push to allow younger players to turn pro–Jaedyn Shaw and Olivia Moultrie recently. But why is this uncommon in women’s soccer? Here’s what you need to know about skipping college to go pro and the players that have chosen that path.
Going Pro Early
It isn’t very common to see female players turn pro straight out of high school. For one, there aren’t nearly enough women’s soccer teams in the U.S. to fit all the talented players! Although the NWSL has created many opportunities for women to play professionally in the U.S., there are still only so many spots on a team. Collegiate teams give a better chance of playing at an elite level.
Not to mention, the women’s collegiate game in the U.S. is incredible. Players choose to play college soccer in the States from all over the world. Additionally, a ton of the athletically elite schools are also elite academically. Therefore, skipping college isn’t as common because a player can have a world-class education while representing their school in soccer.
It’s also not easy to make it pro, and players must outshine the competition to be considered. While some players do that from a very young age, the NWSL has an age restriction policy that requires players to be 18 years old to play professionally. This further prohibits teams from signing young talent, giving another reason for players to choose collegiate soccer first. College soccer also provides four years of physical and psychological preparation for professional soccer.
Even so, some big USWNT and NWSL players have gone against the standard college-to-pro route and gone straight to the big leagues. Here are the players who have skipped college to go pro.
Jaedyn Shaw
Jaedyn Shaw is only the second female high school soccer player to sign a professional contract in the U.S. She signed her professional contract at 17, training with the Washington Spirit before signing with the San Diego Wave earlier this month. Though she would have been able to enter the 2023 NWSL Draft, the NWSL allowed her to join the league before being eligible.
The midfielder entered the league through the discovery process earlier this month. Though she would have been eligible for the 2023 entry draft, league commissioner Jessica Berman granted the player special permission to enter in what she labeled a “special circumstance.”
Trinity Rodman
Rodman is the player everyone is following this season–keeping up with her success and growth. She passed on the chance to play collegiately with Washington State University and entered the 2021 NWSL Draft. Ultimately it paid off for her, as she was the second overall pick and has clocked playing time with the Washington Spirit and the USWNT in her first professional season.
Olivia Moultrie
Olivia Moultrie made history as the youngest player to sign with a professional team and score a goal in the NWSL. Her path to the professional level wasn’t easy, though. She had to fight the NWSL age rule even to be allowed to sign a contract. Moultrie was also the youngest player to accept a college scholarship at 11 at UNC. However, she ultimately gave up her scholarship and college eligibility and is now signed with the Portland Thorns.
Lindsay Horan
Another player who skipped out on a UNC scholarship is Lindsay Horan. The USWNT star and 2021 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year declined to play collegiately to sign with PSG in 2012. Horan was the first American female player to sign a professional contract right out of high school. Though, she also didn’t play in high school, training instead with the Colorado Rush Academy and U-17 Nike Boys teams.
Mallory Pugh
Though she originally wanted to play collegiately and joined the UCLA women’s team, Mallory Pugh decided to go pro before ever actually playing for them. Instead, she joined the Washington Spirit in 2017 and scored six goals in her first professional season. She was also a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award!
As women’s soccer continues to grow in the U.S., and if the NWSL changes its age restriction rule in the future, we may definitely see more players follow the trend of skipping college to go pro. However, we still see all the benefits that women’s college soccer brings players.
Featured image via @nwsl on Instagram
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