NWSL Draft

This article is about drafts held by the NWSL for college players and select amateur players who renounced their collegiate eligibility in the United States. For other types of drafts held by the NWSL, see List of drafts held by the NWSL.

The NWSL Draft was an annual entry draft for the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) which took place in December or January of each year. Prior to 2021 it was known as the NWSL College Draft,[1] and was renamed to reflect that selections were no longer limited to collegiate players.[2]

Unlike other nations' leagues, which often use an academy model or free agency to allow players to solicit contract offers and choose which team they play for, the NWSL restricted player entry and distributed players to teams through a variety of mechanisms, including the NWSL Draft for players ages 18 and older with active or potential NCAA eligibility. This was driven in part by NCAA amateurism rules and the breadth of NCAA Division I women's soccer in the United States, both unique factors not replicated in other nations.[3]

  1. ^ Herrera, Sandra (January 12, 2023). "How the 2023 NWSL Draft works: Complete draft order, player pool, selection process, rules, trade windows". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  2. ^ "NWSL Opens Player Registration and Announces Current Selection Order for the Renamed 2021 NWSL Draft". National Women's Soccer League. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  3. ^ Ogutu, Blaise (December 24, 2021). "NWSL Draft: How does it work?". Her Football Hub. Retrieved April 16, 2023.