On Friday, Jan. 12, 56 NCAA women’s soccer student-athletes were picked in the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League draft to advance their careers to the professional level. The NWSL draft consisted of four, 14-player rounds — the league’s largest draft class yet — and featured players from 30 different colleges, five of which saw a player drafted for the first time in program history.
North Carolina’s Ally Sentnor, 19 years old, and Savy King, 18, were the No. 1 and No. 2 picks and were two of three teenagers chosen in the first round — another NWSL first. The No. 3 pick went to Georgia standout Croix Bethune, who was the only Bulldog drafted. The Tar Heel show continued throughout the night, as four more players were chosen to make North Carolina the college with the most players in this year’s NWSL draft. BYU and Penn State came in close second with five players each.
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Here’s a breakdown of which colleges had the most players chosen and where they are headed.
North Carolina (6)
- Ally Sentnor (No. 1), R. So. — Utah Royals FC
- Savy King (No. 2), Fr. — Bay FC
- Maycee Bell (No. 14), R. Sr.— NJ/NY Gotham FC
- Sam Meza (No. 17), Sr. — Seattle Reign FC
- Avery Patterson (No. 19), Sr. — Houston Dash
- Julia Dorsey (No. 40), Gr. — North Carolina Courage
BYU (5)
- Brecken Mozingo (No. 4), Sr. — Utah Royals
- Olivia Smith-Griffits (No. 20), Jr. — Utah Royals
- Olivia Wade-Katoa (No. 23), Sr. — Portland Thorns FC
- Jamie Shepherd (No. 30), Sr. — Bay FC
- Laveni Vaka (No. 50), Sr. — Bay FC
Penn State (5)
- Kate Wiesner (No. 7), fifth-year sr. — Washington Spirit
- Payton Linnehan (No. 11), fifth-year sr. — Portland Thorns
- Ellie Wheeler (No. 18), Sr. — Kansas City Current
- Cori Dyke (No. 22), fifth-year Sr. — Orlando Pride
- Katherine Asman (No. 39), Gr. GK — Portland Thorns
Clemson (4)
- Hal Hershfelt (No. 5), Gr. — Washington Spirit
- Makenna Morris (No. 13), Sr. — Washington Spirit
- Halle Mackiewicz (No. 32), Sr. GK — Kansas City Current
- Carolina Conti (No. 34), Sr. — Bay FC
Stanford (3)
- Maya Doms (No. 8), fifth year sr. — Bay FC
- Kennedy Wesley (No. 12), Gr. — San Diego Wave
- Katie Duong (No. 53), fifth-year sr. — Portland Thorns
Florida State (3)
- Leilanni Nesbeth (No. 10), Sr. — Chicago Red Stars
- Lauren Flynn (No. 16), Sr. — Utah Royals FC
- Cristine Roque (No. 33), Sr. GK — Utah Royals FC
Texas Tech (3)
- Hannah Anderson (No. 31), Gr. — Chicago Red Stars
- Alex Kerr (No. 50), Gr. — Orlando Pride
- Madison White (No. 54), Gr. GK— Racing Louisville FC
UCLA (2)
- Reilyn Turner (No. 6), Sr. — Racing Louisville
- Ally Lemons (No. 9), So. — Orlando Pride
Notre Dame (2)
- Kiki Van Zanten (No. 21), Gr. — Houston Dash
- Maddie Mercado (No. 27), Gr. — Seattle Reign FC
Arkansas (2)
- Anna Podojil (No. 35), Gr. — Washington Spirit
- Bea Franklin (No. 41), Gr. — Chicago Red Stars
Pitt (2)
- Amanda West (No. 36), fifth-year sr. — Houston Dash
- Landy Mertz (No. 52), fifth-year sr. — NC Courage
Georgia (1)
- Croix Bethune (No. 3), Gr. — Washington Spirit
NC State (1)
- Jameese Joseph (No. 15), Sr. — Chicago Red Stars
Virginia (1)
- Natalia Staude (No. 24), Gr. — NC Courage
Utah State (1)
- Kelsey Kaufusi (No. 25), Sr. — Portland Thorns
Wisconsin (1)
- Emma Jaskaniec (No. 26), R. Sr. — Utah Royals FC
Ohio State (1)
- Emma Sears (No. 28), Sr. — Racing Louisville FC
Southern Cal (1)
- Zoe Burns (No. 29), Sr. — Utah Royals FC
Alabama (1)
- Felicia Knox (No. 37), Sr. — Angel City
South Carolina (1)
- Heather Hinz (No. 38), Sr. — Houston Dash
Memphis (1)
- Mya Jones (No. 42), fifth-year sr. — San Diego Wave
Saint Mary’s (1)
- Makena Carr (No. 43), Sr. — Seattle Reign FC
Saint John’s (1)
- Jessica Garziano (No. 44), Gr. — Angel City
Michigan State (1)
- Celia Gaynor (No. 45), Gr. — Chicago Red Stars
Arizona (1)
- Hope Hisney (No. 46), Gr. GK — Kansas City Current
Santa Clara (1)
- Alyssa Bourgeois (No. 47), Sr. — Houston Dash
Iowa (1)
- Sam Cary (No. 48), fifth-year sr. — Racing Louisville FC
Utah (1)
- Courtney Brown (No. 49), Gr. — Washington Spirit
Princeton (1)
- Madison Curry (No. 51), Sr. — Angel City
UCF (1)
- Talia Gabarra (No. 56), R. Sr. — Orlando Pride
