2024 NWSL expansion draft
{{Short description|Soccer draft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox sports draft
| name = 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft
| logo =
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| sport = Soccer
| date = {{Start date|2023|12|15}}
| time =
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| network = CBS Sports Network
| sponsor = Ally
| overall = 7
| rounds = 12
| league = National Women's Soccer League
| first =
| teams =
| team =
| territorial =
| mr_irrelevant =
| fewnum =
| fewest =
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| ciau =
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| u_sports =
| ncaa =
| redshirts =
| prev = 2022
| next =
| expansion_teams = Bay FC
Utah Royals
| expansion_season = 2024
}}
The 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft was an expansion draft held by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) on December 15, 2023, for two expansion teams, Bay FC and Utah Royals, to select players from existing teams in the league.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/national-womens-soccer-league-releases-rules-and-procedures-for-2024-nwsl-expansion-draft-presented-by-ally|title=National Women’s Soccer League Releases Rules and Procedures for 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft, Presented by Ally |website=www.nwslsoccer.com |publisher=National Women's Soccer League |date=November 1, 2023 |access-date=December 13, 2023}}
This was the league's last expansion draft. In September 2024, the league and its players' union entered into a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) which effectively superseded the CBA that had been entered to in 2021 and was scheduled to end in 2026. The new CBA eliminated all forms of player drafts, including the expansion draft.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/41400681/nwsl-2024-cba-draft-free-agency-charter-flights-health-coverage-revenue-sharing |title=Inside the NWSL's new CBA: Free agency, revenue sharing, more |first=Jeff |last=Kassouf |website=ESPN.com |date=September 24, 2024 |access-date=February 8, 2025}}
Format
Bay FC selected first in the expansion draft, followed by Utah Royals.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/national-womens-soccer-league-announces-asset-selection-order-for-expansion-sides-bay-fc-utah-royals-fc-ahead-of-2024-nwsl-expansion-draft-presented-by-ally-and-2024-nwsl-draft-presented-by-ally |title=National Women’s Soccer League Announces Asset Selection Order for Expansion Sides Bay FC, Utah Royals FC Ahead of 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft Presented by Ally and 2024 NWSL Draft Presented by Ally |publisher=National Women's Soccer League |access-date=June 28, 2023 |date=June 28, 2023}} The expansion draft alternated between both teams across 12 rounds, allowing each team to select up to 12 players.
Each of the NWSL's 12 current teams was permitted to protect nine players, making them ineligible for selection. Furthermore, it was permitted to protect one additional player after the first expansion team selected a player from its roster.
Draft results
- Italics indicate players who are not under contract but whose NWSL playing rights remain with the team
Protected lists by team
The following teams acquired expansion draft protections:{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/2023-24-nwsl-offseason-transaction-tracker|title=2023-24 NWSL Offseason Transaction Tracker |website=www.nwslsoccer.com |publisher=National Women's Soccer League |date=December 12, 2023 |access-date=December 13, 2023}}
- On November 14, 2023, Orlando Pride traded for roster protection from Bay FC.
- On November 15, 2023, Kansas City Current traded for roster protection from Bay FC and Orlando Pride traded for roster protection from Utah Royals.
- On November 17, 2023, Racing Louisville FC traded for roster protection from Bay FC.
- On November 20, 2023, North Carolina Courage and San Diego Wave FC both traded for roster protection from Utah Royals.
- On December 12, 2023, Washington Spirit, Angel City FC, Portland Thorns FC, Houston Dash and NJ/NY Gotham FC all traded for roster protection from Utah Royals FC and Bay FC. Also, Kansas City Current traded for roster protection from Utah Royals FC.
On December 13, 2023, the NWSL released the protected lists from teams participating in the draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/nwsl-releases-protected-unprotected-lists-ahead-of-2024-nwsl-expansion-draft-presented-by-ally|title=NWSL Releases Protected/Unprotected Lists Ahead of 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft Presented by Ally |website=www.nwslsoccer.com |publisher=National Women's Soccer League |date=December 13, 2024 |access-date=December 13, 2023}}
- Bold indicates players selected in the Expansion Draft
- Italics indicate players who are not under contract but whose NWSL playing rights remain with the team
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |
| scope="col"| Protected
! scope="col"| Unprotected | |
|---|---|
| Julia Bianchi (International – Brazil) | Jill Aguilera |
| Ava Cook | Jenna Bike |
| Penelope Hocking | Brooke Elby |
| Taylor Malham | Sami Feller |
| Tatumn Milazzo | Samantha Fisher |
| Alyssa Naeher | Zoey Goralski |
| Cari Roccaro | Sarah Griffith |
| Ally Schlegel | Sophie Jones |
| Arin Wright | Amanda Kowalski |
| Karina LeBlanc | |
| Stephanie McCaffrey | |
| Addie McCain | |
| Zoe Morse | |
| Sarah Woldmoe | |
| Mackenzie Wood | |
| Grace Yochum (College Protected Player) |
{{col-3}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |
| scope="col" | Protected
! scope="col" | Unprotected | |
|---|---|
| Malia Berkely | Tess Boade |
| Sydney Collins | Marisa Bova |
| Kerolin (International – Brazil) | Mille Gejl (International – Denmark) |
| Riley Jackson | Hensley Hancuff |
| Kaleigh Kurtz | Haley Hopkins |
| Narumi Miura (International – Japan) | Estelle Johnson |
| Casey Murphy | Rikako Kobayashi (International – Japan) |
| Denise O'Sullivan | Tyler Lussi |
| Ryan Williams | Rikke Madsen |
| Manaka Matsukubo{{efn|name=loanin|Loan-in protected, does not count towards North Carolina's total of nine (9) protected players}} (International – Japan) | Fuka Nagano |
| Victoria Pickett | |
| Brianna Pinto | |
| Clara Robbins | |
| Katelyn Rowland | |
| Meredith Speck | |
| Olivia Wingate |
{{notelist}}
{{col-3}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |
| scope="col" | Protected
! scope="col" | Unprotected | |
|---|---|
| Bethany Balcer | Olivia Athens |
| Alana Cook | Lauren Barnes |
| Claudia Dickey | Elyse Bennett |
| Sofia Huerta | Ryanne Brown |
| Jordyn Huitema (International – Canada) | Jess Fishlock |
| Veronica Latsko | Samantha Hiatt |
| Phoebe McClernon | Shae Holmes |
| Quinn | Laurel Ivory |
| Olivia Van der Jagt | Jimena López (International – Mexico) |
| Luany (International – Brazil) | |
| Alyssa Malonson | |
| Maia Pérez | |
| Morgan Proffitt | |
| Abby Wambach |
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |
| scope="col" | Protected
! scope="col" | Unprotected | |
|---|---|
| Ary Borges (International - Brazil) | Jordan Baggett |
| Kirsten Davis | Hillary Beall |
| Savannah DeMelo | Jordyn Bloomer |
| Abby Erceg | Kayla Fischer |
| Jaelin Howell | Parker Goins |
| Katie Lund | Uchenna Kanu (International – Nigeria) |
| Lauren Milliet | Alanna Kennedy |
| Carson Pickett | Thembi Kgatlana (International – South Africa) |
| Elli Pikkujämsä (International – Finland) | Julia Lester |
| Paige Monaghan | |
| Maddie Pokorny | |
| Olivia Sekany | |
| Wang Shuang |
{{col-3}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |
| scope="col" | Protected
! scope="col" | Unprotected | |
|---|---|
| Amirah Ali | Belle Briede |
| Danielle Colaprico | Lauren Brzykcy |
| Abby Dahlkemper | Kyra Carusa |
| Naomi Girma | Giovanna DeMarco |
| Taylor Kornieck | Meggie Dougherty Howard |
| Kristen McNabb | Sierra Enge |
| Alex Morgan | Rachel Hill |
| Jaedyn Shaw | Sofia Jakobsson (International – Sweden) |
| Kailen Sheridan | Carly Telford |
| Kelsey Turnbow | |
| Shae Yanez |
{{col-3}}
{{col-end}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{2024 NWSL season by team}}
{{National Women's Soccer League}}
{{NWSL drafts}}