The National Women’s Soccer League announced further details regarding the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft presented by Ally and the 2022 NWSL Draft presented by Ally, including the current draft order.
The Houston Dash currently hold three selections in the 2022 NWSL Draft beginning with the sixth overall pick. The Dash also hold the no. 21 and no. 44 selection in the draft. With the addition of Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC, the Dash will also navigate an expansion draft for the second consecutive year. Houston is allowed to protect nine players from its current roster, including one player currently allocated by U.S. Soccer.
Selection order for expansion clubs Angel City and San Diego was determined via a coin flip involving members of the league and representatives from both teams. After winning the coin flip, Wave FC selected priority in the NWSL Draft. As a result, San Diego will have pick No. 1 in both the first and third rounds of the draft, while Angel City will select first in rounds two and four. Angel City will also have the first pick in the NWSL Expansion Draft.
In addition, each expansion team will receive a compensatory pick at the conclusion of the second round of the NWSL Draft. The coin flip determined that Wave FC will select the first compensatory pick at No. 25, and Angel City will make the second pick at No. 26.
Additionally, the board of governors voted to increase the number of draft-eligible players ahead of the 2022 NWSL Draft.
Registration was not required for the 2021 NWSL Draft due to the pandemic-altered NCAA soccer schedule. Those players who were draft-eligible, but went undrafted, were therefore NWSL discovery-eligible in 2021, even if they retained NCAA eligibility. The updated rules for the NWSL 2022 Draft allow players who are otherwise eligible, but currently on a NWSL team’s discovery list, the choice to either remain on that team’s discovery list or be removed in order to register for 2022 NWSL Draft. Impacted players have been notified of this update.
Round 1
No. 1: San Diego Wave FC
No. 2: Racing Louisville FC
No. 3: North Carolina Courage
No. 4: Racing Louisville FC
No. 5: Orlando Pride
No. 6: HOUSTON DASH
No. 7: North Carolina Courage
No. 8: NJ/NY Gotham FC
No. 9: San Diego Wave FC
No. 10: OL Reign
No. 11: Chicago Red Stars
No. 12: Kansas City Current
Round 2
No. 13: Angel City FC
No. 14: San Diego Wave FC
No. 15: OL Reign
No. 16: Racing Louisville FC
No. 17: Kansas City Current
No. 18: Chicago Red Stars
No. 19: Chicago Red Stars
No. 20: OL Reign
No. 21: HOUSTON DASH
No. 22: Portland Thorns FC
No. 23: Chicago Red Stars
No. 24: NJ/NY Gotham FC
No. 25: San Diego Wave FC
No. 26: Angel City FC
Round 3
No. 27: San Diego Wave FC
No. 28: Angel City FC
No. 29: Orlando Pride
No. 30: Racing Louisville FC
No. 31: Orlando Pride
No. 32: OL Reign
No. 33: OL Reign
No. 34: NJ/NY Gotham FC
No. 35: Chicago Red Stars
No. 36: OL Reign
No. 37: Chicago Red Stars
No. 38: Washington Spirit
Round 4
No. 39: Angel City FC
No. 40: San Diego Wave FC
No. 41: Kansas City Current
No. 42: Racing Louisville FC
No. 43: Kansas City Current
No. 44: HOUSTON DASH
No. 45: North Carolina Courage
No. 46: NJ/NY Gotham FC
No. 47: OL Reign
No. 48: Portland Thorns
No. 49: Chicago Red Stars
No. 50: Washington Spirit
Both the NWSL Expansion Draft and the NWSL Draft will take place at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Further information regarding coverage of the drafts will be announced in the coming days.
