Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – The 2015 NWSL College Draft didn’t disappoint as the nation’s top college seniors found out where they would be playing in the NWSL.
The 2015 draft was a step forward from 2014 in every regard. The room was bigger, the technology was flashier, the talent pool was deeper and even the coverage improved. Keeper Notes even did a live audio broadcast of the draft!
The first round went basically as expected with one glaring exception, the Chicago Red Stars selected Boston College forward Stepahie McCaffrey, who is currently in camp with USWNT. It was widely known the Boston Breakers had their sights set on both local players available in the draft – McCaffery and Samantha Mewis.
The Breakers grabbed McCaffery from the Red Stars in exchange for their 9th and 11th overall picks, respectively. Obviously, McCaffery has more value in Boston because of her hometown name recognition, but given the pieces that Boston needs to add to their roster prior to April, giving up those two picks looks like a steep price. Chicago selected Danielle Colaprico, a dynamic midfielder from the University of Virginia, at number 9 and then Sofia Huerta at No. 11 from Santa Clara University, a speedy forward.
The other blockbuster trade in the first two rounds involved three teams: the Portland Thorns, Houston Dash, and Washington Spirit. First, Houston Dash acquired a player to be named later, it was announced that evening it was Jessica McDonald, from the Portland Thorns FC, in exchange for the No. 13 overall pick in the 2015 College Draft and a second round pick in the 2016 College Draft. Second, the Spirit sent forward Jodie Taylor to the Thorns in exchange for the No. 13 overall pick in the 2015 College Draft and two second round picks in the 2016 College Draft. The Spirit used that pick to select UCLA centerback Megan Oyster.
The Spirit weren’t done making mid draft trades. Washington sent two second round picks in 2016 in exchange for FC Kansas City’s No. 19 (third round) pick in the 2015 draft. The Spirit went on to select another Bruin, Caprice Dydasco, a left back.
Full 2015 NWSL College Draft results are below:
