Tar Heels Dominate with Top 2 Picks in NWSL Draft

Utah Royals Select Ally Sentnor in NWSL Draft

In a significant turn of events in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) draft, Utah Royals chose Ally Sentnor, the coveted Atlantic Coast Conference Midfielder of the Year, from the University of North Carolina. This 19-year-old prodigy has consistently shown exceptional performance, logging 11 goals and contributing seven assists. Her abilities extend beyond midfield, doubling up as a forward and even leading the U.S. team at the 2022 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Learn more about Utah Royals here.

Bay FC Picks Savy King

Likewise, Bay FC, a new entrant from the San Francisco Bay Area, opted for another teenage Tar Heel, 18-year-old defender Savy King. This U.S. youth international played a pivotal role in her team by logging a team-high 2,030 minutes and earning a spot on the ACC All-Freshman team. The performance of these young talents was recognized when both Sentnor and King were nominated for the U.S. Soccer’s 2023 Young Female Player of the Year Award. However, the award was eventually won by Portland Thorns’ midfielder Olivia Moultrie.

Other Notable Picks in the NWSL Draft

Other notable selections in the draft include University of Georgia’s midfielder Croix Bethune who was picked third by Washington Spirit. This player moved from USC, where she had been named PAC-12 Midfielder of the Year twice, to Georgia, and despite the change, she still managed to score four goals and five assists in just 15 matches.

The fourth pick of the draft saw Utah select Brecken Mozingo, a senior midfielder from BYU. Mozingo led her team in goals (14) and assists (15), justifying her selection by the Utah Royals. Following this, the fifth overall pick was used by Washington to select Hal Hershfelt, a defender/midfielder from Clemson, after trading midfielder Ashley Sanchez to the North Carolina Courage.

Canadian Players in the NWSL Draft

The draft also saw the inclusion of Canadian talent with Zoe Burns being the first pick of the third round. Burns, a 22-year-old defender-midfielder, was picked by Utah Royals. Amanda West, another Canadian forward from the University of Pittsburgh, was selected by the Houston Dash later in the third round. The 22-year-old West, who has attended a Canadian senior camp, scored 11 goals and added nine assists in the current season.

The selection of Mya Jones, a winger from the University of Memphis, by the San Diego Wave in the third round highlights the presence of Canadian talent in the NWSL draft.

NWSL Regular Season Kickoff

The NWSL regular season is set to kick off on March 16, preceded by the Challenge Cup on March 15, which sees a face-off between Gotham FC and the San Diego Wave, the team that took home the NWSL Shield for the best regular-season record.