The 10th annual NWSL Draft was held on Saturday evening, and with the No. 1 overall pick, expansion side San Diego Wave FC selected Stanford defender Naomi Girma, who was U.S. Soccer's 2020 Young Female Player of the Year.
Girma joins a San Diego backline anchored by USWNT veteran Abby Dahlkemper and former Stanford teammate Tegan McGrady. The 21-year-old can also play in midfield, where she may be needed after the club selected a forward, German international Marleen Schimmer out of Grand Canyon University, with its ninth pick in the first round.
A top moment for the top pick ✨@naomi_girma x @sandiegowavefc pic.twitter.com/VEsYEiC0Iy
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) December 18, 2021
With the second pick in the draft, Racing Louisville selected Florida State midfielder Jaelin Howell. Fresh off leading the Seminoles to their third national title, many viewed the 2020-21 MAC Hermann Trophy Winner as the nation's brightest talent.
She'll link up with USWNT forward Jessica McDonald, who was traded to Louisville from North Carolina for the sixth pick, which was used on Virginia forward Diana Ordoñez.
Couldn’t be more excited!! Thank you Louisville!!
Ready to get started https://t.co/yQHc4jxk9r— Jaelin Howell (@jaehowell18) December 18, 2021
2022 NWSL Draft First Round Selections
- Naomi Girma - Defender, Stanford (San Diego Wave)
- Jaelin Howell - Midfielder, FSU (Racing Louisville)
- Emily Gray - Midfielder, Virginia Tech (NC Courage)
- Savannah DeMelo - Midfielder, USC (Racing Louisville)
- Mia Fishel - Forward, UCLA (Orlando Pride)
- Diana Ordoñez - Forward, Virginia (NC Courage)
- Elyse Bennett - Forward, Washington State (KC Current)
- Zsanett Kajan - Forward, St. John's (OL Reign)
- Marleen Schimmer - Midfielder, Grand Canyon (San Diego Wave)
- Caitlin Cosme - Defender, Duke (Orlando Pride)
- Julie Doyle - Forward, Santa Clara (Orlando Pride)
- Kaitlin Fregulia - Defender, Long Beach State (NC Courage)
2022 NWSL Draft Second Round Selections
- Portland Thorns FC | Sydny Nasello, Forward, USF
- Washington Spirit | Tinaya Alexander, Forward, LSU
- Washington Spirit | Madison Elwell, Forward, Vanderbilt
- Racing Louisville FC | Charmé Morgan, Defender, Oklahoma State
- Kansas City Current | Chardonnay Curran, Midfielder, Oregon
- Chicago Red Stars | Ava Cook, Forward, Michigan State
- Chicago Red Stars | Sammi Fisher, Midfielder, Notre Dame
- OL Reign | Claudia Dickey, Goalkeeper, UNC
- OL Reign | Ryanne Brown, Forward, Wake Forest
- Portland Thorns FC | Gabby Provenzano, Defender, Rutgers
- Washington Spirit | Lucy Shepherd, Forward, Hofstra
- NJ/NY Gotham FC | Kelly Ann Livingstone, Defender, Georgetown
- San Diego Wave | Sydney Pulver, Midfielder, Washington State
- Racing Louisville FC | Jordyn Bloomer, Goalkeeper, Wisconsin
2022 NWSL Draft Third Round Selections
- San Diego Wave | Belle Briede, Midfielder, Stanford
- Angel City | Hope Breslin, Midfielder, Illinois
- NC Courage | Haleigh Stackpole, Midfielder, Ole Miss
- Racing Louisville | Jenna Menta, Forward, Wake Forest
- Orlando Pride | Jada Talley, Forward, USC
- OL Reign | Kaile Halvorsen, Midfielder, Santa Clara
- OL Reign | Olivia Van Der Jagt, Midfielder, Washington
- Gotham FC | Hensley Hancuff, Goalkeeper, Clemson
- Chicago Red Stars | Sarah Griffith, Forward, Purdue
- Angel City | Lily Nabet, Midfielder, Duke
- Chicago Red Stars | Kayla McKeon, Midfielder, Arkansas
- Washington Spirit | Audrey Harding, Forward, UNC-Wilmington
2022 NWSL Draft Fourth Round Selections
- Angel City FC | Miri Taylor, Forward, Hofstra
- San Diego Wave FC | Kayla Bruster, Defender, Georgia
- Kansas City Current | Jenna Winebrenner, Defender, TCU
- Racing Louisville FC | Sydney Cummings, Defender, Georgetown
- Kansas City Current | Izzy Rodriguez, Defender, Ohio State
- Houston Dash | Ryan Gareis, Forward, South Carolina
- North Carolina Courage | Marisa Bova, Goalkeeper, Purdue
- NJ/NY Gotham FC | Raleigh Loughman, Midfielder, Michigan
- OL Reign | Marley Canales, Midfielder, UCLA
- Portland Thorns FC | Natalie Beckman, Forward, Denver
- Chicago Red Stars | Jayda Hylton-Pelaia Defender, Arizona State
- Washington Spirit | Jordan Thompson, Defender, Gonzaga
