When Tierna Davidson made official her decision to forgo her senior season at Stanford and enter the 2019 NWSL College Draft days before the draft, it became pretty apparent who Chicago would take with the No. 1 pick.
It became official on Thursday in Chicago, with the Red Stars tabbing the USWNT defender as the first pick of the NWSL College Draft.
Davidson was unable to be at the draft in person because she was in Portugal training with the USWNT, which has a couple friendlies coming up against France (Jan. 19) and Spain (Jan. 22). Fortunately, she knew in advance she’d be the No. 1 pick and had a video message prepared.
Wouldn’t that have been awkward if Chicago had traded the pick or gone with someone else?
Davidson, born one day after Christian Pulisic, already has 12 caps and one goal with the USWNT at the age of 20. She helped Stanford win the 2017 women’s soccer championship and was a part of the USWNT winning the SheBelieves Cup and Tournament of Nations in 2018.
2019 NWSL College Draft in Chicago. Photo: Matt Jenkins | The18
After Davidson, the Sky Blue took Hailie Mace of UCLA with the No. 2 pick.
The rest of the 2019 NWSL College Draft first round was dominated by loud background music — making it nearly impossible to hear the announcers — and the Washington Spirit taking four of the top eight picks. Washington traded the No. 29 pick and three players (to be named later) for the No. 3 pick, which was used to take Stanford midfielder Jordan DiBiasi.
Oddly, among the nine picks in the first round, only three different teams made picks: Red Stars, Spirit (four), Sky Blue (two) and Courage (two).
Here’s how the first round shook out:
2019 NWSL College Draft First Round
No. 1 — Chicago Red Stars
Tierna Davidson, Stanford
No. 2 — Sky Blue
Hailie Mace, UCLA
No. 3 — Washington Spirit
Jordan DiBiasi, Stanford
No. 4 — Washington Spirit
Sam Staab, Clemson
No. 5 — NC Courage
Leah Pruitt, USC
(What, you couldn’t find a photo without a watermark?)
No. 6 — Sky Blue FC
Julia Ashley, North Carolina
No. 7 — Washington Spirit
Tegan McGrady, Stanford
No. 8 — Washington Spirit
Dorian Bailey, North Carolina
No. 9 — NC Courage
Hailey Harbison, Pepperdine
2019 NWSL College Draft Second Round
Just as Washington dominated the first round, the Houston Dash dominated the second, with four picks. Sky Blue also had two more picks, starting with the first in the second round.
No. 10 — Sky Blue FC
Paige Monaghan, Butler
No. 11 — Sky Blue FC
Julie James, Baylor
No. 12 — Houston Dash
Ally Prisock, USC
No. 13 — Houston Dash
CeCe Kizer, Ole Miss
No. 14 — NC Courage
Lauren Milliet, Colorado College
No. 15 — Chicago Red Stars
Maria Sanchez, Santa Clara
No. 16 — Houston Dash
Betsy Brandon, Virginia
No. 17 — Washington Spirit
Bayley Feist, Wake Forest
No. 18 — Houston Dash
Kayla McCoy, Duke
