- PREMIUM
- HOME
- NFL
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
- NBA
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
Southeast
Atlantic
Southwest
Northwest
- MLB
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
AL East
AL Central
NL West
NL East
- NHL
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
Atlantic
Pacific
- WNBA
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
Eastern
- EPL
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
- MLS
Transactions
Trending Players
Eastern
ATL Atlanta UnitedAtlanta United FC
MTL MontrealCF Montreal
CLT CharlotteCharlotte FC
CHI FireChicago Fire
CLB Columbus CrewColumbus Crew
DC UnitedD.C. United
CIN CincinnatiFC Cincinnati
MIA Inter MiamiInter Miami FC
NSH NashvilleNashville SC
NE RevolutionNew England Revolution
NYC New York CityNew York City FC
RBNY Red BullsNew York Red Bulls
ORL Orlando CityOrlando City
PHI UnionPhiladelphia Union
TOR TorontoToronto FC
Western
ATX AustinAustin FC
COL RapidsColorado Rapids
DAL DallasFC Dallas
HOU DynamoHouston Dynamo
LA GalaxyLA Galaxy
LAFC Los AngelesLos Angeles FC
MIN MinnesotaMinnesota United FC
POR TimbersPortland Timbers
RSL Real Salt LakeReal Salt Lake
SJ EarthquakesSan Jose Earthquakes
SEA SoundersSeattle Sounders FC
SKC Kansas CitySporting Kansas City
STL St. Louis CITYSt. Louis CITY SC
VAN WhitecapsVancouver Whitecaps FC
- NWSL
Popular Pages
Transactions
Trending Players
ACFC Angel City FCAngel City FC
BFC Bay FCBay FC
CHI Chicago Red StarsChicago Red Stars
HOU Houston DashHouston Dash
KC Kansas City CurrentKansas City Current
NJNY NJ/NY Gotham FCNJ/NY Gotham FC
NC North Carolina CourageNorth Carolina Courage
ORL Orlando PrideOrlando Pride
POR Portland Thorns FCPortland Thorns FC
LOU Racing Louisville FCRacing Louisville FC
SD San Diego Wave FCSan Diego Wave FC
SEA Seattle Reign FCSeattle Reign FC
UTA Utah Royals FCUtah Royals FC
WAS Washington SpiritWashington Spirit
- GOLF
Popular Pages
Trending Players
- TENNIS
ATP
WTA
- RACING
NASCAR CUP
FORMULA 1
- PVF
- OLYMPICS
Roundup: 2024 NWSL Collegiate Draft
![](https://d1dglpr230r57l.cloudfront.net/images/xlarge/USATSI_23216015_168390303_lowres.jpg)
Almost one-third done with the 2024 NWSL season, it’s a good time to take a look at the 2024 Collegiate Draft, how things panned out contract wise, the impact of teams' draft classes, and the most/least impactful trades of draft day.
Contract Length Breakdown
The 2024 NWSL Draft had the most players drafted with expansion sides Bay FC and Utah Royals increasing the total teams involved up to 14. Of the 56 players drafted, 25% of the players drafted didn’t end up signing with the NWSL team that drafted them. Another quarter of the draftees were signed to contracts of at least three years, while the largest percentage of draftees were signed to a one year contract with an option year for 2025.
A breakdown of the contract length given per round of draft picks can be seen below. As is roughly expected, a majority of the first round picks were signed to contracts of at least three years guaranteed. As the rounds continue, the average contract lengths reduce until the fourth and final round where a majority of the players were not signed to their drafting teams.
The 2024 NWSL draft picks and the specific contracts per player can be found: https://www.spotrac.com/nwsl/draft/_/year/2024
Team Breakdown of Draft Picks
Reminder: The mode is the most frequent number that appears in a set of data. It is used here to highlight the trend of teams in the length of the contracts they signed draftees. In the case of Chicago and Louisville, there was an even split so both numbers were included.
Both Seattle and North Carolina have had 0 official minutes played by their draft picks thus far. This is more surprising for the Courage than the Reign because of the fact that all three of the Courage’s picks were signed for three year contracts compared to the fact that neither of Seattle’s signed picks were longer than a 1 year contract with an option. Maddie Mercado did play in roughly 2 minutes of stoppage time for the Reign in their latest match against Kansas City, but stoppage time minutes don’t count toward official minute stats.
Signing only one draft pick, Angel City outside back Madison Curry has truly been the most impactful draft pick of the later rounds in the draft, filling in almost seamlessly for the LA-based side after M.A. Vignola (NWSL 2023 Best XI Second team) went down injured in ACFC’s week two matchup against Orlando.
Of teams with more than one draft pick, the draftees of the Washington Spirit have averaged the most minutes played, led by midfielders Croix Bethune and Hal Hershfelt who both have played in a majority of the Spirit’s minutes. In eight games, Bethune has already scored three goals in addition to her four assists, while Hershfelt has two goals of her own and an impressive 81% passing accuracy. The Spirit currently sit in third place in the table through eight games.
The Kansas City Current signed two draft picks, although one is a goalkeeper—and none of the four signed drafted goalkeepers across the league have played a single minute so far—the other drafted player was defender Ellie Wheeler who started in Kansas City’s first six matches, and scored a goal in her professional debut, aiding to KC’s current unbeaten run. With defender Hailie Mace building back her minutes after missing the first few games with a knock, Kansas City has good depth of outside backs as the team marches toward the mid-season break in July.
Racing Louisville and the Utah Royals are the other two squads whose signed rookies have an average of at least 300 minutes per person, even with Racing being one of four squads with only seven matches played rather than eight.
Both of Racing’s signings—forwards Emma Sears and Reilyn Turner—have been impactful both when starting and when coming off the bench, with Turner having two goals and two assists and Sears having a goal of her own.
Utah’s roster as an expansion team has the most draftees signed of any squad at six, and although number one overall draft pick Ally Sentnor is leading both the Utah draftees and all of the draftees in general in playing time with 720 min, and has two goals and two assists. Four of Utah’s six signed draft picks have over 300 minutes played.
Of teams who have utilized their draft classes less, Portland forward Payton Linnehan and San Diego defender Kennedy Wesley have really stepped up in the last few weeks filling in for injured teammates. They’ll also be players to watch develop through the year.
Breakdown of Draft-Day Trades
Most Impactful: Washington Spirit
What will likely be the most impactful trade of Draft Day was the Chicago Red Stars trading the number three overall pick to the Washington Spirit in return for centerback Sam Staab—who recently was named to the NWSL’s March/April Best XI. With that number three pick, the Spirit chose Croix Bethune, who is currently leading the draftees in minutes played thus far this season, won March/April Rookie of the Month and made the NWSL Best XI for March/April. In hindsight, both teams have greatly benefited from the outcome of the trade.
Least Impactful: Angel City FC
There were six trades during the draft itself, however only one team traded for a draft pick then didn’t end up signing the player: Angel City FC. The LA-based club sent $15k in allocation money to Utah for the 44th overall pick, proceeded to pick midfielder Jessica Garziano from St. Johns, but didn’t end up signing her.
CATEGORIES
- NBA 102
- NFL 70
- GOLF 48
- NWSL 36
- MLB 22
- NHL 1
AUTHORS
- Michael Ginnitti NFL, MLB
- Keith Smith NBA
- Scott Allen Contributor
- Taylor Vincent NWSL
![](https://d1dglpr230r57l.cloudfront.net/images/crop/4517_USATSI_23116132_168390303_lowres.jpg)
Roster Building In The Apron Era
Looking at how NBA teams over the 1st and 2nd Apron operated during the 2024 offseason.
![](https://d1dglpr230r57l.cloudfront.net/images/crop/4515_USATSI_21583252_168390303_lowres.jpg)
2025 NWSL Free Agents: Top 15
Ranking the top 15 2025 NWSL Free Agents.
![](https://d1dglpr230r57l.cloudfront.net/images/crop/4513_USATSI_24135171_168390303_lowres.jpg)
Scheffler Wins TOUR Championship
Scottie Scheffler wins the TOUR Championship and $25 million.
![](https://d1dglpr230r57l.cloudfront.net/images/crop/4512_USATSI_21628660_168390303_lowres1.jpg)
Breaking Down Brandon Aiyuk's $120M Extension
After a 6-month standoff that may not have gotten anyone anywhere in the long run, the San Francisco 49ers & WR Brandon Aiyuk agreed to a 4 year, $120M contract extension this week, keeping the 26-year-old on the books through the 2028 season. READ MORE
![](https://d1dglpr230r57l.cloudfront.net/images/crop/4511_USATSI_22005779_168390303_lowres.jpg)
Breaking Down CeeDee Lamb's $136M Extension
The Cowboys checked off one of their three big contract extension boxes, signing WR CeeDee Lamb to a 4 year, $136M extension. We dive into the facts, figures, rankings & future outlook here. READ MORE
TRENDING PLAYERS
- 1 Colt McCoy (QB, ARI)
- 2 Ja'Marr Chase (WR, CIN)
- 3 Dak Prescott (QB, DAL)
- 4 Jamal Murray (PG, DEN)
- 5 Jordan Love (QB, GB)
TRENDING PAGES
- 1 NFL Free Agents
- 2 NFL Transactions
- 3 MLB Free Agents
- 4 NFL Salary Rankings
- 5 NFL Agents