Leesburg, Va., (1/14/21) – The Washington Spirit picked up depth for the front line and at goalkeeper during the 2021 NWSL draft, picking Trinity Rodman, Tara McKeown, Anna Heilferty, Sydney Schneider, and Mariana Speckmaier.
The Spirit selected Rodman with the second overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft.
Rodman, a forward for the Washington State Cougars, did not appear in any games for the Cougars after joining them as a freshman in the fall of 2020. Due to Covid-19, Washington State and the Pac-12 did not play a fall season in 2020. Instead, they are expected to play a shortened spring season.
The Spirit acquired the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft in a trade with Sky Blue FC.
In return, the Spirit sent $100,000 in allocation money and the second round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft to Sky Blue FC.
The Spirit selected McKeown with the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft.
McKeown, a senior forward for the USC Trojans, has played in a total of 62 games over three years, making 53 starts. In her 2,527 minutes of game time, McKeown scored 25 times and earned 20 assists. In her junior year with USC, McKeown was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America first team, Pac-12 Forward of the Year, All-Pac-12 first team and All-Pacific Region first team. Due to Covid-19, USC and the Pac-12 did not play a fall season in 2020. Instead, they are expected to play a shortened spring season.
The Spirit selected Heilferty with the 19th overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft.
Heilferty, a senior midfielder/forward for the Boston University Terriers, played in a total of 62 games, making 55 starts. In her 2,702 minutes of game time, Heilferty scored 13 times and earned 10 assists. Over her three year career as a Terrier, Heilferty has been named All-Patriot League First Team, Patriot League Tournament MVP and All-Patriot League Tournament Team in 2018 and Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 2017. She has also represented the U.S. U-18 National Team in 2017.
The Spirit selected Schneider with the 29th overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft.
Schneider, a senior goalkeeper for the UNC Wilmington Seahawks, played in 44 games, making 19 starts. In her 3,674 minutes of game time, Schneider made 131 saves, allowed a total of 49 goals and recorded nine shoutouts. Over her three year career as a Seahawk, Schneider was named First-Team All-Colonial Athletic Association and NCCSIA All-State selection, CAA Goalkeeper of the Year. Schneider also represented Jamaica in FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying, led the team to a third place finish at the CONCACAF Women’s Championship and was the starting goalkeeper for the team in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
The Spirit selected Speckmaier with the 39th overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft.
Speckmaier, a senior forward for the Clemson Tigers, played in nine games for the Tigers in 2020, making seven starts. In her 540 minutes of game time in 2020, Speckmaier scored two times and earned one assist. Over her four year career with Clemson, Speckmaier scored 25 goals and created 29 assists.