All 14 NWSL clubs will gather at the Anaheim Convention Center this week for the upcoming season’s draft. Scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. local time on Friday, January 12, this year’s draft will be broadcast on ION Television for the first two hours until moving to ION Plus at 10 p.m. EST. Viewers can find access to ION in their areas or via streaming platforms by visiting https://iontelevision.com/find-us.
The Washington Spirit currently holds two picks in the first round (seventh and 13th overall) of Friday night’s NWSL Draft. The seventh overall pick represents Washington’s natural 2024 first round pick while the 13th overall selection of this year’s draft was acquired in a draft night trade last year. The Spirit traded defender Emily Sonnett to OL Reign in exchange for the Seattle-based side’s natural 2024 first round pick.
Washington also currently holds the 35th and 49th overall picks in this year’s draft. The Spirit previously traded the 20th (Washington’s natural second rounder) and 21st overall picks to Utah Royals FC in exchange for expansion draft protection last month. The club had acquired the 21st overall pick in last season’s trade with Racing Louisville FC that sent midfielder Jordan Baggett to the Kentucky club.
Eleven Spirit players currently under contract entered the NWSL through the draft. See when and where they were taken below (all selections were made by the Spirit unless otherwise noted):
2017
Ashley Hatch, second overall (BYU) (selected by North Carolina)
More detailed information on the 2024 NWSL Draft presented by Ally, including the draft order and registered players list, can be found here.
The Spirit will be back in action in 2024 with all home matches once again being played at Audi Field. In total, Washington hosted almost 120,000 fans across the club’s 11 regular season home matches in 2023, averaging nearly 11,000 in attendance per home match. Fans can secure their tickets to all home matches next season with a season membership.
About The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the professional women’s soccer team based at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Launched in 2012, the Spirit plays in the National Women’s Soccer League, the premier women’s soccer competition in North America. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Orlando Pride
