NWSL Announces Further Details Regarding 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft and 2022 NWSL Draft, Presented by Ally

League releases current draft order, updated draft eligibility rules

CHICAGO (December 3, 2021) – The National Women’s Soccer League announced further details regarding the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft presented by Ally and the 2022 NWSL Draft presented by Ally, including the current draft order. 

Selection order for expansion clubs Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC was determined via a coin flip involving members of the league and representatives from both teams. After winning the coin flip, Wave FC selected priority in the NWSL Draft. As a result, San Diego will have pick No. 1 in both the first and third rounds of the draft, while Angel City will select first in rounds two and four. Angel City will also have the first pick in the NWSL Expansion Draft.

In addition, each expansion team will receive a compensatory pick at the conclusion of the second round of the NWSL Draft. The coin flip determined that Wave FC will select the first compensatory pick at No. 25, and Angel City will make the second pick at No. 26.

Additionally, the board of governors voted to increase the number of draft-eligible players ahead of the 2022 NWSL Draft. The 

Registration was not required for the 2021 NWSL Draft due to the pandemic-altered NCAA soccer schedule. Those players who were draft-eligible, but went undrafted, were therefore NWSL discovery-eligible in 2021, even if they retained NCAA eligibility. The updated rules for the NWSL 2022 Draft allow players who are otherwise eligible, but currently on a NWSL team’s discovery list, the choice to either remain on that team’s discovery list or be removed in order to register for 2022 NWSL Draft. Impacted players have been notified of this update.

Round 1 

No. 1: San Diego Wave FC

No. 2: Racing Louisville FC

No. 3: North Carolina Courage

No. 4: Racing Louisville FC

No. 5: Orlando Pride

No. 6: Houston Dash

No. 7: North Carolina Courage

No. 8: NJ/NY Gotham FC

No. 9: San Diego Wave FC

No. 10: OL Reign

No. 11: Chicago Red Stars

No. 12: Kansas City Current

Round 2 

No. 13: Angel City FC 

No. 14: San Diego Wave FC

No. 15: OL Reign

No. 16: Racing Louisville FC

No. 17: Kansas City Current

No. 18: Chicago Red Stars

No. 19: Chicago Red Stars

No. 20: OL Reign

No. 21: Houston Dash

No. 22: Portland Thorns FC

No. 23: Chicago Red Stars

No. 24: NJ/NY Gotham FC

No. 25: San Diego Wave FC

No. 26: Angel City FC

Round 3

No. 27: San Diego Wave FC

No. 28: Angel City FC

No. 29: Orlando Pride

No. 30: Racing Louisville FC

No. 31: Orlando Pride

No. 32: OL Reign

No. 33: OL Reign

No. 34: NJ/NY Gotham FC

No. 35: Chicago Red Stars

No. 36: OL Reign

No. 37: Chicago Red Stars

No. 38: Washington Spirit

Round 4

No. 39: Angel City FC

No. 40: San Diego Wave FC

No. 41: Kansas City Current

No. 42: Racing Louisville FC

No. 43: Kansas City Current

No. 44: Houston Dash

No. 45: North Carolina Courage

No. 46: NJ/NY Gotham FC

No. 47: OL Reign

No. 48: Portland Thorns

No. 49: Chicago Red Stars

No. 50: Washington Spirit

Both the NWSL Expansion Draft and the NWSL Draft will take place at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Further information regarding coverage of the drafts will be announced in the coming days.