Breaking Down the 2015 NWSL Draft

Dec 8, 2013; Cary, NC, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Amanda Cromwell and midfield/forward Jenna Richmond (7) and midfield/forward Sam Mewis (22) and UCLA Bruins defender Abby Dahlkemper (8) celebrate on the podium with the championship trophy. The Bruins defeated the Seminoles 1-0 in overtime at WakeMed Soccer Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

2015 NWSL Draft First Round

In a move that surprised absolutely no one, Morgan Brian went first in the 2015 NWSL draft to bolster Houston’s midfield alongside USWNT teammate and veteran Carli Lloyd. The University of Virgina senior just won her second straight MAC Hermann trophy, beating out Dagný Brynjarsdóttir (FSU, and, soon, FC Bayern Munich) and Sam Mewis (UCLA). She seems poised have a breakout summer, between appearing for the national team at the Women’s World Cup and a likely starting spot for the Dash. Her skill, her prowess, and her intelligence are all common knowledge.

"“I think for Morgan, she’s on the very front edge of what she is going to be not only for the Dash, but for this country.” (Houston Dash head coach Randy Waldrum)"

UCLA had six eligible and registered seniors in this draft, starting with the very solid Sarah Killion, taken by Sky Blue at the number two spot, defender Abby Dahlkemper, and the slightly underrated Sam Mewis, both picked up by Western New York at #3 and #4, respectively. Killion and Mewis, both midfielders, were expected to go very early, and WNY held to that expectation. Killion, Brian, and Mewis all appeared on the 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup championship-winnning roster.

I actually found Mewis to be one of the most impressive college players I got a chance to see this season, but she and her other UCLA teammates may be best remembered by college soccer fans for winning the 2013 College Cup. Mewis has a high talent ceiling, and if she can work on her strength, she’ll be a constant irritation for opponents. Dahlkemper is the only four-time All-American who was registered for the draft, and she did a stellar job anchoring UCLA’s back line, which has looked fantastic these past couple of seasons.

In a bit of sneaky gamesmanship, Chicago picked up Stephanie McCaffrey (Boston College) at #5, whose stock has risen since Jill Ellis pulled her from the U23 camp to participate with the full senior team earlier this month. They then turned around and got Boston to give up the 9th and 11th picks for a player that they didn’t seem have too much use for in the first place. Boston will get the speedy forward, who has drawn comparisons to former Breaker Heather O’Reilly; she averaged 10 goals a season for BC, so they’ll be hoping for similar production numbers, but if nothing else, her speed should help set up her teammates nicely.

Western New York had four of the first seven picks in this draft, and after getting Dahlkemper and Mewis, they picked up forward Lynn Williams (Pepperdine) and left back Jaelene Hinkle (Texas Tech) with the 6th and 7th picks. Williams is a strong target forward, with tough character and lovely finishing ability, and her speed is accentuated by an occasional track career: look for her to burn defenses that underestimate her. Hinkle has a stellar left foot, and excels at pacing and building attacks from the back; she got the call-up to the U-23 development camp in southern California earlier this month.

Another pair of U-23 pool players went to Chicago, who held the eighth and ninth picks to close out the first round. Arin Gilliland (Kentucky), or “Gilly,” is a speedy and versatile defender who will likely play at LB for the Red Stars. A genuine impact player, she was All-SEC all four years, and 2014’s SEC Player of the Year. But what made that earlier Boston trade so genius was that midfielder Danielle Colaprico (Virginia) was still available. Colaprico was easily one of the most highly vaunted midfielders in this draft, which is all the more impressive when you consider that she was on the same NCAA finalist squad as Morgan Brian. She set school records for assists, both season and career, and might be the most game-changing player in this draft. Yes, maybe even more than Moe.

End of the round notes: By most logic, Chicago won last year’s NWSL draft, and seemed poised to do it again in 2015 by the conclusion of the first round. It was also highly surprising that perhaps the best defender, FSU’s Kristine Grubka, managed to stay on the board past the first round.

Next: NWSL Draft Second Round