Collegiate soccer has long played a significant role in the women’s game, developing generations of players who have gone on to become top professionals, international stars, and influential coaches and executives. But as pro leagues evolve and the economics of the college game change, so too does its role in the wider ecosystem of the sport.
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On Friday, the showpiece event of the college soccer season commences when Florida State faces Clemson (6 p.m. ET), and Brigham Young faces Stanford (8:30 p.m. ET) in the 2023 Women’s College Cup in Cary, North Carolina. The final will be played on Monday (6 p.m. ET; all matches on ESPNU and ESPN+). But the NCAA tournament began with 64 teams ranging from long-established powerhouses of the game with well-stocked trophy cabinets to upstart programs at varying stages of contention. Over the coming weeks, The Athletic will tell the stories of several teams in each category, so stay tuned.
But first, we’re taking a look at the NCAA players who could soon make the leap to the NWSL through the league’s college draft. The draft will be held on Jan. 12 of next year and players don’t have to register for the draft until Jan. 8, so the draft pool is still very much up in the air. However, what follows is an early attempt at putting together a group of players to keep an eye on (players in the College Cup denoted with an *). As you read up on them, check out The Athletic’s fun Instagram AR filter, which highlights 10 standouts (experience it here).
Reilyn Turner, F, UCLA
Turner’s versatility as a forward will allow her to fit into any NWSL team. She’s shown the ability to score and assist, whether she’s the main center forward or playing out wide.
*Jody Brown, F, Florida State (intl)
A solid showing for Jamaica at the World Cup has raised Brown’s profile, but she’s been a consistent performer at Florida State for four years, tallying 22 goals and 25 assists. She’s a right winger who’s elite at dribbling past defenders to create chances.
*Brecken Mozingo, F, BYU
Mozingo does it all from midfield for BYU. She regularly scores from outside the box with both feet, runs past defenders to set up cutbacks, and delivers great crosses and set pieces. Her position on the right side of a diamond midfield is unique, and teams will need to decide if they see her as a central midfielder or a winger.
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Eva Gaetino, D, Notre Dame
A tall center back who’s great in the air and aggressive in stepping up to make interceptions. Her impressive, long outlet passes regularly spring dangerous counter-attacks.
Brittany Raphino, F, Brown
The back-to-back Ivy League player of the year is a complete attacker who’s just as good at winning the ball in the air as she is at running by defenders. Raphino is an excellent finisher as well, with 13 goals from 11 xG, according to WyScout.
*Megan Bornkamp, D, Clemson
One of the most versatile players in the draft, Bornkamp has played as a target striker, a defensive midfielder, and as a center back. Her pro future is likely in defense, where she’s had good showings for the USWNT U-23s.
Eleanor Dale, F, Nebraska (intl)
Dale was the shocking breakout star of the 2023 college season, jumping from seven goals in her junior campaign to a jaw-dropping 28 goals in 24 games this year. In a draft with a thin center forward pool, it won’t matter if teams think that massive number was a bit flukey.
Felicia Knox, M, Alabama
Knox’s stats dropped off from her incredible junior year, where she tallied 20 assists, as teams started to hyper-focus on her in their gameplanning. But she was still Alabama’s best player in her senior campaign, regularly completing through balls and passes into the box for her teammates.
Maycee Bell, D, North Carolina
Bell had a big setback in 2022 with a torn ACL, but she bounced back with a solid senior year campaign. However, she wasn’t as dominant in the air as she was pre-injury, and teams will have to figure out whether or not that’s temporary.
*Maya Doms, M, Stanford
Stanford’s attacking midfielder was an all-around performer in the center, contributing just as much defensively as she did to the attack. Doms’ 10 goals from midfield are impressive, but NWSL teams will like that she does a little bit of everything.
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Croix Bethune, M, Georgia
Bethune’s goal and assist numbers dropped in her senior year following a transfer from USC to Georgia, but it appears she was likely hindered by some early season injuries. She was back to her playmaking best in the postseason, tallying three goals and four assists over her final six games.
*Lauren Flynn, D, Florida State
Florida State’s history of producing great ball-playing center backs will give teams confidence that Flynn can step into a pro team right away. Her gorgeous long balls and comfort in playing with both feet will make her especially valuable.
Payton Linnehan, M, Penn State
With consistent performances over five seasons and the ability to play left, right, or centrally, Linnehan feels like a safe selection for a team that’s risk averse and wants to make sure they’re at least getting solid depth from their picks. She finished her Penn State career with 34 goals and 24 assists in 90 games.
Samar Guidry, D, Virginia
Guidry joined Virginia as a top attacking recruit, but has turned into one of the best all-around left backs in the country, improving her defensive positioning and ball-winning ability with each successive season. She would instantly be one of the best dribbling fullbacks in NWSL.
Talia Staude, D, Virginia
Some teams will have Staude crossed off their list just on the basis of size and aerial ability, but she’ll be a perfect fit for someone. She’s probably the steadiest passer out of the center backs in this draft, and could make a great partner for a center back who’s much better in the air than they are with their feet.
Avery Patterson, D/M, North Carolina
Patterson’s transition from attacking winger to wingback has only marginally impacted her attacking contribution, as the UNC star scored nine goals in 2023. Her best fit will be with a team that plays in a back three, but she’s shown the versatility to fit into any system.
Kate Wiesner, D, Penn State
Wiesner was a No. 1 ranked attacking midfield recruit and USWNT U-17 star coming into college, but injuries kept her from making a significant impact early in her Penn State career. Her transition to left back as a senior has likely re-invigorated her pro prospects, and someone’s likely to invest in her potential improvement as a defender.
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*Makenna Morris, F, Clemson
It’s not clear if Morris’ best pro position will be winger or fullback, but teams will like that she’s shown the ability to play both. She’s spent most of her time at right back for Clemson during her senior year, but she’s been an extremely attacking one, scoring 10 goals.
Anna Haddock, M, Auburn
NWSL teams will value Haddock’s consistency, with the Auburn midfielder tallying 18 goals and 31 assists across her four-year college career. She’s been an advanced playmaker for the Tigers, but expect her to play a bit deeper as a more box-to-box midfielder in the pros.
Anna Podojil, F, Arkansas
Podojil is an impressive all-around footballer, but her extreme ups and downs as a shooter will have teams thinking about a positional change. Reminiscent of Angel City midfielder Savannah McCaskill and Kansas City fullback Hailie Mace, who changed roles after their college careers ended.
*Kennedy Wesley, D, Stanford
Wesley is Stanford’s leader and arguably the best positional defender in the draft, but at 5’5”, her size could scare some teams away from using a high pick on her. Someone who’s not as focused on physical attributes could get an absolute steal in the second round or later.
Gracie Brian, M, TCU
A consistent, all-around central midfielder who can add to any team’s depth right away, regardless of style of play or specific positional needs. Brian had 35 goals and 27 assists over her college career and had consistently high shot numbers.
*Cristina Roque, GK, Florida State
Roque’s experience and comfort with playing out of the back will pique teams’ interest. However, due to Florida State’s dominance, she’s faced way fewer quality shots than the other keepers in contention to get drafted. Teams will need to be extremely confident in their evaluation with a tiny sample of shots on target against.
*Hal Hershfelt, M, Clemson
There often aren’t a large volume of pro-quality defensive midfielders in the draft, with teams looking for attacking midfielders and center backs who could make good conversion projects. That makes Hershfelt, a true DM with some technical quality, a rare commodity.
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Cori Dyke, D/M, Penn State
Teams will like Dyke’s positional versatility, as she’s played all over the back line and midfield for Penn State, depending on the team’s needs. Her extensive experience with the USWNT U-20s and U-23s will have teams confident she’s ready to step into a pro training environment, as well.
Mollee Swift, GK, LSU
Swift’s 26 goals conceded in her senior year might not look great on the surface, but they came from 32 expected goals faced. She was under significant pressure in every game, and proved to be one of the country’s best shot stoppers.
Leah Freeman, GK, Duke
After an extremely impressive career at Oregon, Freeman’s shot stopping numbers dropped off quite a bit after her transfer to Duke, with more goals conceded than Expected Goals faced. But someone is likely to take the gamble that her real level is closer to what she showed with the Ducks.
Talia Dellaperuta, M, North Carolina
Dellaperuta was a highly-touted recruit who had a couple of solid early seasons for the Tar Heels, but her production dropped off steeply in her senior year. Her stock has dropped, but her technical quality and USWNT youth experience will still lead to someone betting they can develop her.
Sam Meza, M, North Carolina
Meza was a reliable midfield metronome for North Carolina, but didn’t create much in attack. There aren’t many players in college more comfortable on the ball, but teams will need to figure out if they can turn that into created chances, or if she needs to change to a more defensive role.
AR filter produced by Nick Bartzokas, A.J. Chavar, Angela Dai, Mark McKeague and Kasey Morrison, and designed by Amy Cavenaile and Drew Jordan. Eleanor Dale photo courtesy Husker Athletics. Other photos: Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photos, Eakin Howard, Erin Chang/ISI Photos, Fletcher Wold/ISI Photos, Husker Athletics, Icon Sportswire, Katharine Lotze.
(Top photo: John Todd/ISI Photos)