01/16/2020
Summary
- In the 2020 NWSL College Draft, the Washington Spirit selected:
- forward Ashley Sanchez (UCLA) at No. 4;
- defender/forward Natalie Jacobs (USC) at No. 13;
- midfielder Averie Collins (Washington State) at No. 17;
- forward Katie McClure (Kansas) at No. 23; and
- defender Kaiya McCullough (UCLA) at No. 32.
The Washington Spirit made five selections in the 2020 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) College Draft: forward Ashley Sanchez out of UCLA, defender/forward Natalie Jacobs out of USC, midfielder Averie Collins out of Washington State, and Katie McClure out of Kansas.
With the No. 13 overall pick, the Spirit selected defender/forward Jacobs. Jacobs, who transferred to USC from Notre Dame, made 87 appearances with both schools, never missing a match. She was a member of the 2016 U-20 U.S. Women’s National Team that finished in fourth place at the 2016 U-20 World Cup in Papua New Guinea. She led Notre Dame in scoring in 2017 before transferring to USC.
With the No. 17 overall pick, the Spirit selected midfielder Collins, who transferred to Washington State from Stanford, where she won a national championship in 2017 as a junior. At Washington State, Collins started all 24 matches for the Cougars, scored six times, and assisted five times.
With the No. 23 overall pick, the Spirit selected forward McClure out of Kansas. In 25 starts, McClure scored 17 goals and added in nine assists.
Washington used its natural fourth-round pick to select defender Kaiya McCullough out of UCLA at No. 32. McCullough made 92 appearances for the Bruins and earned All-Pac-12 Second Team honors during her senior season.
Washington received the Nos. 4, 13, and 17 overall picks in the draft in a trade with Sky Blue. Sky Blue will receive a player to be named later.*
*UPDATED, 01/16/2020: Mallory Pugh is the player to be named later.