Teams in the National Women’s Soccer League have announced their lists of protected and unprotected players ahead of the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft.
Expansion team Racing Louisville FC, which will begin play in the NWSL in the 2021 season, can select up to two players or one U.S. Allocated Player from each team. However, Louisville can only select a total of two U.S. Allocated Players from all teams.
The Chicago Red Stars gained full roster protection in the Expansion Draft in a trade with Louisville in October and are exempt from submitting a protected list. The Red Stars sent forwards Yuki Nagasato and Savannah McCaskill to Louisville in exchange for roster protection during the Expansion Draft.
The Expansion Draft airs live on the NWSL’s Twitch channel on Thursday, November 12, at 7 p.m. ET.
Some More Rules
Each team is permitted to protect a total of 11 players/U.S. Allocated Players. Teams with more than two U.S. Allocated Players can only protect up to two players so the remaining U.S. Allocated Players are eligible for selection in the Expansion Draft.
Louisville has two U.S. Allocated Player allotments and if the club chooses less than its two allotments it will receive a $75,000 Allocation Money Grant for each allotment it doesn’t use. For example, if Louisville doesn’t choose any unprotected U.S. Allocated Player in the draft, the club will receive $150,000 in allocation money grants (2 unused U.S. Allocated Player allotments X $75,000 in Allocation Money Grant = $150,000.)
The grant money can only be used for roster transactions. Conversely, any team that gives up an unprotected U.S. Allocated Player in the Expansion Draft will receive the $75,000 money grant in return.
Players on the Discovery List aren’t eligible for selection in the Expansion Draft; thus, teams aren’t required to add Discovery Players to their protected or unprotected lists.
A retired player’s rights remain with their most recent club. For example, Portland Thorn defender Katherine Reynolds recently announced her retirement and her playing rights remain with the Thorns. It’s also why you’ll notice some long-retired players listed on the Unprotected List for teams that retain their playing rights.
Protected/Unprotected Players
Houston Dash
Protected & Unprotected Players
Protected Players
- Jane Campbell
- Allysha Chapman (CAN Allocated)
- Rachel Daly (International)
- Shea Groom
- Haley Hanson
- Veronica Latsko
- Kristie Mewis
- Katie Naughton
- Megan Oyster
- Nichelle Prince (CAN Allocated)
- Sophie Schmidt (CAN Allocated)
Unprotected Players
- Bridgette Andrzejewski
- Chloe Castaneda (College Protected)
- Taylor Comeau (Playing Rights)
- Niki Cross (Playing Rights)
- Amanda Dennis
- Marissa Diggs (Playing Rights)
- Jamia Fields
- Lindsey Harris
- Melissa Henderson (Playing Rights)
- Bianca Henninger (Playing Rights)
- Savannah Jordan (Playing Rights)
- Maegan Kelly
- Cecelia Kizer
- Christine Nairn
- Ally Prisock
- Cambria Privett
- Erin Simon
- Katie Stengel
- Brianna Visalli
North Carolina Courage
Protected & Unprotected Players
Protected Players
- Abby Dahlkemper (U.S. Allocated)
- Debora De Oliveira (International)
- Abby Erceg (International)
- Kristen Hamilton
- Hallie Mace
- Merritt Mathias
- Jessica McDonald
- Casey Murphy
- Denise O’Sullivan (International)
- Lynn Williams
- Samantha Mewis (U.S. Allocated; Playing Rights, signed with Manchester City)
Unprotected Players
- Lindsay Agnew
- Jaelene Daniels (Playing Rights)
- Brianne Folds (College Protected)
- Hailey Harbison
- Kaleigh Kurtz
- Steph Labbe (CAN Allocated)
- Samantha Murphy
- McKenzie Meehan
- Addisyn Merrick
- Lauren Milliet
- Sinclaire Miramontez
- Heather O’Reilly (Playing Rights)
- Cari Roccaro
- Katelyn Rowland
- Havana Solaun
- Meredith Speck
- Ally Watt
- Ryan Williams
OL Reign
Protected & Unprotected Players
Protected Players
- Bethany Balcer
- Lauren Barnes
- Amber Brooks
- Jess Fishlock
- Sofia Huerta
- Darian Jenkins
- Rose Lavelle (U.S. Allocated; Playing Rights, signed with Manchester City)
- Allie Long (U.S. Allocated)
- Kristen McNabb
- Yuka Momiki
- Leah Pruitt
Unprotected Players
- Morgan Andrews
- Julia Ashley
- Michelle Betos
- Meg Brandt (College Protected)
- Mariah Bullock (Playing Rights)
- Stephanie Catley (Playing Rights)
- Stephanie Cox
- Shirley Cruz Trana (International)
- Kiersten Dallstream (Playing Rights)
- Schuyler DeBree (Playing Rights)
- Machaela George
- Madison Hammond
- Sam Hiatt (College Protected)
- Kelcie Hedge
- Celia Jimenez Delgado (International)
- Adrienne Jordan (Playing Rights)
- Alyssa Kleiner (Playing Rights)
- Theresa Nielsen (Playing Rights, International)
- Morgan Proffitt (Playing Rights)
- Quinn (International)
- Megan Rapinoe (U.S. Allocated)
- Taylor Smith
- Jasmyne Spencer
- Jodie Taylor (Playing Rights)
- Rumi Utsugi (Playing Rights)
- Abby Wambach (Playing Rights)
- Danielle Weatherholt
- Rosie White (International)
- Lydia Williams (Playing Rights)
- Beverly Yanez (Playing Rights)
Orlando Pride
Protected & Unprotected Players
Protected Players
- Claire Emslie (International)
- Taylor Kornieck
- Sydney Leroux
- Phoebe McClernon (College Protected)
- Jade Moore (International)
- Alex Morgan (U.S. Allocated, Playing Rights)
- Courtney Petersen
- Ali Riley
- Emily Sonnett (U.S. Allocated, Playing Rights)
- Marta Vieira da Silva (International)
- Marisa Viggiano
Unprotected Players
- Kristen Edmonds
- Caitlin Farrell (Playing Rights)
- Joanna Fennema (Playing Rights)
- Caitlin Foord (Playing Rights)
- Ashlyn Harris (U.S. Allocated)
- Alanna Kennedy (International)
- Abi Kim (College Protected)
- Ali Krieger (U.S. Allocated)
- Camila Martins Pereira
- Erin McLeod (International)
- Carson Pickett
- Konya Plummer (International)
- Toni Pressley
- Cheyenne Shorts (College Protected)
- Emily Van Egmond (International)
- Chelsee Washington
- Brittany Wilson
- Shelina Zadorsky (CAN Allocated)
Portland Thorns FC
Protected & Unprotected Players
Protected Players
- Simone Charley
- Crystal Dunn (U.S. Allocated)
- Lindsey Horan (U.S. Allocated)
- Kelli Hubly
- Meghan Klingenberg
- Natalia Kuikka (International)
- Emily Menges
- Raquel Rodriguez (International)
- Christine Sinclair (CAN Allocated)
- Sophia Smith
- Morgan Weaver
Unprotected Players
- Nadine Angerer (Playing Rights)
- Bella Bixby
- Celeste Boureille
- Marian Dougherty (Playing Rights)
- Brittany Eckerstrom
- Marissa Everett
- Adrianna Franch (US Allocated)
- Tobin Heath (U.S. Allocated; Playing Rights, signed with Manchester United)
- Tyler Lussi
- Andressa Machry (Playing Rights)
- Nikki Marshall (Playing Rights)
- Meagan Morris (Playing Rights)
- Meaghan Nally
- Emily Ogle
- Madison Pogarch
- Hayley Raso (Playing Rights)
- Katherine Reynolds (Playing Rights)
- Angela Salem
- Becky Sauerbrunn (U.S. Allocated)
- Gabby Seiler
- Katrina Tarr (Playing Rights)
- Rachel Van Hollebeke (Playing Rights)
- Christen Westphal
- Sandra Yu (Playing Rights)
Sky Blue FC
Protected & Unprotected Players
Protected Players
- Imani Dorsey
- Nahomi Kawasumi (International)
- Amanda McGlynn
- Paige Monaghan
- Ifeoma Onumonu
- Mallory Pugh (U.S. Allocated)
- Margaret Purce
- Kailen Sheridan (CAN Allocated)
- Evelyne Viens (International)
- Sarah Woldmoe
- McCall Zerboni
Unprotected Players
- Nicole Baxter
- Melanie Booth (Playing Rights)
- Jennifer Cudjoe (International)
- Julie Doyle (Playing Rights)
- Caprice Dydasco
- Elizabeth Eddy
- Sabrina Flores
- Mandy Freeman
- Christina Gibbons (Playing Rights)
- Didi Haracic
- Megan Hinz
- Jennifer Hoy (Playing Rights)
- Estelle Johnson
- Gina Lewandowski
- Carli Lloyd (U.S. Allocated)
- Jill Loyden (Playing Rights)
- Manya Makoski (Playing Rights)
- Dominique Richardson
- Kaleigh Riehl
- Erica Skroski
- Chantelle Swaby (College Protected)
- Madison Tiernan (Playing Rights)
- Rebecca Tweed (Playing Rights)
- Kenie Wright
Utah Royals FC
Protected & Unprotected Players
Protected Players
- Elizabeth Ball
- Katie Bowen
- Rachel Corsie
- Kate Del Fava
- Tziarra King
- Lo’eau Labonta
- Kelley O’Hara (U.S. Allocated)
- Amy Rodriguez
- Abigail Smith
- Michele Vasconcelos
- Gabrielle Vincent
Unprotected Players
- Nicole Barnhart
- Veronica Boquete (International)
- Kate Deines (Playing Rights)
- Cyera Hintzen (College Protected)
- Lauren Holiday (Playing Rights)
- Gunnhildur Jonsdottir
- Samantha Johnson (Playing Rights)
- Amanda Laddish (Playing Rights)
- Taylor Leach
- Taylor Lytle
- Michelle Maemone
- Diana Matheson (CAN Allocated)
- Sydney Miramontez (Playing Rights)
- Madeline Nolf
- Christen Press (U.S. Allocated; Playing Rights, signed with Manchester United)
- Brittany Ratcliffe
- Desiree Scott (CAN Allocated)
- Arielle Ship
- Raisa Strom-Okimoto
- Erika Tymrak (Playing Rights)
- Mallory Weber
Washington Spirit
Protected & Unprotected Players
Protected Players
- Dorian Bailey
- Aubrey Bledsoe
- Jordan DiBiasi
- Bayley Feist
- Ashley Hatch
- Tori Huster
- Tegan McGrady
- Paige Nielsen
- Ashley Sanchez
- Sam Staab
- Andi Sullivan
Unprotected Players
- Jaye Boissiere
- Averie Collins
- Megan Dougherty Howard
- Jenna Hellstrom (International)
- Brooke Hendrix
- Natalie Jacobs
- Devon Kerr
- Lori Lindsey (Playing Rights)
- Joanna Lohman (Playing Rights)
- Katie Lund
- Katie McClure
- Meghan McCool
- Jessie Scarpa
- Crystal Thomas
- Kumi Yokoyama (International)
