By Paul Nicholson
January 17 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is holding its 2014 NWSL College Draft today with more than 180 players submitted for selection by the nine teams in the US-based professional league. Now preparing for its second season, the eight founding clubs have been joined by an expansion franchise – Houston Dash – who were given an initial pre-draft 10-player selection.
The league’s second annual college draft is made up of 36 selections over four rounds. Teams pick in the reverse order they finished at the end of the 2013 NWSL regular season.
Headquartered in Chicago, the NWSL is supported by the Canadian Soccer Association, Federation of Mexican Football and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The league features national team players from Canada, Mexico and the U.S.
The league started in 2013 with U.S. Soccer is subsidising the salaries of 23 players, while the Canadian Soccer Association and the Federation of Mexican Football each did the same for 16 players. Each of the eight teams (except one) received three U.S. Women’s National Team players and two Canadian National Team and two Mexican National Team players.
The first season proved fantastically competitive with just eight points separating the top six teams, and the top three – Western New York Flash, FC Kansas City and Portland Thorns FC – finishing equal on points with the Flash taking the regular season honours on goal difference.
The Flash went on to lose the play-off final 2-0 to Portland.
With over 180 players in the draft, the interest in the league has grown in intensity amongst top college players. The high level of commitment is seen as a very positive indicator for the sustainability of the league and a beacon for women’s professional football globally.
The leagues eight founding clubs, playing an April to end-August season, were the Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Kansas City, Portland Thorns FC, Sky Blue FC (New York/New Jersey), Seattle Reign FC, the Washington Spirit and the Western New York Flash. The Houston Dash are the first expansion team.
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