I'm not sure if there is a *clear* #1 pick. Thompson hasn't really been in the conversation for even appearing in the draft yet from what I've seen (which admittedly isn't a lot) but LA must have talked to her to even think it was a possibility. With the trade, I've heard people say no huge loss for NJY since they were aiming for Cooper anyway. AFAIK Thompson hasn't officially registered for the draft yet, probably thinking she was going to start at Stanford instead. But with LA making overtures to grant her the status as first pick, they're probably doing what they can to woo her into registering. She's an 18yo with senior USWNT caps already and local to the area, so nabbing her early probably feels like a high priority to LA.
Alyssa Thompson is from LA. She is still in HS so I assume her family basically said, she is only going pro if she goes to LA. The family was dead set on Stanford. They have now changed their mind it seems (but only for LA in all likelihood). They are not moving the family with another sister playing in LA and also committed to Stanford. So in the best interest of the league and the USWNT future, everyone appears to have worked together to make this happen. Gotham knows it will still get Cooper at #2 so this is a no-brainer for them. My hunch is that Orlando is going to get Debinha, and that is why they wanted the money for the draft pick.
Both Cooper and Thompson have incentive to go pro. The quicker they can get to the full USWNT the more money they make as a soccer player. Both of them are likely eyeing the Olympic roster, if not an outside shot at the World Cup roster.
Alyssa Thompson is not on the list so unless LA is communicating that they will take her, we will see if she jumps on the list and we can for sure know she is being picked by LA.
Especially when Christen Press and Sydney Leroux are coming back, they can work together with Alyssa Thompson as attacking 3 and LA will have the attacking power they needed.
Hearing Alyssa Thompson is now registered for the #NWSL Draft, a formality really after the big trade. Clears the path for the 18yo LA native + #USWNT prospect to go to Angel City with the top pick. PSG had some interest. Thompson sisters trained with PSG in 2021 on U.S. tour. https://t.co/vDOUEeJY2u— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) January 6, 2023
Not sure I understand why Thompson is the #1 draft pick if registered for the draft. What has she done to earn that?
She's very fast and very technical. Good enough that she got called up to the senior team. Maybe they see something in her. Same for PSG. I'm sure other clubs are interested. https://justwomenssports.com/alyssa-thompson-nwsl-draft-angel-city-fc-no-1-pick/ Alyssa Thompson has registered for the NWSL draft, as first reported by Jeff Kassouf. Her registration puts a bow on Angel City FC’s blockbuster trade for the No. 1 overall pick, a trade made with the 18-year-old Stanford commit in mind. The four-team deal also sent 23-year-old midfielder Yazmeen Ryan to Gotham FC. Paris Saint-Germain also held some interest in Thompson. The teenage star and her younger sister Gisele had trained with the club in 2021. But Angel City looks set to pick up the California native. The elder Thompson had a year to remember with the USWNT program, which included her first senior national team call-up and cap. She also joined the U-20 squad at the U-20 World Cup as the only high school player on the roster, and she scored a goal in the tournament opener. Her performance with the youth national team proved good enough to get her a spot on the USWNT roster in October for the team’s friendlies against England and Spain. She made her debut at just 17 years old in front of a near-sellout crowd at London’s Wembley Stadium
I don't know if she is necessarily the top pick, but I believe she basically said to NWSL that she will only go pro if she plays for Angel City (since she is still in HS and it is in her backyard). So Angel City worked it out to make sure she goes there. By putting themselves in the top slot AC can guarantee her they will select her. Personally I would take Michelle Cooper first (probably Gotham's plan all along and now they still get her at #2 plus Yazmeen Ryan), but Thompson will be excellent too. Thompson will also be a local marketing dream for AC. Thompson and Cooper are elite superstar potential in both the NWSL and the international level.
With possible Yazmeen Ryan and Michelle Cooper, Gotham may get their act together. Along with Onumonu and Purce. Their defense is still in need of a boost besides just defending but also starting the offense.
I am excited about Bruninha. She looks like a dynamic attacking back with a lot of flair. If Kelley O’Hara is healthy she will help the attack too.
We’re gonna need more room on that resume 😮💨Light work @Debinha7 pic.twitter.com/oL4Q7pYnUC— KC Current (@thekccurrent) January 9, 2023
I'm honestly somewhat surprised that Debinha has stayed Stateside - it's solid proof that the league is financially competitive enough that the pay+parity combination can keep those world-class players. More details from the Athletic: https://theathletic.com/4069897/2023/01/09/debinha-kansas-city-current-nwsl/
On a side note... When MLS got its players union, salaries became public info. Limited free agency didn't come until *years* later. I'm definitely glad that limited free agency is already here in NWSL, only 10yrs in, and that the official recognition of the NWSLPA helped make it happen. But it's definitely frustrating that NWSL salaries still aren't public. I'm sure teams are still a bit embarrassed at the league minimum salary and how many players are on it, but the minimum is now more than what it was for the first two years of the league (likely three or four years now, once they account what the 2023 minimum is) and actually seeing how the allocation money is used for salaries would be really important.
In-draft trade sends Diana Ordóñez from NC to HOU. She's already RTd a bunch of the tweets about it, including one from the Mexican WNT, so I'm assuming this was a move in the making for a while now. The Dash now have Salmon, Sanchez, and Ordóñez - talk about a front three!
And Lynn Williams goes to Gotham. We'll see if there is an act II to her career. In my opinion Williams was the fastest player in the league. Scary for defenders.
what is North Carolina getting out of this? I mean so far they've lost Debinha, Ordonez, Williams, Mewis hopefully Wolfsburg still partnered with Red Stars & lends them an Icelander named Jonsdottir(her NT didn't make the World Cup), she would give Williams a run for her money. The Canadian, Lacasse is another speedster, she said she wants to leave her current Portugese club, Benfica, for either the NWSL or England's WSL. So could be an battle brewing for 'fastest player' in the league
Yeah it’s pretty crazy NCC gave up a young player who scored 11 goals with her presence in the box. Got the number 8 pick and 100k. Would have still kept her but maybe she requested it. Don’t know if that is allowed for rookie players. That will be interesting.
Just realized... if Salmon doesn't break into the ENGWNT in time for the WWC, this front three will be entirely intact while other teams are losing their stars to international duty. Houston playing the long game here
Ordonez asked for the trade. The coach spoke about it last night at the draft. They granted her wish.