The National Women's Soccer League's first overall pick is the player who is selected first among all eligible draftees by a team during the annual National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) draft.
Two first picks have been named the NWSL Most Valuable Player: Crystal Dunn and Sophia Smith. Only one first overall pick was ever named NWSL Rookie of the Year: Naomi Girma.
Three collegiate programs have multiple players that were selected first overall: Stanford with four, North Carolina with three, and Virginia with two.
On August 22, 2024, the NWSL announced the elimination of its draft in its renegotiated collective bargaining agreement with the National Women's Soccer League Players Association. NWSL teams could pursue and sign any prospective collegiate and international players as free agents.
Key ! Denotes player who has been inducted to the National Soccer Hall of Fame + Denotes player who won Most Valuable Player * Denotes player who has been selected for an Best XI or Second XI teamBold Denotes player who won Rookie of the Year
List of first overall picks DraftSelected byPlayerCountryPositionCollege / high school /former clubNWSL rookie statisticsRef.CapsGoalsAssists 2013 Chicago Red Stars Forward / Midfielder UCLA 2014 Washington Spirit Crystal Dunn * + Forward North Carolina 2015 Houston Dash Morgan Brian Midfielder Virginia 2016 Portland Thorns FC Emily Sonnett * Defender 2017 Boston Breakers Rose Lavelle * Midfielder Wisconsin 2018 Washington Spirit Andi Sullivan Stanford 2019 Chicago Red Stars Tierna Davidson Defender 2020 Portland Thorns FC Sophia Smith * + Forward 2021 Racing Louisville FC Emily Fox * Defender North Carolina 2022 San Diego Wave FC Naomi Girma * Stanford 2023 Angel City FC Alyssa Thompson Forward Harvard-Westlake 2024 Utah Royals Ally Sentnor Midfielder North CarolinaThe NWSL Draft was abolished in the 2024 collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players' association
See also List of first overall PWHL draft picks List of first overall WNBA draft picks
References