It’s that time of year again. The NWSL Expansion Draft. One of those quirky events that often leaves many in Europe scratching their heads.
It’s an American staple. Similar drafts populate the American sporting landscape. Not to be confused with the college draft; an event where the leagues teams trade their way to the best and brightest young talent from the American college system, the Expansion Draft gives new NWSL clubs the chance to trade for established NWSL stars.
The 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft is around the corner!
Swipe to learn the rules and procedures đź“š
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 22, 2023
This season’s newbies
California’s newest NWSL franchise, Bay FC join the revived Utah Royals as the NWSL expands to 14 teams for 2024.
It’s an exciting time for Bay area soccer fans, as they eagerly await their team’s debut NWSL season. Not dissimilarly, fans in Utah will have rejoiced at the return of the Royals, a club that disappeared in a cloud of controversy a couple of seasons ago. Both teams have a real opportunity to put proverbial meat on the bones of their 2024 rosters.
So, how does it all work?
The league rather helpfully published it’s full set of rules back in November.
Have a gander (if you love a PDF).
If not, well, the format is fairly simplistic. Well, maybe not actually. Bay FC have the first pick. Bay and Utah will then alternate picks for up to 12 rounds; each club has 1 pick per round, so up to 12 players in total. Each club can pick any player they choose, from any incumbent NWSL club, less the players those clubs decide to protect. Each current NWSL club is allowed to protect 9 players. Any protected player cannot be picked, whilst all remaining players are left unprotected, and therefore are free to be selected. Furthermore, no more than 2 players can be picked from one particular club.
Neither expansion club is permitted to trade draft picks, but both are able to trade any picked players following completion of the expansion draft. The system is rather cold and unassuming, with players virtually having no say in where they end up. It’s a flawed system, with a questionable moral base. But this is the way it is.
Keeping up so far? Good.
Each current NWSL club is required to submit a list of players to protect (at the time of writing no team has submitted their lists, which have to be submitted by December 13th). It’s a nervy time for NWSL clubs and players. The only club that can sit back and enjoy the show are the Orlando Pride.*
Seb Hines‘ team have agreed trades with both expansion clubs, that allow the Pride protection in the draft. The Pride traded with Utah for Orlando midfielder Mikayla Cluff and their no. 26 overall pick for the 2024 college draft for $90k in allocation money (another NWSL anomaly) and protection from the expansion draft. Whilst Bay FC received the no. 8 pick in the college draft, in return for $50k in allocation money and protection from the expansion draft.
Thank you, @kayla_colohan đź’ś
We have traded Utah-native Mikayla Cluff and the No. 26 pick in the 2024 @NWSL draft to @UtahRoyalsFC in exchange for $90K and expansion protection.
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) November 15, 2023
So, who else has protection?
There have been a raft of other trades during the last few weeks. Racing Louisville and Kansas City Current have both secured protection from Bay FC, but not Utah. Conversely the North Carolina Courage and San Diego Wave have secured protection from Utah and not Bay FC.
Those trades are as follows**:
- Racing acquired Bay FC’s natural second-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and protection in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft in exchange for the club’s natural third-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and $235,000 in alternative allocation money.
- The Kansas City Current completed a trade with NWSL expansion team Bay FC to receive $175,000 in allocation funds and protection from Bay FC.
- The North Carolina Courage completed a trade with NWSL expansion club Utah Royals FC to receive protection in the upcoming NWSL Expansion Draft and $30,000 in allocation money. In exchange, Utah Royals FC will receive midfielders Emily Gray and Frankie Tagliaferri.
- San Diego Wave FC have acquired $60,000 in allocation money and 2024 Expansion Draft protection from Utah Royals FC in exchange for defender Kaleigh Riehl.
Only the Pride have protection from both clubs so far. The Florida based club have acquired a considerable amount of allocation money of late, which Sporting Her understands is intended to give head coach Seb Hines the budget to strengthen his squad during the winter, having already signed goalkeeper Sofia Manner.
How to follow
The 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft (no fixed venue, virtual) will be live on the CBS Sports Network with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET, for those fans resident in the United States. At the time of writing, the league was yet to announce any details regarding international coverage. The “Attacking Third” women’s soccer show will also provide additional coverage and analysis during the week of the expansion draft on CBS Sports Golazo Network and across their social accounts (@AttackingThird).
*Edit: since publishing the Washington Spirit and Angel City have also negotiated complete protection with the following trades:
-The Washington Spirit has agreed to trade terms with both Bay FC and Utah Royals FC ahead of Friday night’s 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft, the clubs announced today.
The Spirit will trade defender Dorian Bailey to Bay FC in exchange for expansion draft protection. Additionally, Washington will send its two second round picks (nos. 20 and 21 overall) in January’s 2024 NWSL Draft, presented by Ally to Utah Royals FC in exchange for expansion draft protection. Neither expansion club will be able to select any currently contracted Spirit players in this week’s draft.
-Angel City will receive $50k in allocation money and draft protection from Bay FC in exchange for Scarlett Camberos.Â
** Portland has completed the following trade after publishing: Portland Thorns FC have acquired $75,000 in allocation money and expansion draft protection from Bay FC in exchange for defender Emily Menges. Whilst Gotham, Bay FC and Racing Louisville completed the following trade: NJ/NY Gotham FC today announced it has traded defender Ellie Jean to Bay FC in exchange for expansion protection. Additionally, Gotham FC has sent its natural second and third round 2024 NWSL Draft picks to Racing Louisville FC, which will send $130,000 in allocation money to Bay FC in return.
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