When Tierna Davidson made official her decision to forgo her senior season at Stanford and enter the 2019 NWSL College Draft days before the draft, it became pretty apparent who Chicago would take with the No. 1 pick.
Stanford, thank you for everything you have given me. You’ve changed my life. Looking forward to a new chapter this year! #gocard pic.twitter.com/bgAjKX4ZPQ
— Tierna Davidson (@tierna_davidson) January 10, 2019
It became official on Thursday in Chicago, with the Red Stars tabbing the USWNT defender as the first pick of the NWSL College Draft.
Making History.
With the #1 pick in the 2019 @NWSL College Draft, the Chicago Red Stars select @tierna_davidson.#NWSLdraft | #mkot pic.twitter.com/VGS0F8UriC— Chicago Red Stars (@chiredstarsPR) January 10, 2019
Davidson was unable to be at the draft in person because she was in Portugal training with the USWNT, which has a couple friendlies coming up against France (Jan. 19) and Spain (Jan. 22). Fortunately, she knew in advance she’d be the No. 1 pick and had a video message prepared.
A quick message from @tierna_davidson of @chiredstarsPR, our newest No. 1 draft pick.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/LaWeydrODB
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
Wouldn’t that have been awkward if Chicago had traded the pick or gone with someone else?
Davidson, born one day after Christian Pulisic, already has 12 caps and one goal with the USWNT at the age of 20. She helped Stanford win the 2017 women’s soccer championship and was a part of the USWNT winning the SheBelieves Cup and Tournament of Nations in 2018.
2019 NWSL College Draft in Chicago. Photo: Matt Jenkins | The18
After Davidson, the Sky Blue took Hailie Mace of UCLA with the No. 2 pick.
The rest of the 2019 NWSL College Draft first round was dominated by loud background music — making it nearly impossible to hear the announcers — and the Washington Spirit taking four of the top eight picks. Washington traded the No. 29 pick and three players (to be named later) for the No. 3 pick, which was used to take Stanford midfielder Jordan DiBiasi.
Oddly, among the nine picks in the first round, only three different teams made picks: Red Stars, Spirit (four), Sky Blue (two) and Courage (two).
Here’s how the first round shook out:
2019 NWSL College Draft First Round
No. 1 — Chicago Red Stars
Tierna Davidson, Stanford
First pick. First round. @chiredstarsPR start us off and select Tierna Davidson of Stanford University.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/Qd2LecsiRB
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 2 — Sky Blue
Hailie Mace, UCLA
Next pick is in! With the second pick in the first round, @SkyBlueFC select Hailie Mace of UCLA.#NWSLdraft | NWSL pic.twitter.com/F7dQya9pj6
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 3 — Washington Spirit
Jordan DiBiasi, Stanford
After the trade and with the third pick in the first round, @WashSpirit select Jordan DiBiasi of Stanford University.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/T54Uj6XdRt
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 4 — Washington Spirit
Sam Staab, Clemson
Back to back. With the fourth pick in the first round, @WashSpirit select Sam Staab of Clemson University.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/2aCICTNlmn
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 5 — NC Courage
Leah Pruitt, USC
Reigning champs get their turn. With the fifth pick in the first round, @TheNCCourage select Leah Pruitt of USC.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/N7UHFYnLeb
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
(What, you couldn’t find a photo without a watermark?)
No. 6 — Sky Blue FC
Julia Ashley, North Carolina
With the sixth pick in the first round, @SkyBlueFC select Julia Ashley of UNC.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/BXvWkU1CWB
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 7 — Washington Spirit
Tegan McGrady, Stanford
With the seventh pick in the first round, @WashSpirit select Tegan McGrady of Stanford.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/XWPzr75WMi
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 8 — Washington Spirit
Dorian Bailey, North Carolina
Spirit wrap up their first round after a timeout. With the eighth pick in the first round, @WashSpirit select Dorian Bailey of UNC.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/6uGtsydm93
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 9 — NC Courage
Hailey Harbison, Pepperdine
With the ninth pick in the first round, @TheNCCourage select Hailey Harbison of Pepperdine University.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/W1JdpJkm3B
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
First round done. Here’s where we stand after the first nine picks of the 2019 #NWSLdraft.
Streams:
Youtube https://t.co/QjQ4kzAaFr
Facebook https://t.co/UAxxTvGz2H #NWSL site https://t.co/zeQtqGXYow pic.twitter.com/xxW8RrfBIJ— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
2019 NWSL College Draft Second Round
Just as Washington dominated the first round, the Houston Dash dominated the second, with four picks. Sky Blue also had two more picks, starting with the first in the second round.
No. 10 — Sky Blue FC
Paige Monaghan, Butler
We're back after the break! With the first pick in the second round, @SkyBlueFC select Paige Monaghan of Butler University.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/vJENGkqWs3
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 11 — Sky Blue FC
Julie James, Baylor
Back to back for NJ. With the second pick in the second round, @SkyBlueFC select Julie James of Baylor University.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/dyLYIFlyLo
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 12 — Houston Dash
Ally Prisock, USC
With the third pick in the second round, @HoustonDash select Ally Prisock of USC.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/gwetecPJJx
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 13 — Houston Dash
CeCe Kizer, Ole Miss
And back to back for the Dash, as well. With the fourth pick in the second round, @HoustonDash select CeCe Kizer of the University of Mississippi.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/3XMIAwnHtv
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 14 — NC Courage
Lauren Milliet, Colorado College
With the fifth pick in the second round, @TheNCCourage select Lauren Milliet of Colorado College.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/ixdlw4WT2F
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 15 — Chicago Red Stars
Maria Sanchez, Santa Clara
It's their kind of town. With the sixth pick in the second round, @chiredstarsPR select Maria Sanchez of Santa Clara University.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/4w3si7n3yH
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 16 — Houston Dash
Betsy Brandon, Virginia
With the seventh pick in the second round, @HoustonDash select Betsy Brandon of the University of Virginia.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/5gul0MxzxU
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 17 — Washington Spirit
Bayley Feist, Wake Forest
Trade's in, pick's in. With the eighth pick in the second round, @WashSpirit select Bayley Feist from Wake Forest University. #NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/8tFfuJnRd5
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
No. 18 — Houston Dash
Kayla McCoy, Duke
With the ninth pick in the second round, @HoustonDash select Kayla McCoy of Duke University.#NWSLdraft | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/wGMp99kljG
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
We’re halfway there. Here’s a recap of the second round of the 2019 #NWSLdraft. pic.twitter.com/YWTCvQ8qep
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
2019 NWSL College Draft Third Round
Third round’s a wrap. Here’s your recap of the last nine picks in the 2019 #NWSLdraft. pic.twitter.com/qTNn4odvlt
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
2019 NWSL College Draft Fourth Round
Last round of the day. Here are the selections from the fourth round of today's #NWSLdraft. pic.twitter.com/VZxxLAFsPK
— NWSL (@NWSL) January 10, 2019
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