We’re just over a day away from the 2019 NWSL college draft. The Courage were pretty stacked in 2018 at most positions. While not everyone from the 2018 roster will return, a lot will. The question is where and whom the Courage staff are focused on from the 2019 NWSL College Draft coming this Thursday.
Thoughts on 2019 NWSL College Draft from Vavel
Vavel published an article today with their take on how the Courage will utilize the 2019 NWSL College Draft.
With every NWSL player facing missing players to the World Cup, Vavel says the Courage are in better shape than some of the other NWSL teams. But the site acknowledges the midfield will be at a deficit.
Samantha Mewis, Crystal Dunn will both definitely be absent from the Courage midfield during the 2019 World CupDebinha will be absent as well, playing for her home country of Brazil. McCall Zerboni is also a possibility for the U.S. Women’s National Team.
The Courage started supplementing the midfield yesterday, adding Julia Spetsmark, but could use the 2019 NWSL College Draft for a midfielder as well.
To shore up the midfield further, Vavel suggests that Emily Ogle would be a “good defensive midfield selection.”
Ogle is a Penn State redshirt senior midfielder whose list of accolades include All Big-Ten First Team in 2017 and 2018. She was also the Big Ten Midfielder of the Year in 2018, among other accolades.
2019 NWSL College Draft Order
Thursday’s draft starts with the Chicago Red Stars getting the first pick. The Courage currently have picks five and nine in the first round. The Courage also have the 14th, and final (36th) pick of the 2019 NWSL College Draft.
Courage Pick Acquisitions
Below are the notes directly from NWSL Soccer on how the Courage’s 2019 College Draft picks were adjusted.
Seattle Reign FC acquired the North Carolina Courage’s natural first-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for Seattle’s natural second-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and Merritt Mathias.
On December 17, 2018, the Courage acquired Seattle Reign FC’s first-round pick (originally acquired by the Courage from the Reign in the trade for Merritt Mathias) in exchange for Darian Jenkins.
The North Carolina Courage acquired the Houston Dash’s natural first-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for two second-round draft picks in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and Allysha Chapman. Details
The North Carolina Courage acquired Utah Royals FC’s natural second-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and the rights to Heather O’Reilly in exchange for Makenzy Doniak and North Carolina’s natural third-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft.
