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Eight UWS Alumnae Selected In 2020 NWSL Draft

01/17/2020, 10:30am EST
By UWS PR

Kornieck & Sanchez taken in Top 4; Pride alum Watt drafted #6


Taylor Kornieck (credit Orlando Pride)

BALTIMORE, MD - The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) held their sixth annual College Draft at the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Convention yesterday. Eight United Women's Soccer (UWS) alumnae were selected by NWSL member teams including two of the top four picks in the draft. Former University of Colorado midfielder Taylor Kornieck (LA Galaxy OC) was taken with the third overall pick by the Orlando Pride while UCLA's junior forward Ashley Sanchez (Santa Clarita Blue Heat) declared a year early and was promptly scooped up by the Washington Spirit with the fourth overall selection.

Kornieck helped LA Galaxy OC win the 2019 UWS Championship with her dominant presence in the midfield. Sanchez also starred for Santa Clarita during the 2019 season and was recently called up to the U.S. Women's National Team for their December training camp. Other highlighted draftees include: 2018 UWS Defensive Player of the Year Natalie Jacobs (LA Galaxy OC); U.S. U-20 international Zoe Morse (Lansing United); 2016 UWS West Player Of The Year Chloe Castaneda (Santa Clarita Blue Heat); and Jamaican international Chantelle Swaby (New England Mutiny). Texas A&M University's Ally Watt (the #6 pick by the North Carolina Courage) played for the Colorado Pride during their tenure in the now-defunct W-League.

See below for the full lineup of UWS draftees. Stay tuned for further updates as NWSL member teams ramp up their preparation for preseason camps with non-roster invites. Former UWS stars have also been signing contracts for professional teams overseas and we will post a roundup soon. For the entire list of 2020 College Draft selections, click HERE.


Ashley Sanchez (credit Washington Spirit)

ROUND 1

#3 Orlando Pride – Taylor Kornieck (Univ. of Colorado - Boulder / LA Galaxy OC)

#4 Washington Spirit – Ashley Sanchez (UCLA / Santa Clarita Blue Heat)

ROUND 2

#13 Washington Spirit – Natalie Jacobs (USC / LA Galaxy OC)

ROUND 3

#19 Chicago Red Stars – Zoe Morse (Univ. of Virginia / Lansing United)

#22 Houston Dash – Chloe Castaneda (UCLA / Santa Clarita Blue Heat)

#26 Orlando Pride – Abi Kim (Univ. of California - Berkeley / LA Galaxy OC)

ROUND 4

#29 Sky Blue FC – Chantelle Swaby (Rutgers Univ. / New England Mutiny)

#32 Washington Spirit – Kaiya McCullough (UCLA / Santa Clarita Blue Heat)

Tag(s): News |   New England Mutiny  Santa Clarita Blue Heat