NWSL Releases Protected/Unprotected Lists Ahead of 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft, Presented by Ally
December 13, 2023 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
NEW YORK - The National Women's Soccer League today announced the list of players protected by NWSL clubs participating in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft, presented by Ally. Incumbent teams are permitted to protect a total of nine players, as well as one additional player following the first selection made from its roster. All remaining players must be left unprotected.
The 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft, presented by Ally, will air live on CBS Sports Network with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The "Attacking Third" women's soccer show will also provide additional coverage and analysis during the week of the expansion draft, including an hour-long recap following the Expansion Draft at 8 p.m. ET, on CBS Sports Golazo Network and across @AttackingThird social accounts.
Host Aly Trost Martin will lead Friday's coverage of the expansion draft alongside analysts Jordan Angeli, Lori Lindsey and Saskia Webber to provide commentary throughout the expansion draft. Post-event coverage will continue on Attacking Third with highlights and analysis from Angeli, Lisa Carlin, Jenny Chiu and Webber.
Earlier this year, the NWSL announced the asset selection order for Bay FC and Utah Royals FC ahead of the expansion draft. As a result of that process, Bay FC received the first pick in the expansion draft.
An incumbent team may lose no more than two unprotected players throughout the expansion draft.
The following transactions have given several clubs protection from one or both expansion sides:
Angel City FC acquired full expansion protection in a pair of trades, sending forward Scarlett Camberos to Bay FC in exchange for expansion protection and $50,000 in allocation money and receiving expansion protection from Utah Royals FC in exchange for $100,000 in allocation money and a 2024 international roster spot.
The Houston Dash traded midfielder Joelle Anderson and $25,000 in allocation money to Bay FC and sent forward Cameron Tucker and $50,000 in allocation money to the Royals, securing full expansion protection.
The Kansas City Current acquired $175,000 in allocation money and 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft protection from Bay FC in exchange for defender Alex Loera and sent defender Kate Del Fava and its natural first round pick (No. 4 overall) in the 2024 NWSL Draft to Utah for expansion protection and $75,000 in allocation money.
NJ/NY Gotham FC acquired expansion protection and $150,000 in allocation money from Utah in exchange for goalkeeper Mandy Haught and completed a three-team trade that sent midfielder Ellie Jean to Bay FC for expansion protection.
The North Carolina Courage received expansion protection from Utah Royals FC and $30,000 in allocation money in exchange for midfielders Emily Gray and Frankie Tagliaferri.
The Orlando Pride secured full expansion protection in a pair of trades with Bay FC and Utah Royals FC. The club received expansion protection and $50,000 in allocation money from Bay FC in exchange for the club's natural first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2024 NWSL Draft and sent midfielder Mikayla Cluff and the No. 26 overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft to Utah for expansion protection and $90,000 in allocation money.
Portland Thorns FC secured full expansion protection by trading defender Emily Menges to Bay FC in exchange for protection and $75,000 in allocation money and sending forward Hannah Betfort, $10,000 in allocation money and the No. 33 overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft to the Royals in exchange for protection.
Racing Louisville FC acquired 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft protection from Bay FC and a 2024 NWSL Draft natural second round pick (No. 15 overall) in exchange for the club's 2024 NWSL Draft natural third round pick (No. 34 overall) and $235,000 in Alternative Allocation Money.
San Diego Wave FC received $60,000 in allocation money and 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft protection from the Royals in exchange for defender Kaleigh Riehl.
The Washington Spirit acquired expansion protection from Utah Royals FC in exchange for the No. 20 and No. 21 overall picks in the 2024 NWSL Draft and secured full protection after trading defender Dorian Bailey to Bay FC.
The full 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft, presented by Ally, rules and procedures document is available here.
ANGEL CITY FC
Full Roster Protection
CHICAGO RED STARS
Protected Players
Julia Bianchi (International - Brazil)
Ava Cook
Penelope Hocking
Taylor Malham
Tatumn Milazzo
Alyssa Naeher
Cari Roccaro
Ally Schlegel
Arin Wright
Unprotected Players
Jill Aguilera
Jenna Bike
Brooke Elby (Playing Rights)
Sami Feller
Samantha Fisher
Zoey Goralski (Playing Rights)
Sarah Griffith
Sophie Jones
Amanda Kowalski
Karina LeBlanc (Playing Rights)
Stephanie McCaffrey (Playing Rights)
Addie McCain
Zoe Morse (Playing Rights)
Sarah Woldmoe (Playing Rights)
Mackenzie Wood
Grace Yochum (College Protected Player)
HOUSTON DASH
Full Roster Protection
KANSAS CITY CURRENT
Full Roster Protection
NJ/NY GOTHAM FC
Full Roster Protection
NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE
Protected Players
Malia Berkely
Sydney Collins
Kerolin (International - Brazil)
Riley Jackson
Kaleigh Kurtz
Manaka Matsukubo (International - Japan)
Narumi Miura (International - Japan)
Casey Murphy
Denise O'Sullivan
Ryan Williams
Unprotected Players
Tess Boade
Marisa Bova
Mille Gejl (International - Denmark)
Hensley Hancuff
Haley Hopkins
Estelle Johnson
Rikako Kobayashi (International - Japan)
Tyler Lussi
Rikke Madsen (Playing Rights)
Fuka Nagano (Playing Rights)
Victoria Pickett
Brianna Pinto
Clara Robbins
Katelyn Rowland
Meredith Speck
Olivia Wingate
OL REIGN
Protected Players
Bethany Balcer
Alana Cook
Claudia Dickey
Sofia Huerta
Jordyn Huitema (International - Canada)
Veronica Latsko
Phoebe McClernon
Quinn
Olivia Van der Jagt
Unprotected Players
Olivia Athens
Lauren Barnes
Elyse Bennett
Ryanne Brown
Jess Fishlock
Samantha Hiatt
Shae Holmes
Laurel Ivory
Jimena López (International - Mexico)
Luany (International - Brazil)
Alyssa Malonson
Maia Pérez
Morgan Proffitt (Playing Rights)
Abby Wambach (Playing Rights)
ORLANDO PRIDE
Full Roster Protection
PORTLAND THORNS FC
Full Roster Protection
RACING LOUISVILLE FC
Protected Players
Ary Borges (International - Brazil)
Kirsten Davis
Savannah DeMelo
Abby Erceg
Jaelin Howell
Katie Lund
Lauren Milliet
Carson Pickett
Elli Pikkujämsä (International - Finland)
Unprotected Players
Jordan Baggett
Hillary Beall
Jordyn Bloomer
Kayla Fischer
Parker Goins
Uchenna Kanu (International - Nigeria)
Alanna Kennedy (Playing Rights)
Thembi Kgatlana (International - South Africa)
Julia Lester
Paige Monaghan
Maddie Pokorny
Olivia Sekany
Wang Shuang
SAN DIEGO WAVE FC
Protected Players
Amirah Ali
Danielle Colaprico
Abby Dahlkemper
Naomi Girma
Taylor Kornieck
Kristen McNabb
Alex Morgan
Jaedyn Shaw
Kailen Sheridan
Unprotected Players
Belle Briede
Lauren Brzykcy
Kyra Carusa
Giovanna DeMarco
Meggie Dougherty Howard
Sierra Enge
Rachel Hill
Sofia Jakobsson (International - Sweden)
Carly Telford (Playing Rights)
Kelsey Turnbow
Shae Yanez
WASHINGTON SPIRIT
Full Roster Protection
National Women's Soccer League Stories from December 13, 2023
- Utah Royals FC Adds Five Players Ahead of Expansion Draft - Utah Royals FC
- Kansas City Current Announces Groundbreaking Higher Education Partnership with University of Missouri-Kansas City - Kansas City Current
- Thorns FC Sign Hina Sugita to Contract Extension Through 2026 - Portland Thorns FC
- Kansas City Current Sign Defender Izzy Rodriguez to Two-Year Contract - Kansas City Current
- NWSL Releases Protected/Unprotected Lists Ahead of 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft, Presented by Ally - NWSL
- Racing Announces List of Protected Players Before NWSL Expansion Draft - Racing Louisville FC
- Orlando Pride Signs Midfielder Angelina to Three-Year Contract - Orlando Pride
- Bay FC Announces Historic Sponsorship with Sutter Health as First Founding Partner, Front-Of-Kit Partner and Official Medical Provider - Bay FC
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