With less than a week to go before the 2023 NWSL draft, projected No. 1 pick Alyssa Thompson has officially become eligible to be selected after registering to join this year’s class.
The decision, first reported Friday, also signals the 18-year-old U.S. women’s national team star’s intent to de-commit from Stanford after previously verbally committing to play for the program. Thompson, a senior at Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles, had until Monday’s 11:59 p.m. ET deadline to register for this year’s draft.
With Thompson officially turning pro, the phenom is expected to be drafted first overall by Angel City when the draft commences next week. Angel City made headlines Thursday by executing a blockbuster three-team deal with Gotham FC and the Portland Thorns for the right to select Thompson.
Angel City sent the No. 5 overall pick, a 2024 second-round pick and $200,000 in allocation money to Portland in exchange for midfielder Yazmeen Ryan, the team announced Thursday. Ryan was then sent to Gotham FC, along with an additional $250,000 in allocation money, for the No. 1 pick.
A native of Studio City, Calif., Thompson, who took home the Gatorade national girls soccer player of the year award in June 2021, made her senior national team debut in September at age 17. A few months prior, Thompson and her younger sister Gisele (Class of ’24) made history by becoming the first high school athletes to sign an NIL deal with Nike.
The 2023 NWSL draft is set to commence Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. ET from the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
