Scott Whittum NWSL Mock Draft – 21 December 2013

December 21, 2013 · Scott Whittum
#1 Crystal Dunn 2. Julie Johnston 3. Maya Hayes
Round 1
1 NWSL Washington Spirit Washington Crystal Dunn F North Carolina
The Freedom have holes to fill everywhere after finishing at the bottom of the NWSL. Dunn is the best all-around attacking personality that could come in and make an immediate impact next season.
2 NWSL Chicago Red Stars Chicago (from Sea) Julie Johnston M Santa Clara
Johnston is probably the best mix of attacking and defending out of the midfield in the senior class. Johnston has spent time with the full national team and should compete for a starting position…if not immediately inserted into the starting XI for Chicago.
3 NWSL Chicago Red Stars Chicago Maya Hayes F Penn State
One of the best strikers in college soccer in a long time with 19 goals in 2013. Hayes is a great fit for a Red Stars attack that badly needs an infusion of speed, finishing, and world class skill that Hayes can provide.
4 NWSL FC Kansas City Kansas City (from Bos) Kassey Kallman D Florida State
Kallman is one of the best center backs available in this year’s draft. She anchored the Florida State back line to another run to the national title match. Can also be dangerous on headers in set pieces.
5 NWSL Sky Blue Sky Blue Kealia Ohai F North Carolina
Ohai had 11 goals in 25 matches during this past season. Could provide instant offensive punch for Sky Blue FC and is very battle tested from playing for North Carolina and in the ACC conference.
6 NWSL Seattle Reign Seattle from (Port) Nkem Ezurike F Michigan
With the acquisition of Sydney Leroux, Seattle continues to stockpile offense with the very athletic Ezurike out of Michigan. She helped lead the Wolverines to the Elite Eight last season.
7 NWSL Boston Breakers Boston Aubrey Bledsoe GK Wake Forest
The Breakers go with Bledsoe with none of the top striker options, like Ohai or Hayes, falling to the number seven slot. Bledsoe was a huge key for Wake Forest and its rise over the past several seasons.
8 NWSL Western New York Flash Western NY Laura Weinberg F Duke
The Flash are pretty stacked across the board, so they take a shot with Weinberg in this slot. She should bring plenty of upside as an attacker who could be a great player to develop under the guidance of Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd.
Round 2
9 NWSL Portland Thorns Portland (from Sea) Natasha Anasi D Duke
The Thorns are looking to play faster out of the back in 2014. Anasi should fit this bill as she is one of the top battled tested defenders in the country playing in the ACC and winning the ACC Defensive player of the year in 2011 as a sophomore.
10 NWSL FC Kansas City Kansas City (from Sea) Mandy Laddish M Notre Dame
Mandy Laddish is a versatile midfield that should provide a nice mix of depth in the attack and defense in what would be somewhat of a homecoming for the Lee’s Summitt, Missouri native.
11 NWSL Boston Breakers Boston (from Chi) Katie Stengel F Wake Forest
The Breakers take a chance on Stengel recovering from her season ending injury and bring here in for depth in the attack allowing her time to get healthy and compete for playing time later in the season.
12 NWSL Western New York Flash Western NY (from Bos) Courtney Verloo F/D Stanford
Verloo is versatile and this would fit in well with the Flash as she comes from a winning culture in Stanford. Verloo’s ability to play up front and along the back line would protect the Flash depth wise when national team players are away.
13 NWSL Sky Blue Sky Blue Jonelle Filigno F Rutgers
If Filigno is not allocated to Sky Blue FC as a Canadian national team player, she will be a lock I would think to be picked by Sky Blue.  The Rutgers product is a dynamic attacking player who would boost the attack for Sky Blue FC.
14 NWSL Portland Thorns Portland Morgan Marlborough F Santa Clara
The Timbers add valuable depth behind Christine Sinclair and Alex Morgan with this pick. Marlborough is a prolific goal scorer and very efficient with scoring chancesm, netting 15 goals in 44 shots on goal in 2013 for Santa Clara.
15 NWSL FC Kansas City Kansas City Lindsay Elston M Washington
Elston has spent time with the U-20 National Team and is pretty sound all around player. Elston’s numbers in 2013 suffered somewhat as Washington struggled as a team offensively. FC Kansas City would be a great fit for Elston to develop as she would not need to start right away.
16 NWSL Western New York Flash Western NY Christabel Oduro F/M Memphis
This Canadian national team product is a very explosive scorer that would compete for playing time with the Flash right away. The question is will Canada allocate her instead of making her draft eligible.