Scott Whittum NWSL Mock Draft – 14 January 2014

January 15, 2014 · Scott Whittum
#1 Crystal Dunn 2. Kealia Ohai 3. Maya Hayes
Round 1
1 NWSL Washington Spirit Washington Crystal Dunn M/D 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 Houston Dash Houston Kealia Ohai F North Carolina
Ohai had 11 goals in 25 matches during this past season. She could provide an instant offensive punch for the Dash. Ohai is very battle tested from playing for North Carolina and in the ACC conference. A great fit in Houston as they build up their side.
3 NWSL Chicago Red Stars Chicago (from Sea) Maya Hayes F Penn State
Hayes is 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 Chicago Red Stars Chicago 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.
5 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. She’s also be dangerous on headers in set pieces.
6 NWSL Sky Blue Sky Blue Vanessa DiBernardo M Illinois
DiBernardo scored seven goals and had seven assists in 2013 despite missing an extended amount of time with a knee injury. She has spent time with the full National Team. If her knee stays healthy, she will be a steal at this point in the draft.
7 NWSL Seattle Reign Seattle (from Por) Nkem Ezurike F Michigan
With the acquisition of Sydney Leroux, the Seattle side continues to stockpile offense with a very athletic Ezurike out of Michigan She helped lead the Wolverines to the Elite Eight last season.
8 NWSL Boston Breakers Boston (from KC) Aubrey Bledsoe GK Wake Forest
The Breakers go with Bledsoe if they don’t have any of the top striker options available like Ohai or Hayes falling to the number eight slot. Bledsoe was a huge key for Wake Forest and its rise over the past several seasons.
9 NWSL Western New York Flash Western NY Mandy Laddish M Notre Dame
Laddish would be an interesting fit with the Flash since she would not necessarily be expected to start right away. Laddish could slide down to the next slot and go to Houston to play for her old college coach Randy Waldrum as well.
Round 2
10 NWSL Houston Dash Houston Kelsey Wys GK Florida State
The Dash go after Wys in this slot to protect themselves when Erin McLeod would be away with the Canadian National Team and strengthening the relentless commitment to being defensive first in Houston.
11 NWSL Portland Thorns Portland (from Was) Amanda Frisbie D/F Portland
The Thorns stay local with Frisbie whose versatility to play in the back and press forward should help with their desire to get stronger in the backline.
12 NWSL FC Kansas City Kansas City (from Sea) Tesa McKibben F St. Francis (PA)
McKibben scored 70 goals in her career and capped her senior season with 20 goals and 14 assists. This will be a great addition for FC Kansas City at this point in the draft.
13 NWSL Boston Breakers Boston (from Chi) Katie Stengel F Wake Forest
The Breakers take a chance on Stengel, who is recovering from her season ending injury, and bring her in for depth in the attack. She will have time to get healthy and will compete for playing time later in the season.
14 NWSL Western New York Flash Western NY (from Bos) Natasha Anasi D Duke
Anasi would bring a nice compliment of speed and potential attacking skill out of the back for the Flash. 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.
15 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 can boost the attack for Sky Blue FC.
16 NWSL Portland Thorns Portland Morgan Marlborough F Santa Clara
The Timbers add valuable depth behind Christine Sinclair and Alex Morgan with this pick of Marlborough as she is a prolific goal scorer and very efficient with scoring chances with 15 goals in 44 shots on goal in 2013 for Santa Clara.
17 NWSL Seattle Reign Seattle (from KC) Lindsay Elston M Washington
Elston has spent time with the U-20 National Team and is a pretty sound all-around player. Elston’s numbers in 2013 suffered somewhat as Washington struggled as a team offensively. Elston is a local product that should provide nice depth for Seattle.
18 NWSL Western New York Flash Western NY Courtney Verloo F/D Stanford
Verloo is versatile and would fit in well with the Flash. She comes from a winning culture in Stanford and her ability to play up front and along the back line would protect the Flash depth-wise when national team players are away.