The 2020 NWSL expansion draft was a special draft held on November 12, 2020, by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) for Racing Louisville FC, an expansion team, to select players from existing teams in the league. Louisville would be able to select up to 18 players from a list of unprotected players provided by the nine incumbent NWSL teams.
On October 26, 2020, the NWSL announced that Chicago Red Stars would receive full roster protection after executing a trade with Racing Louisville FC.
Format Each of the NWSL's nine teams could protect 11 players, with a limit of two United States federation players. Racing Louisville FC could select a maximum of two players (or one United States federation player) per team, and two United States federation players in total. All players currently under contract, on loan, or whose NWSL rights are held by an NWSL team (e.g., draft picks, waiver claims, retired players) were eligible for selection unless included on the protected list, and only players not yet signed from an NWSL team's discovery list were exempt.
The timeline for the Expansion Draft process was as follows: Thursday, Oct. 22 (1 p.m. ET) – Trade/waiver window closes Thursday, Oct. 22 (5 p.m. ET) – All previously unannounced trades announced Thursday, Oct. 29 (5 p.m. ET) – End-of-season process deadline Wednesday, Nov. 4 (5 p.m. ET) – Protected list due from clubs to the NWSL Thursday, Nov. 5 (1 p.m. ET) – Protected/unprotected lists distributed and made public Thursday, Nov. 12 – 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft Friday, Nov. 13 (9 a.m. ET) – Trade window opens
Draft results Racing Louisville FC selected 14 players on November 12, 2020.
Blue highlights indicate United States federation players Italics indicate players who are not under contract but whose NWSL playing rights remain with the team
# Player Previous team Pos. 1 Addisyn Merrick North Carolina Courage DF 2 Julia Ashley OL Reign DF 3 Jennifer Cudjoe Sky Blue FC MF 4 CeCe Kizer Houston Dash MF 5 Katie Lund Washington Spirit GK 6 Alanna Kennedy Orlando Pride DF 7 Lauren Milliet North Carolina Courage MF 8 Kaleigh Riehl Sky Blue FC DF 9 Caitlin Foord Orlando Pride FW 10 Katie McClure Washington Spirit FW 11 Erin Simon Houston Dash DF 12 Michelle Betos OL Reign GK 13 Tobin Heath Portland Thorns FC FW 14 Christen Press Utah Royals FC FW
Protected lists by team After Chicago Red Stars traded for full roster protection, the remaining eight current NWSL teams released their respective protected lists on November 5, 2020.
Bold indicates players selected in the Expansion Draft Blue highlights indicate United States federation players Italics indicate players who are not under contract but whose NWSL playing rights remain with the team
Houston Dash Protected Unprotected Jane Campbell Bridgette Andrzejewski Allysha Chapman Chloe Castaneda Rachel Daly Taylor Comeau Shea Groom Niki Cross Haley Hanson Amanda Dennis Veronica Latsko Marissa Diggs Kristie Mewis Jamia Fields Katie Naughton Lindsey Harris Megan Oyster Melissa Henderson Nichelle Prince Bianca Henninger Sophie Schmidt Savannah Jordan Maegan Kelly CeCe Kizer Christine Nairn Ally Prisock Cami Privett Erin Simon Katie Stengel Bri Visalli
North Carolina Courage Protected UnprotectedAbby Dahlkemper Lindsay Agnew Debinha Jaelene Daniels Abby Erceg Bri Folds Kristen Hamilton Hailey Harbison Hailie Mace Kaleigh Kurtz Merritt Mathias Steph Labbé Jessica McDonald Sam Leshnak Casey Murphy McKenzie Meehan Denise O'Sullivan Addisyn Merrick Lynn Williams Lauren MillietSam Mewis Sinclaire Miramontez Heather O'Reilly Cari Roccaro Katelyn Rowland Havana Solaun Meredith Speck Ally Watt Ryan Williams
Orlando Pride Protected Unprotected Claire Emslie Kristen Edmonds Taylor Kornieck Caitlin Farrell Sydney Leroux Joanna Fennema Phoebe McClernon Caitlin Foord Jade Moore Ashlyn HarrisAlex Morgan Alanna Kennedy Courtney Petersen Abi Kim Ali Riley Ali KriegerEmily Sonnett Camila Marta Erin McLeod Marisa Viggiano Carson Pickett Konya Plummer Toni Pressley Cheyenne Shorts Emily van Egmond Chelsee Washington Brittany Wilson Shelina Zadorsky
Portland Thorns FC Protected Unprotected Simone Charley Nadine AngererCrystal Dunn Bella BixbyLindsey Horan Celeste Boureille Kelli Hubly Marian Dougherty Meghan Klingenberg Britt Eckerstrom Natalia Kuikka Marissa Everett Emily Menges Adrianna Franch Raquel Rodríguez Tobin Heath Christine Sinclair Tyler Lussi Sophia Smith Andressinha Morgan Weaver Nikki Marshall Meg Morris Meaghan Nally Emily Ogle Madison Pogarch Hayley Raso Kat Reynolds Angela Salem Becky Sauerbrunn Gabby Seiler Kat Tarr Rachel Van Hollebeke Christen Westphal Sandra Yu
OL Reign Protected Unprotected Bethany Balcer Morgan Andrews Lauren Barnes Julia Ashley Amber Brooks Michelle Betos Jess Fishlock Meg Brandt Sofia Huerta Mariah Bullock Darian Jenkins Steph CatleyRose Lavelle Steph CoxAllie Long Shirley Cruz Kristen McNabb Kiersten Dallstream Yuka Momiki Schuyler DeBree Leah Pruitt Machaela George Madison Hammond Sam Hiatt Kelcie Hedge Celia Adrienne Jordan Alyssa Kleiner Theresa Nielsen Morgan Proffitt Quinn Megan Rapinoe Taylor Smith Jasmyne Spencer Jodie Taylor Rumi Utsugi Abby Wambach Dani Weatherholt Rosie White Lydia Williams Bev Yanez
Sky Blue FC Protected Unprotected Imani Dorsey Nicole Baxter Nahomi Kawasumi Melanie Booth Amanda McGlynn Jennifer Cudjoe Paige Monaghan Julie Doyle Ifeoma Onumonu Caprice DydascoMallory Pugh Elizabeth Eddy Midge Purce Sabrina Flores Kailen Sheridan Mandy Freeman Evelyne Viens Christina Gibbons Sarah Woldmoe DiDi Haracic McCall Zerboni Megan Hinz Jen Hoy Estelle Johnson Gina Lewandowski Carli Lloyd Jill Loyden Manya Makoski Domi Richardson Kaleigh Riehl Erica Skroski Chantelle Swaby Madison Tiernan Becki Tweed Kenie Wright
Utah Royals FC Protected Unprotected Elizabeth Ball Nicole Barnhart Katie Bowen Vero Boquete Rachel Corsie Kate Deines Kate Del Fava Cyera Hintzen Tziarra King Lauren Holiday Lo'eau LaBonta Gunnhildur JónsdóttirKelley O'Hara Samantha Johnson Amy Rodriguez Mandy Laddish Abby Smith Taylor Leach Michele Vasconcelos Taylor Lytle Gaby Vincent Michelle Maemone Diana Matheson Sydney Miramontez Maddie Nolf Christen Press Brittany Ratcliffe Desiree Scott Arielle Ship Raisa Strom-Okimoto Erika Tymrak Mallory Weber
Washington Spirit Protected Unprotected Dorian Bailey Jaye Boissiere Aubrey Bledsoe Averie Collins Jordan DiBiasi Meggie Dougherty Howard Bayley Feist Jenna Hellstrom Ashley Hatch Brooke Hendrix Tori Huster Natalie Jacobs Tegan McGrady Devon Kerr Paige Nielsen Lori Lindsey Ashley Sanchez Joanna Lohman Sam Staab Katie Lund Andi Sullivan Katie McClure Meghan McCool Jessie Scarpa Crystal Thomas Kumi Yokoyama
See also List of NWSL drafts 2021 National Women's Soccer League season
References
External links 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft (11/12/20) on Twitch