Chris (@chris_awk) and Jon (@jonlipsitz) pat themselves on the back for a job well done in covering the 2019 NWSL Draft. Then, they discuss the winners and the losers of the day. Did Chicago do as well as most feel they did (Hint: Yes.)? And how did Washington select great players and still end up looking foolish?

This probably isn’t up to my usual draft standards, but it was hard to reposition after an avalanche of new entries dropped on the last day. Positions listed are where players played in college/youth international level and are not a projection of where players will end up in the pros.

Full Mock Draft is below. Podcast covers in brief detail who we see going in the first two rounds and to whom, while giving our reasoning.

1 – CHI – Tierna Davidson – D (CB), MF (DMC) – Stanford
2 – SBFC – Hailie Mace – D (LB), F (CF) – UCLA
3 – SBFC – Julia Ashley – D (RB, CB) – North Carolina
4 – WSH – Tegan McGrady – D (LB) – Stanford
5 – NC – Leah Pruitt – F (CF, RF) – USC
6 – SBFC – CeCe Kizer – F (CF), MF (AMC) – Ole Miss
7 – WSH – Samantha Staab – D (CB) – Clemson
8 – WSH – Caitlin Farrell – F (RF) – Georgetown
9 – NC – Dorian Bailey – MF (MC, DMC) – North Carolina

10 – SBFC – Emily Ogle – MF (DMC) – Penn State
11 – SBFC – Jordan DiBiasi – MF (MC) – Stanford
12 – HOU – Ally Prisock – D (CB) – USC
13 – HOU – Julie James – MF (DMC) – Baylor
14 – NC – Mimi Asom – F (CF) – Princeton
15 – CHI – Kayla McCoy – F (CF) – Duke
16 – HOU – Maria Sanchez – MF (LM, MC) – Santa Clara
17 – POR – Maddy Haro – D (LB) – Washington State
18 – HOU – Bianca St. Georges – D (RB) – West Virginia

19 – SBFC – Paige Monaghan – MF (RM), D (RB) – Butler
20 – CHI – April Bockin – F (RF, CF) – Minnesota
21 – HOU – Jorian Baucom – F (CF) – LSU
22 – HOU – Kaycie Tillman – MF (RM) – Florida State
23 – URFC – Hailey Harbison – D (RB) – Pepperdine
24 – CHI – Kayla Sharples – D (CB) – Northwestern
25 – ORL – Kyra Carusa – F (RF, CF, LF) – Georgetown
26 – CHI – Hannah Davison – D (CB) – Northwestern
27 – URFC – Lauren Milliet – MF (AMC) – Colorado College

28 – SBFC – Devon Kerr – GK – Ohio State
29 – WSH – Bayley Feist – MF (MC) – Wake Forest
30 – ORL – Alex Thomas – D (RB), F (LF, CF) – LSU
31 – WSH – Gabrielle Vincent – D (CB) – Louisville
32 – URFC – Hailey Skolmoski North – F (CF), D (LB) – Utah
33 – CHI – Jenna Szczesny – F (CF) – Loyola Chicago
34 – SBFC – Madison Pogarch – D (LB), MF (MC) – Rutgers
35 – POR – Maddie Pokorny – F (RF, LF) – Saint Louis
36 – NC – Phallon Tullis-Joyce – GK – Miami (FL)

In this edition of the WoSo Independent podcast, Chris (@chris_awk) and Jon (@jonlipsitz) continue their preview coverage of the 2019 NWSL Draft. First, they give some general predictions for the draft, including who’ll be a Chicago Red Star shortly after noon on Thursday.

Then they break down the nine NWSL teams’ needs heading into the draft. Who is in a good position? Who needs to seriously think about a rebuild?

Chris (@chris_awk) and Jon (@jonlipsitz) are back to discuss the FIFA Women’s World Cup draw. Which groups excite them? Who are sleepers and pretenders?

Then, they discuss the state of the NWSL ahead of a very big week and even bigger season for the future of the league.

Here is my very rough draft of the 2019 NWSL Draft Big Board. This is not meant to be conclusive or final by any means, as I still haven’t added some late rising standouts (Haro, Uveges, etc.), while some others (Bockin, Thomas, etc.) will be significantly higher on the final board.

Said final board will only include players declared for the draft and probably won’t be out until a week or so before the draft itself, so basically a couple weeks from now. Podcast below the table.

Japan put on a scintillating display to be crowned U20 World Cup champions against rivals Spain, racing out to a 3-0 lead before settling for a commanding two-goal triumph that left little doubt as to the age group’s best side.

U20 WWC Final – Spain vs Japan stats

Spain shots (field)

Spain shots (frame)

Japan shots (field)

Japan shots (frame)

Spain (red) vs Japan (blue) key passes

Woman of the Match – Riko Ueki (Japan)

1 assist
4 shots
83% pass completion
2 key passes
2 chances created
4 defensive challenges won (out of 8)
3 dribbles

While some might scoff at Ueki having a claim for the Golden Ball, the Japanese forward roared to life after two disappointing matches to open the competition. She was at her best in the knockout stages, scoring in the quarterfinal and semi-final wins before pulling the strings here. She wouldn’t score, but Ueki did set up a goal while also keeping things moving and passing at a very high accuracy for a forward. The Japanese full WNT is a plethora of riches right now, but Ueki seems likely to get in the mix sooner rather than later.

Ueki passes complete

The United States bowed out at the 2018 U20 World Cup after the group stage with a 2-2 draw with eventual runners-up, Spain. The Americans rallied after heading into the half with a 2-0 deficit but could not add a third goal in the final ten minutes of play after a thrilling fight back.

[L] Spain vs USA [R] stats

USA (white) vs Spain (maroon) shots

Key Passes – USA in white, Spain in maroon

Woman of the Match – Patri (ESP)

1 goal
1 assist
7 shots
77% pass completion
2 key passes
17 challenges won (out of 25)
3 aerial challenges won (out of 5)
3 dribbles
6 tackles won (out of 9)
11 ball recoveries
2 fouls won

Entering this competition with a budding reputation as one of the great hopes of Spanish football, Patri showed just why she’s so highly regarded in this sensational display. In addition to the scoring, Patri was a conduit of passing and a challenge winning machine, winning seventeen, including six tackles. The USA had no answer for Patri’s engine and quality, two of the key factors in the Spanish victory.

Patri passes complete

Patri challenges won

Other Standouts:

T2. Berta Pujadas (ESP)

Key Stat: 14/18 challenges won

Though Spain conceded twice, center-back Pujadas was hardly at fault for the leaks in the Spanish defense, putting on a sterling display at center-back for the European side. Her challenge numbers referenced above were buttressed by five tackles, while she also managed to complete 80% of her passes.

Pujadas challenges won

T2. Samantha Hiatt (USA)

Key Stat: 4/4 aerial challenges won

The central of defense for the U.S. held up reasonably well in this one, despite the Americans giving up two goals overall. Best in class for the USA overall was Hiatt, who dominated the air and was solid in challenges on the whole. She took care of the ball with just two turnovers and had the assist on one of the side’s goals.

4. Aitana Bonmati (ESP)

Key Stat: 89% pass completion

Heartbreak would arrive later in the tournament for Bonmati, but, here, she was the metronome in the middle for the Spaniards, completing nearly 90% of her passes. She also was dazzling on the ball herself, with her seven dribbles more than double that of any of her teammates on the day.

Bonmati passes complete

5. Sophia Smith (USA)

Key Stat: 6 shots

It was an exercise in frustration for American fans hoping the offense would come alive truly in this tournament, as they did so in this one, but far too late to see the team through. Smith was the Americans’ most dangerous player going forward on the tournament and had six shots and a goal to her credit. But she also lost 26 (!) of 35 challenges and had 14 turnovers with no ball recoveries. However, bearing the weight of an entire offense makes such largesse understandable.

Well, I did my best. Seeding looks to be volatile this year, with some weird first round matchups likely thanks to a glut of ACC and SEC teams.

In College Cup for these brackets, Stanford Quadrant winner would play Georgetown Quadrant winner, with Florida State Quadrant winner playing North Carolina Quadrant winner.

Stanford Quadrant

Palo Alto Regional

[1] Stanford vs Seattle
NC State vs Mississippi State
[4] Penn State vs Albany
Washington State vs Montana

Los Angeles Regional

[2] USC vs Pepperdine
Auburn vs Wake Forest
[3] Texas vs Denver
Arizona vs BYU

Florida State Quadrant

Tallahassee Regional

[1] Florida State vs Murray State
Kansas vs Saint Louis
[4] Texas A&M vs Abilene Christian
South Florida vs Minnesota

Westwood Regional

[2] UCLA vs Long Beach State
Arkansas vs Texas Tech
[3] Santa Clara vs San Jose State
South Carolina vs Clemson

North Carolina Quadrant

Chapel Hill Regional

[1] North Carolina vs Radford
Memphis vs Ole Miss
[4] Vanderbilt vs Lipscomb
Louisville vs Butler

Waco Regional

[2] Baylor vs Little Rock
LSU vs Virginia Tech
[3] Tennessee vs Loyola Chicago
TCU vs North Texas

Georgetown Quadrant

Washington DC Regional

[1] Georgetown vs Howard
Hofstra vs Central Connecticut State
[4] Virginia vs Monmouth
Princeton vs Rutgers

Morgantown Regional

[2] West Virginia vs Bowling Green
Boston College vs Boston University
[3] Duke vs UNC Greensboro
Illinois vs Milwaukee

Note: I have NOT calculated seeds yet. That will be coming with the mock bracket.

America East – Albany*
AAC – Memphis*, South Florida
Atlantic 10 – Saint Louis*
ACC – Florida State*, North Carolina, Duke, Virginia, NC State, Boston College, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Louisville
A-Sun – Lipscomb*
Big 12 – West Virginia*, Baylor, Texas, TCU, Kansas, Texas Tech
Big East – Georgetown*, Butler
Big Sky – Montana*
Big South – Radford*
Big Ten – Minnesota*, Penn State, Rutgers, Illinois
Big West – Long Beach State*
CAA – Hofstra*
C-USA – North Texas*
Horizon – Milwaukee*
Ivy – Princeton*
MAAC – Monmouth*
MAC – Bowling Green*
MVC – Loyola (Ill.)*
Mountain West – San Jose State*
NEC – Central Connecticut State*
OVC – Murray State*
Pac-12 – Stanford*, USC, UCLA, Arizona, Washington State
Patriot – Boston University*
SEC – LSU*, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Auburn, Ole Miss
SoCon – UNC Greensboro*
Southland – Abilene Christian*
SWAC – Howard*
Summit – Denver*
Sun Belt – Little Rock*
WCC – BYU*, Santa Clara, Pepperdine
WAC – Seattle*

Last IN – Pepperdine, Louisville, Butler, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech
Last OUT – Wisconsin, Northwestern, Ohio State, Colorado