ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Big 12 had nine soccer players selected in the 2024 NWSL Draft, presented by Ally, on Friday night. It marks the most from the Big 12 surpassing last season’s five. BYU led the Conference with five selections followed by Texas Tech’s three and UCF’s with one. The Big 12’s nine selections tie as the second-most draft picks from Power Five conferences.
The Utah Royals selected BYU’s Brecken Mozingo and Olivia Smith-Griffitts in the first and second rounds while their teammates Olivia Wade-Katoa was selected at No. 23 by the Portland Thorns FC followed by Jamie Shepherd at No. 30 and Laveni Vaka at No 55 by Bay FC. Texas Tech was represented in the NWSL Draft as Hannah Anderson (No. 31; Chicago Red Stars), Alex Kerr (No. 50; Orlando Pride) and Madison White (No. 54; Racing Louisville FC) were selected. UCF’s Talia Gabarra was selected at No. 56, heading to the Orlando Pride.
A Utah native, Mozingo was the overall No. 4 pick in the first round chosen by the Utah Royals, one of the newest NWSL franchises for the 2024 season. Ending the season as BYU’s leader in goals (14) and assists (15), she also earned All-Big 12 First Team, All-Big 12 Tournament Team, and All-American First Team honors. During the postseason, the forward was named to the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament team before being named a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy and the Honda Sport Award for soccer.
Selected at No. 20, Smith-Griffitts joins teammate Brecken Mozingo as a pick from the Utah Royals. The junior helped the BYU defensive line only allow 10 goals during Big 12 play. Though specializing in defense, the defender also made efforts on the offensive end during the season. She recorded a brace against Utah on Sept. 9 and earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week following the performance. Smith-Griffitts concluded the season with eight assists.
Wade-Katoa went in the second round to the Portland Thorns at pick No. 23. An All-Big 12 Second Team selection, the senior captain recorded her career-high 12 goals and eight assists during the 2023 campaign. Wade-Katoa also earned Third Team All-American honors this season. She saw action in 120 games for the Cougars in five seasons.
Shepherd was selected by the new NWSL team, Bay FC, as the No. 30 overall pick. She saw action and started in 25 possible matches this season while playing in a program-most 108 contests. She totaled 14 goals and 21 assists for 49 points during her career at BYU. Following the season, the midfielder was named to the All-Midwest Region Third Team.
Anderson, the 2023 Big 12 Defender of the Year, was chosen in the third round as pick No. 31 by the Chicago Red Stars. She started every match for Texas Tech this season and led the Red Raider defense that held opponents to 11 goals, the fewest in the Conference. Nationally, Anderson received All-American honors while being named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy and a finalist for the Honda Sport Award. She also registered five goals and two assists on the offensive end this year.
A newcomer to the Texas Tech squad in 2023, Kerr was the second Red Raider selected on Friday night by the Orlando Pride at No. 50. She recorded two braces and a hat trick during her career-high 11-goal season. Appearing in all 23 matches for TTU this season, she earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors. Kerr is the second-consecutive Big 12 forward selected by the Orlando Pride, following TCU’s Messiah Bright a year ago.
The 54
th overall pick, White helped Texas Tech secure its first Big 12 regular season title and earned Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year during the 2023 season. She claimed the nation’s second-most 13 shutouts this year to become the Red Raiders’ all-time leader in the category with 39 and secured the top spot for goalkeeper wins at 52. Joining teammate Hannah Anderson as a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, White also became the third TTU player and the first TTU goalkeeper to earn First-Team All-American honors.
Vaka was the 55
th overall pick chosen by Bay FC. A three-year starter for BYU, the senior helped BYU record nine shutouts during the 2023 campaign to earn All-Big 12 and All-American First Team honors this season. Vaka joined teammate Brecken Mozingo as a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy.
Continuing the streak with the final and 56
th overall pick on Friday, Gabarra was selected by the Orlando Pride. She appeared in 14 matches and earned 12 starts for UCF in its first season in the Big 12. Throughout her five years with the Knights, she played in 40 contests and recorded two goals and five assists. Gabarra, whose mother is a former USWNT player, became the first daughter of a USWNT player to be selected in the NSWL Draft.
The 2024 NWSL season kicks off on March 15.
Big 12 NWSL Draft Picks
4. Brecken Mozingo (BYU) – Utah Royals
20. Olivia Smith-Griffitts (BYU) – Utah Royals
23. Olivia Wade-Katoa (BYU) – Portland Thorns FC
30. Jamie Shepherd (BYU) – Bay FC
31. Hannah Anderson (Texas Tech) – Chicago Red Stars
50. Alex Kerr (Texas Tech) – Orlando Pride
54. Madison White (Texas Tech) – Racing Louisville FC
55. Laveni Vaka (BYU) – Bay FC
56. Talia Gabarra (UCF) – Orlando Pride