2014 NWSL Draft: Year-end assessment

I compiled this for a couple of reasons:

1. I wanted to include in an epilogue to Enduring Spirit that I’m now abandoning, and I’m putting useful stuff I gathered on the blog instead.

2. I was seeking proof of my hypothesis that NWSL teams cannot and should not rely on immediate help from the draft, no matter how talented the draft class might be. I know that takes away some of the fun of previewing and reviewing the draft, but we might just need to take a longer-term view of it.

Feel free to flesh out some of the descriptions in the comments — I’m game for some crowd-sourcing and some discussion. Here’s the info to get you started:

First round

1. Crystal Dunn, Washington – 21 games, 18 starts, 3 assists. Sparkplug in attack but sometimes burned defensively.
2. Kealia Ohai, Houston – 23 games, 21 starts, 4 goals, 1 assist. Heated up toward season’s end.
3. Julie Johnston, Chicago – 21 games, 21 starts, 2 goals, 2 assists. Former U.S. Under-20 captain was named Rookie of the Year.
4. Vanessa DiBernardo, Chicago – 23 games, 19 starts, 1 goal, 3 assists. Had 11 shots on goal.
5. Kassey Kallman, Kansas City – 18 games, 18 starts, 1 assist. Steady defensive presence.
6. Maya Hayes, Sky Blue – 23 games, 13 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist.
7. Amanda Frisbie, Seattle – Injury wiped out season.
8. Nkem Ezurike, Boston – 11 games, 6 starts, 2 goals. Also played a little bit with Breakers Reserves.
9. Courtney Verloo, Western New York – 1 game (1 minute); waived in late May

Second round

1. Rafaelle Souza, Houston – 16 games, 6 starts, 1 assist.
2. Marissa Diggs, Houston – 13 games, 11 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist.
3. Morgan Marlborough, Kansas City – 9 games, 2 assists, 2 goals.
4. Natasha Anasi, Boston – Never reported to Breakers; signed with IBV in Iceland.
5. Cloee Colohan, Western New York – Did not play and seems to have retired from pro soccer.
6. Hayley Haagsma, Sky Blue – Tore ACL in first preseason game.
7. Jenna Richmond, Kansas City – 22 games, 20 starts, 1 goal, 4 assists.
8. Megan Brigman, Seattle – 2 games (17 minutes).
9. Kelsey Wys, Western New York – 10 games, 9 starts. Pressed into service in goal after injuries to Adrianna Franch and Lydia Williams.

Third round

1. Frances Silva, Kansas City – 18 games, 5 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist.
2. Mandy Laddish, Kansas City – 2 games (15 minutes).
3. Jazmine Reeves, Boston – 17 games, 13 starts, 7 goals, 1 assist. Steal of the draft.
4. Hayley Brock, Chicago – 8 games, 3 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist.
5. Mollie Pathman, Boston – 21 games, 18 starts, 1 assist. Versatility helped.
6. Michelle Pao, Sky Blue – Did not play. Stayed with Sky Blue’s reserve team and was called up when national team players were absent.
7. Emily Menges, Portland – 23 games, 22 starts. Solid defender.
8. Molly Menchel, Washington – Did not play. Former Spirit Reserve trained with French power Lyon and wound up signing with Norway’s Røa.
9. Annie Steinlage, Western New York – Did not play. Signed with W-League’s Ottawa Fury and played 11 games.

Fourth round

1. Jordan Jackson, Houston – 20 games, 13 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist.
2. Shasta Fisher, Washington – Did not play. Played a few games with the WPSL’s Westside Timbers.
3. Ellen Parker, Seattle – Did not play.
4. Elisabeth Sullivan, Portland – 1 game (1 minute). This was the pick the Spirit traded for Tiffany Weimer.
5. Jami Kranich, Boston – Made roster but did not play — backup keeper behind NWSL goalkeeper of the year Alyssa Naeher.
6. Elizabeth Eddy, Sky Blue – Did not play. Went to another “blue” team — LA Blues, which beat the Spirit Reserves in the W-League final.
7. Kim DeCesare, Boston – 1 game (9 minutes). Spent most of the season with the Breakers Reserves before moving to Eskilstuna United in Sweden.
8. Maegan Kelly, Kansas City – Did not play. Signed in Iceland with Stjarnan.
9. Kristen Hamilton, Western New York – Did not play.

Again — updates, suggestions, observations and promises to buy me beer and pizza go in the comments.

Thanks to dayecarter on Twitter for chasing down some of the European signees.