Tori Hansen, Orlando Pride

Civana Kuhlmann, Washington Spirit

Getting selected in the NWSL draft was not a guarantee for Civana Kuhlmann. In fact, it’s a downright feat of grit and determination. During her four seasons of collegiate soccer at Stanford, Kuhlmann underwent an astounding four surgeries. She tore her ACL and meniscus in 2019. Just months later, she re-tore her meniscus. In 2021, she had surgery on her right hip, and then in February of 2022, she had surgery on her left hip. "I've been through a lot physically, which led to more physical resilience, but more than anything, I've had to manage more than two 450-day injury comebacks, and that's a lot of time sitting with yourself and sitting with your own thoughts," Kuhlmann told KUSA News . "I've learned that that's the biggest difference between Civana before she went through three years of injury and after, just how she learned to navigate her mental health ." Kuhlmann refused to walk away from the game she loved. For her fifth and final year of eligibility, she returned home to Colorado and is now headed east to Washington, DC. Ella Shamburger, Kansas City Current Ella Shamburger is taking her talents from Nashville to Kansas City. The Atlanta, Georgia native, Shamburger played collegiately at Vanderbilt. She’s from a whole family of collegiate athletes — her sister, Logue, plays for Alabama, their father played football at North Carolina and both their grandfather and uncle played football at Georgia Tech. Shamburger made her mark with the Commodores. As one of the Commodores’ most experienced players in program history, Shamburger started 97 games and played a total of 8,839 minutes. Both those tallies are believed to be program records. She also made program history as the first four-time All-Region selection. Summer Yates, Orlando Pride Summer Yates is heading to the Sunshine State. After leading the University of Washington in goals, assists, and points in her senior season, Yates is taking the next step in chasing her soccer dreams by joining the Orlando Pride. Draft reaction videos simply never get old. The moment an athlete’s name is called and they realize they are about to embark on an adventure brings on all the feelings. Yates and her loved ones cheered, hugged, and shed some happy tears in a video shared by the Orlando Pride. [Empty Body] Delaney Graham, Washington Spirit Fans at Duke women’s soccer matches occasionally witnessed an unusual sight — the national anthem singer dropping the microphone and trotting over to the sideline to join her teammates. That would be Delaney Graham, who is not only a skilled midfielder, she’s also a talented singer. She was constantly singing as a kid, and eventually her parents realized Graham had a knack for it. Graham performed in musical theater, auditioned for “The X Factor,” and even took vocal lessons. “I think that if I hadn’t been so committed to soccer that would have been something I may have followed more seriously,” Graham said in a Duke Athletics video . But just because she is chasing her soccer dreams doesn’t mean Graham left singing behind. While at Duke, she joined an acapella group, which said was a great way to continue performing alongside friends who love music as much as she does. Kristen Scott, Orlando Pride It’s one thing to be drafted into the pros. It’s another entirely to be drafted by your hometown team. That’s the case for Kristen Scott, who will join her local club, the Orlando Pride. At the University of Central Florida, which is not very far from the Pride’s home stadium, Scott was a difference-maker on the field. In her final season, she missed a month due to injury — but despite missing four games, Scott’s nine goals on the season led the American Athletic Conference. But more importantly, Scott’s injury taught her exactly what soccer means to her as an outlet. “I think for a lot of athletes, your sport is your escape from the real world, to escape from your problems,” Scott told SB Nation . “When I’m on the field, I’m not thinking about the assignments I have due that night or my exam tomorrow or anything like that. It’s for your mental health, and so not having that for an extended period of time can just be stressful.” Rylan Childers, Kansas City Current With back-to-back picks, NWSL teams selected homegrown talent. But while Rylan Childers went to school in the other Kansas, she calls Grain Valley, Mo., home. She’s heading to her hometown team, the Kansas City Current. [Empty Body] With six siblings, there will certainly be a solid Childers cheering section at Current home games. Sophie Jones, Chicago Red Stars From California to Carolina to Chicago, Sophie Jones joins the Red Stars. The U-20 USYNT midfielder started every game she played for Duke. Even before college, Jones was making a splash on the national soccer scene. As the 2018-19 Gatorade Women’s Soccer Player of the Year, Jones got to attend the ESPYs where she got to walk the red carpet and meet some iconic athletes — like Abby Wambach, Peyton Manning, and Zion Williamson. Aside from on the field prowess, Jones is an ambassador for Just Women’s Sports and said she prefers to lead by example in a “day-in-the-life” video featured on the US Soccer YouTube . Iliana Hocking, NJ/NY Gotham FC If the Hocking name sounds familiar, you’re not seeing double

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Iliana Hocking and her fraternal twin Penelope made history as the first twins selected in the NWSL Draft. Iliana and Penelope aren’t the only athletes in their family either. Their father, Dennis, played in the MLB for, you guessed it, the Minnesota Twins. Iliana told Tuscon.com it was a competitive house to grow up in, but if not for a piece of candy, she may not have chosen soccer at all. As the story goes, Penelope signed up for soccer, and Iliana signed up for cheerleading. When Iliana realized her sister was getting a lollipop after each practice, she quickly threw her pom poms down and asked her parents to sign her up for soccer instead. “I was a little five-year-old,” she told The Orange County Register . “I barely knew what sports were, but I knew what candy was.” Giovanna DeMarco, San Diego Wave FC Giovanna DeMarco is an East Coaster heading out west. DeMarco, who goes by Gi, was voted captain for three consecutive years at Wake Forest. She played in 74 games for the Demon Deacons, notching 29 career points in her five years. The Pennsylvania native was also a part of the U-19 US Women’s National Team camp and attended the 2013 US Youth Olympic Development National Training Camp. Natalie Viggiano, OL Reign Soccer is a sister affair in the Viggiano family. The OL Reign selected midfielder Natalie Viggiano out of Wisconsin. Her older sister Marisa was drafted by Orlando in 2019 before being traded to the Houston Dash last year. If the Reign and the Pride face off this season, it won’t be the first time the Viggiano sisters square off. In 2018, they were opponents in a college match and fittingly, the 2018 game between Wisconsin and Northwestern ended in a 1-1 draw. As a freshman, Viggiano played in all but one game, making her the only freshman with significant play time, according to University of Wisconsin athletics . In her final season, she scored six goals, tied for best on the team, and four were game-winners. Ashley Orkus, Kansas City Current Last fall Ashley Orkus became the first-ever three-time SEC Goalkeeper of the Year, and now, she is part of the Kansas City Current. Like so many, Orkus found soccer as a kid, but her hilariously honest answer to how came to be a goalie is everything. “I actually wasn’t in goal for the first little bit, which is funny,” Orkus said on an Ole Miss podcast . “Then I figured out that I hated running and liked soccer, so I had to figure something out real fast.” Seems like that decision worked out. Madelyn Desiano, Houston Dash Rounding out the 2023 draft is Madelyn Desiano out of UCLA. With the last pick, emotions were high, and Desiano perfectly articulated what hearing her name called meant — not just to her, but to her friends, family, and teammates, as well. “They spend so much time rooting for me,” she said. “I just kept waiting because, me going up there is like a testament to my whole team and not just for me. I kept thinking about that.” [Empty Body] After redshirting her first two seasons as a Bruin, Desiano ended her collegiate career as a national champion. [Empty Body] And now, she’s a pro. Get to Know the Rookies Get to Know the Rookies - Round 1 Get to Know the Rookies - Round 2 Get to Know the Rookies - Round 3