A trio of University of Southern California players were drafted in the first round of Thursday's 2017 NWSL draft. Morgan Andrews was selected No. 3 o
A trio of University of Southern California players were drafted in the first round of Thursday’s 2017 NWSL draft. Morgan Andrews was selected No. 3 overall by the Boston Breakers, while Kayla Mills (No. 4) and Mandy Freeman (No. 10) were both taken by Sky Blue FC.
The trio helped lead the University of Southern California to the 2016 NCAA national championship, the school’s second in history.
Andrews, one of the top prospects heading into the draft, was among four players selected by the Breakers in the first round. A New Hampshire native, she was excited to return to the New England region to start her professional career.
As for getting drafted in the city where she completed her college career on such a high note, Andrews thanked USC for helping her get drafted: “Without you I would not be in this position,” she said during her podium speech.
“It’s really cool [to be drafted in LA],” Andrews told reporters after her selection. “This is a really great set-up and they did a really great job here in LA and as always it’s fun to see the soccer community, because it is a small community and we all like each other and it’s fun to be around each other.”
Mills and Freeman not only seemed excited to go from being college teammates to potentially pro teammates at Sky Blue FC, but described themselves as “best friends” and conducted at least one interview with arms stretched around each other’s shoulders.
“I am so excited, this is a dream come true,” Mills said.
Freeman described getting drafted as “a weight lifted off my shoulders.”
“My best friend here, on Sky Blue, and I’m so excited to get drafted.”
Mills is a Southern California native, from West Covina and playing at the vaunted Slammers FC academy, which has produced players like Christen Press. Freeman is a Florida native who like Andrews came to Southern California to play for USC.
Now, all three of USC’s first-round draft picks are headed to the east coast to play professionally.
