Utah Royals FC choose UNC midfielder Ally Sentnor first general in NWSL draft

The Utah Royals FC chosen North Carolina midfielder/ahead Ally Sentnor with the primary general choose of the 2024 NWSL Draft on Friday night time.

It marked the Royals’ first draft selection since being revived for the league’s growth this 12 months. Utah performed in 2018-20 earlier than ceasing operations.

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Sentnor is the third North Carolina participant to be chosen first within the NWSL draft, becoming a member of Crystal Dunn (2014) and Emily Fox (2021).

Sentnor was a redshirt sophomore for the Tar Heels final season and was named ACC Midfielder of the 12 months in addition to a third-team All-American by United Soccer Coaches. She led the staff in objectives (11), assists (seven) and factors (29).

At No. 2 general, growth membership Bay FC selected defender Savy King with the franchise’s first-ever draft choose.

King additionally performed for North Carolina however is a California native. As a freshman in 2023, she began all 23 matches and led the staff with 2,030 minutes.

The Chicago Crimson Stars dealt the third general choose to the Washington Spirit in alternate for veteran defender Sam Staab.

Staab, 26, spent the previous 5 NWSL seasons with the Spirit and totaled 4 objectives over 93 appearances. She has earned NWSL Ironwoman honors 3 times, having performed in each doable regular-season minute for her membership 3 times, together with in 2023.

The Spirit chosen Georgia midfielder Croix Bethune with its third choose and in addition acquired the fifth choice from the Braveness in a commerce that despatched USWNT midfielder Ashley Sanchez to North Carolina.

Washington, who additionally acquired $250,000 in allocation cash from the Braveness, took Clemson midfielder Hal Hershfelt with the No. 5 choose.

The Crimson Stars then dealt longtime defender Arin Wright to Racing Louisville FC in alternate for the fifteenth general choose and $125,000 in allocation cash. Wright, 31, is a Kentucky native and requested to affix her dwelling state’s staff, in line with Chicago.