2023 NWSL draft: Angel City FC selects Alyssa Thompson with No. 1 pick

Angel City FC selected 18-year-old high school phenom Alyssa Thompson with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NWSL draft on Thursday.

Thompson is from the Los Angeles area and played prep soccer at Harvard-Westlake School. In September 2022, Thompson was called up by the U.S. women's national soccer team and has made two appearances for the USWNT. The then-17-year-old was the youngest USWNT call-up since Sophia Smith in April 2017.

Immediately after Angel City FC's selection of Thompson, a blockbuster trade was announced: USWNT forward Lynn Williams was traded by the Kansas City Current to Gotham FC for the second overall pick in this draft. Kansas City used that selection to take Duke forward Michelle Cooper.  The 20-year-old Cooper is a dynamic forward who figures to contend for a USWNT place in the future.

After two years of remote drafts due to the Covid-19 pandemic, NWSL is back to a traditional, in-person format, with the draft taking place in Philadelphia as part of the United Soccer Coaches Convention.

2023 NWSL draft first-round picks

1. Angel City FC - Alyssa Thompson, forward, Harvard-Westlake School (California)

2. Kansas City Current - Michelle Cooper, forward, Duke

3. Orlando Pride - Emily Madril, defender, Florida State

4. NY/NY Gotham FC - Jenna Nighswonger, midfielder, Florida State

5. Portland Thorns FC - Reyna Reyes, midfielder, Alabama

6. North Carolina Courage - Olivia Wingate, forward, Notre Dame

7. Chicago Red Stars - Penelope Hocking, forward, Penn State

8. Houston Dash - Sydney Collins, midfielder, California

9. North Carolina Courage - Clara Robbins, midfielder, Florida State

10. Kansas City Current - Alexa Spaanstra, midfielder, Virginia

11. North Carolina Courage - Haley Hopkins, forward, Virginia

12. Portland Thorns FC - Isabella D'Aquila, midfielder, Santa Clara