NWSL Draft Live Thread

Your brief interlude during the Seattle Reign roster overhaul has ended. After getting out of the Expansion Draft only losing a player that wasn't even in town for a cup of coffee, it's time for the Reign to draft in some new talent. And with a current roster size of only 15 players (by my count) there will be plenty of opportunity for the new pros to earn a roster spot for 2014. The Reign have (at least at time of writing. You never know with Harvey) the #7, #17, and #30 overall picks. And because I'm currently on East Coast time, I'll actually be able to cover it! Because it's at 7am in Seattle and good luck with that.

The biggest areas of need are defense and at backup keeper. Last season Hope Solo was backed up by Haley Kopmeyer and Michelle Betos, but neither are on the team this season and they will almost certainly want to get out of the draft with at least one keeper (and possibly two if they don't have someone lined up in free agency). In defense they need some depth both at fullback and centerback, and possibly even a starter at center if they're not enthusiastic about going into the season with Lauren Barnes and Carmelina Moscato as the pairing (though Kate Deines is in that equation as well). They're pretty well covered everywhere else and I have a really hard time imagining a draft pick getting any playing time at midfield or forward given the array of talent Seattle has in those positions.

My guess at their first round pick would be a stab at someone who might be able to start at the only position where they actually might need it. The best center back is probably Florida State's Kassey Kallman, who's a youth national team regular and a dominant college defender. But most mock drafts see her going to Chicago with the 4th pick, and I don't really know enough about the Red Stars roster to argue. If she's not available, an enticing pick is Amanda Frisbie. She's a Hermann Trophy semifinalist as a defender, she's a converted forward and therefore will have some ball skills, and she would join the already massive number of Portland Pilots alums on the roster.

With no second round pick, it's unlikely Seattle would get any of the top keepers, but it's always a pretty deep position. In the third round they might get a chance at Cal's Emily Kruger. Or with only one Canadian on the roster, the might have a shot at Canadian international Dayle Colpitts from Virginia Tech.

And then, as long as I'm foolishly trying to make draft predictions, maybe some fullback depth in the fourth round.

Regardless, we'll have some new Seattle Reign players by Friday afternoon. So enjoy