With the first pick of the NWSL Draft on Thursday night, Angel City FC selected
Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) senior
Alyssa Thompson, making her the first high school soccer player to go No. 1 overall in the league's 10-year history.
Thompson last played for Harvard-Westlake as a sophomore during the 2020-21 school year when she scored 48 goals with 14 assists to lead the Wolverines to a 19-0 record and the CIF Regional SoCal Division I title. She was named Gatorade National Player of the Year for her efforts.
Also a standout sprinter at Harvard-Westlake, Thompson made two appearances for the United States late last year and is expected to become a fixture for the national team in the future. In her debut against England in October, she subbed on for Megan Rapinoe.
Not only did Thompson become the first high school player to be taken No. 1 overall, she was the only high schooler selected among the 48 picks Thursday night.
Alyssa Thompson in action during the CIF Regional SoCal Division I championship game in 2021. (Photo: Nick Koza)
