20210113 nwsl draft live blog creative

AS IT HAPPENED | All the picks, news, and reaction from Portland Thorns FC's 2021 NWSL Draft

January 13, 20211:16PM PST
ThornsFC.com StaffThornsFC.com

Portland Thorns FC enter the 2021 NWSL Draft with five selections in hand, though if history is any indication, those picks could be in motion.

DETAILS: 2021 NWSL Draft

What: 2021 NWSL Draft
When: Wednesday, Jan. 13, 4 PM PT
Where: NWSL's Official Twitch Stream
Thorns picks: 7, 12, 22, 32, 37
Thorns follows: Web | Twitter | Instagram

That's because every draft that Thorns head coach Mark Parsons has been a part of in Portland, draft picks have been traded, with some moves happening while the draft unfolds.

On Wednesday night, there'll be picks. They'll be trade talks and possible swaps. They'll be breaking news from around the league. And unless something truly unforeseen happens, but the end of round four, there will be new Thorns.

Follow along, here, as the ThornsFC.com keeps you up-to-date with broadcast video, player interviews, the reaction from the draft room floor, and every piece of content you need to see before the draft's close.

For now, and until the night kicks off, here are some need-to-knows about Wednesday's draft experience:

3:27 PM PT - The draft room at Providence Park's KeyBank Club is slowly filling up with the night's principles: videographers, photographers, support staff and, most importantly, the Thorns' technical staff and front office. We're 23 minutes away from broadcast.

As a reminder, all picks are being made remotely this year as, in lieu of assembling at the annual United Soccer Coaches' convention, NWSL teams are in their homes markets.

For the Thorns, that means turning the KeyBank Club into draft headquarters. Last night, Mark Parsons walked us through the layout:

4:00 PM PT — Finally, right? The 2021 NWSL Draft is here:

As of now, the Thorns have the seventh pick in the first round. With five minutes allotted for each team's pick, we're looking at around 30-or-so minutes until Portland selects the next Thorn.

4:19 PM PT — Pick one in is in the books, and we're one step closer to the Thorns' selection. The University of North Carolina's Emily Fox is the first draft pick in the history of Racing Louisville.

5:14 PM PT —  Thorns trade up in the draft to No. 6 overall, sending the No. 7 and No. 32 overall picks and a 2021 International slot to the Chicago Red Stars. 

5:16 PM PT — With the No. 6 pick in the first round, the Thorns select midfielder Yazmeen Ryan from TCU. 

5:39 PM PT — Well, Horned Frog nation seems happy:

From the draft floor, Mark Parsons said that Yazmeen Ryan was the top player on the Thorns' draft board, and it was painful to wait through the timeouts for their target to fall.

The might explain some of the joy in this shock. Craig Mitchelldyer, team photographer: You nailed it.

5:47 PM PT — Gavin Wilkinson and Mark Parsons: giving them something to talk about:

5:56 PM PT — World? Yazmeen Ryan. Yazmeen Ryan? The world:

6:20 PM PT — With the club's pick in the second round (No. 12 overall), the Thorns selected midfielder Sam Coffey from Penn State. 

6:29 PM PT — Minutes after the pick, Mark Parsons shared his thoughts on Sam Coffey:

7:04 PM PT — Sam Coffey could be the next Penn State Nittany Lion at Providence Park:

7:29 PM PT — Third round, third pick of the night for Portland. Madison Pogarch, welcome your former Rutgers teammate to the Thorns:

7:32 PM PT — Status on Po? Pumped:

 

8:37 PM PT — With their final pick of the night, the Portland Thorns have selected Hannah Betfort, defender out of Wake Forest.

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