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.

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:
- WATCH | Parson explains what the draft means to the NWSL
- MEMORIES | Bixby, Smith, Weaver remember their draft-day moments
- TOUR | Walk inside Portland's draft control room
- HISTORY | 8 years of Thorns drafts, explained
- INFO | NWSL Draft: January 13, live on Twitch
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:
The 2021 #NWSLDraft is underway!
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) January 14, 2021
You can watch live on @Twitch: https://t.co/zlv8pRXVqL | #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/KNbHDeWFgj
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.
She hails from one of the best programs in college soccer. Next, she'll help us build one of the best in the pro ranks.
— Racing Louisville FC (@RacingLouFC) January 14, 2021
Defender Emily Fox is the 2021 @NWSL Draft's No. 1 pick! pic.twitter.com/N8Vwm6KqYU
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.
With the 6th pick in the 2021 #NWSLDraft, we’ve selected Yazmeen Ryan! Welcome to the Rose City, @yazziiann. 🌹#BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/gdncB36VmH
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) January 14, 2021
5:39 PM PT — Well, Horned Frog nation seems happy:
Hard work pays off!
— TCU Soccer (@TCUSoccer) January 14, 2021
Congrats to Yazmeen Ryan, the highest-ever draft pick in TCU Soccer history! #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/YGWg9J3egl
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.
Things you love to see: pic.twitter.com/qQyLXZhzRX
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) January 14, 2021
5:47 PM PT — Gavin Wilkinson and Mark Parsons: giving them something to talk about:
LFG 🌹 welcome! https://t.co/GMkpzRDX15
— Meghan Klingenberg (@meghankling) January 14, 2021
Welcome!!! 🌹🌹🌹 https://t.co/xMvQ3jhuSU
— Bella Bixby (@bellageist) January 14, 2021
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.
With the 12th pick in the 2021 #NWSLDraft, we have selected Sam Coffey. Welcome, @sscofff! #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/jCXsqlJMGw
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) January 14, 2021
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:
Sam Coffey is excited to play with fellow Penn State-alum @raque_rocky for @ThornsFC
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) January 14, 2021
"Obviously Rocky's legacy at Penn State... is incredible.
"She's someone who has inspired me from the minute I got here at Penn State and I just can't wait to be her teammate." #BAONPDX🌹 pic.twitter.com/9GZ1D91vRQ
7:29 PM PT — Third round, third pick of the night for Portland. Madison Pogarch, welcome your former Rutgers teammate to the Thorns:
With the 22nd pick in the 2021 #NWSLDraft, we have selected Amirah Ali! #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/thGYAKFvoj
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) January 14, 2021
7:32 PM PT — Status on Po? Pumped:
ANOTHA RUT KILLA !!! Can’t wait for you to be here @amirahali07 ❤️❤️ https://t.co/hQPGA3JcA4
— po po po 🎅🏼 (@maddiepogarch) January 14, 2021
8:37 PM PT — With their final pick of the night, the Portland Thorns have selected Hannah Betfort, defender out of Wake Forest.
With the 37th pick in the 2021 #NWSLDraft, we've selected Hannah Betfort! Welcome, @hcbetfort. #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/hpaq64XPmj
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) January 14, 2021