NWSL TO HOLD EXPANSION DRAFT JAN 10TH

All Club Protected and Unprotected Lists will be announced on Jan. 8

PRIAIRIE VILLAGE, Kansas (January 6, 2024) – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has announced the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft will be held on Friday, Jan. 10 at 10am CT via conference call. As the lone expansion club, the Houston Dash will be able to select up to ten (10) players from the expansion draft list of unprotected players.

A “protected” player is a player who is not eligible to be drafted by Houston in the Expansion Draft. All other players are “unprotected” and are eligible to be drafted by Houston.

Any club with more than two (2) U.S. allocated players must leave at least one U.S. allocated player unprotected.

The Dash will be allowed to select no more than two (2) U.S. allocated players, one (1) Canadian allocated player and one (1) Mexican allocated player.

The Dash will only be able to select up to two (2) players from any one club, except if they select a U.S. allocated player in which case they may not take any additional players from that club.

In the event Houston selects a player who is not an U.S. allocated player, that club may then designate an additional player to be added their protected player list.

The existing eight (8) NWSL teams will be allowed to protect up to the following number of players:

• Ten (10) players for non-playoff clubs (Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, Seattle Reign FC, Washington Spirit)
• Nine (9) Players for playoff clubs (FC Kansas City, Portland Thorns FC, Sky Blue FC and Western New York Flash)

All players eligible for the Expansion Draft include:

• Any current NWSL players including U.S., Mexican and Canadian allocated players,
• Any player listed as a discovery player
• Any player claimed via waivers but is unsigned
• Any player that has been loaned to a club outside the NWSL
• Any player who has her rights to play in the NWSL controlled by a specific team

In addition, clubs are required to protect players falling into one of the following categories: On Loan from another league, Non-allocated internationals and contractual agreement limiting movement between teams.