The Wait Is Over

A Week of Wheeling and Dealing

2022 Draft Week for the NWSL started off with a bang when, on Monday, the Chicago Red Stars sent three of their top four draft picks in the 2021 Draft (midfielder Samantha Earle, forward Kelsey Turnbow, and midfielder/defender Riley Lochhead) to Houston for veteran center back Cari Rocarro and the Dash's first-round pick in Friday's Draft (#2 overall). As daybreak comes on Friday, all the teams are eager to get down to business in laying the groundwork for runs at the 2022 NWSL title.

Ten minutes before the start of the draft, Jim Gabarra and Paul Riley concluded a trade that sent the #1 pick to North Carolina along with veteran defender Estelle Johnson for goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland and US national team defender Jaelene Hinkle.

NWSL Commissioner Amanda Duffy: Welcome to the 2022 NWSL Draft. We are pleased to have the Lifetime Network broadcasting today's event for the first time. Before we begin, a trade has been made involving the #1 pick between Washington and North Carolina. We will give the details at the conclusion of the selection. With that, the North Carolina Courage are on the clock.

Paul Riley walks to the podium with the Courage's choice in hand. "The North Carolina Courage select, from Florida State University, midfielder Jaelin Howell."

Chicago head coach Lisa Cole and owner Arnim Whisler make their way to the front of the room, wanting to quickly get their selection made. Meanwhile, Howell is coming up to the podium as well.

Duffy: We have a bit of a traffic jam. First, Howell will make a few remarks, then we will announce the particulars of the Spirit/Courage trade, then the Red Stars will make their selection.

The Mewis sisters, Abby Dahlkemper, and Stephanie McCaffrey are at Sam and Abby's apartment in Allston, MA watching the procceedings.

Abby: I wonder who Gabarra has gone and gotten from the Courage.

Kristie: I hope he's trying to add some depth to the roster for another attempt at the title.

Sam: I know John and Lee are hoping to find a way to upgrade our back end today. The rumor is that they are looking at both of your clubs as potential places to get those pieces.

Steph: Well, we just got Cari Rocarro from Houston, so maybe one of our center backs will be made available. Just don't come after Alyssa.

Sam: You don't think she'd welcome a return to the Breakers and a shot at a league title?

Steph: Not if she can get it with us.

Kristie: After last year's title game, the scuttlebutt was that Jim would possibly blow up the roster to try and get younger. I wonder if this is the first part of that plan. I sure hope he isn't going that way.

After Howell speaks, Duffy returns to the microphone. "The Washington Spirit have sent defender Estelle Johnson and their first-round draft pick acquired from the Philadelphia Charge to the North Carolina Courage for goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland and defender Jaelene Hinkle."

Abby: Upgrade on defense, downgrade at goalkeeper, and someone is going to be heading out of town.

Cole and Whisler step to the podium to announce Chicago's selection. "With the second pick of the 2022 NWSL Draft, the Chicago Red Stars select Sophia Smith, forward from Stanford University."

Steph: Stellar choice. With her joining Sofia Huerta and myself, we shouldn't struggle to score.

Following the pick by the Red Stars, Boston head coach John Herdman and general manager Lee Billiard hatched their plan.

Herdman: Gabarra has given up on Steph. Make him an offer.

Billiard: Who are you willing to part with?

Herdman: Put both keepers on the table, though I'd reckon he will want Abby Smith since they made that previous deal to get a back-up for Wys. Also, see what the price would be to get Dahlkemper as well. We had discussed attempting to put that UCLA triangle back together, and you know that bringing Abby to Boston would do wonders for Sam on and off the field. Even if we have to give up a little more than we'd like, adding those two players would give us the unbreakable diamond we need to win the title this year.

Billiard: I'm on it.

Billiard walked down to the Spirit's table and began talking with Gabarra. At this time, Herdman placed a call to Spruce Grove, AB.

Labbe: Hi, John! Why are you ringing me up? You're supposed to be concentrating on your own team and the draft.

Herdman: Steph, are you watching it?

Labbe: No, the live stream is geoblocked here in Canada.

Herdman: How are things going? You still aiming to play through 2024?

Labbe: If the body holds up and I can get enough playing time in the league until then, yes.

Herdman: You know Rhian has faith in you, but yeah, your biggest obstacle will be getting time in NWSL matches over the next couple of seasons.

After a few minutes of back-and-forth, Billiard returned to the Breakers' table.

Billiard: I think you can proclaim us the pre-season favorites for the NWSL title. You do know, though, that this move increases expectations, which means we MUST make it to Chicago this year.

Herdman: I'm not afraid of high expectations. We'll meet them, I assure you.

Labbe: What's going on there?

Herdman: I'm going to hold the phone up so you can hear what's going down.

Amanda Duffy comes back to the podium. "We have another trade to announce, between the Boston Breakers and the Washington Spirit."

Kristie: I wonder who we're losing NOW, and who we're getting from your team, Sam.

Sam: The guys must have found at least part of their solution if they are making a move this early.

Steph: It's gotta be Shelina. You, Oyster, and her would make for a mean defensive trio.

Sam: You're probably right.

Kristie: Or..........

"The Boston Breakers have sent goalkeeper Abby Smith, defender Christen Westphal, and their first-round pick in this year's draft, number 11 overall, to the Washington Spirit for goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe and defender Abby Dahlkemper."

You could have heard a pin drop in the ballroom at the conclusion of the commissioner's announcement. The silence was broken by a loud scream on the other end of the Boston coach's phone.

NWSL

Boston Breakers - Traded goalkeeper Abby Smith, defender Christen Westphal, and their first-round pick in the 2022 Draft to Washington for goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe and defender Abby Dahlkemper.

Houston Dash - Traded defender Cari Rocarro and their first-round pick in the 2022 Draft to Chicago for midfielder Samantha Earle, forward Kelsey Turnbow, and midfielder/defender Riley Lochhead.

Washington Spirit - Traded defender Estelle Johnson and the first-round pick originally owned by Philadelphia in the 2022 Draft to North Carolina for goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland and defender Jaelene Hinkle.