2023 NWSL Draft: live coverage of Washington Spirit news

Follow the 2023 draft with us live!

The NWSL draft has officially started! Follow here for live coverage of any Spirit news. You can also catch the draft live on CBS Sports Network until 7 p.m. and on Paramount+ and CBS Sports HQ until END.

10:13 p.m. And just as I’m signing off, OL Reign confirm that their trade with Washington was for Emily Sonnett. Definitely some big holes for the Spirit to fill on defense and not a lot of time left to do it in.

10:10 p.m. We did it! The 2023 NWSL Draft has concluded. The Spirit turned two picks into six and drafted: Nicole Douglas, Lyza Bosselmann, Riley Tanner, Civana Kuhlmann, Lena Silano, and Delaney Graham. Welcome to DC!!

Players will be reporting to preseason camp within the next few weeks, so look out for more information about these players and any other moves the team decides to make! They’re back to being short on defenders, so hopefully there are some more surprises in store.

10:04 p.m. The words “We have a trade to announce” strike fear into my heart, but it’s not Washington this time.

9:54 p.m. Almost to END, and the Spirit have not yet conspired to give me any more panic attacks.

9:40 p.m. I’m not making any more predictions.

9:36 p.m. Spirit take Delaney Graham from Duke university, who’s listed as playing F/MF/D. Could this be the Spirit’s first defender?

9:34 p.m. Good god, Washington trade $25,000 in allocation to Louisville for the 4th pick in the 4th round. They’re on the clock

9:30 p.m. Will that be Washington’s last pick? It seems unwise to make more trades for 4th round picks, but we’ll see!

9:26 p.m. Washington Spirit select yet another forward, Civana Kuhlmann, from Colorado University. Civana is the second of Washington’s draftees to actually be at the draft.

9:19 p.m. Wow, the Spirit end the 3rd round with four new draftees and minus $135,000 and a mystery player. They’ll have the first pick of the 4th round after the break.

9:13 p.m. Spirit draft another forward: Lena Silano from Long Beach State

9:09 p.m. Washington back on the clock. This round has been 24 hours long

9:06 p.m. These trades have gotten confusing, but luckily André Carlisle was on the scene to follow up.

By my math, this means the Spirit have spent $135,000 so far

9:02 p.m. Where has this move-making team been all offseason?

8:52 p.m. Another trade for 8th pick in 3rd round and natural 1st round 2024 pick of OL Reign. Reign get “player to be named later.” Per the draft rules, this is standard procedure when a player cannot be contacted before the trade is announced, but this could be the rumored Emily Sonnett trade.

8:50 p.m. Interview with Assistant Coach Angela Salem says Tanner is hard-worker, versatile, and a team player. Spirit are focused on the “whole picture” and want to be the best team, not just in the NWSL but the world.

8:46 p.m. And the trades keep coming: Spirit send 8th pick of 3rd round and $30K to Houston for 30th overall pick. With that pick, Spirit take forward Riley Tanner of Alabama.

8:43 p.m. Seeing some new trade rumors that may or may not be draft-related, and after the way the offseason so far has gone, I’m feeling pretty nervous.

8:37 p.m. Bosselmann is a Gonzaga player with 6 shut-outs on her record.

I’ve also updated allocation money numbers below. so far, Spirit have spent $105,000 on 4th and 10th picks in the third round.

8:32 p.m. MADNESS!!! Spirit trade Orlando for $75,000 for 5th and 10th picks in third round. Then trade 5th pick and $30,000 to Louisville for 4th pick in third round. Washington Spirit use that 4th pick to take GK Lyza Bosselmann

8:25 p.m. Douglas on playing with the Spirit: “I’m really excited to get going and hopefully to make an impact.” Douglas thanked the team for drafting her and giving her an opportunity to play professionally.

Douglas was ASU’s first two-time all-American and the program’s all-time leader in career goals. She has played multiple games with England’s youth National Team.

8:18 p.m. Washington Spirit select Nicole Douglas with the 26th pick of the draft!

Douglas is a forward and English international from Arizona State University.

8:15 p.m. Washington Spirit finally on the clock. I am concerned that this was not how they wanted their night to go but looking forward to their first pick.

8:00 p.m. We’re nearing the end of round 2, which means THE SPIRIT PICK IN THREE PICKS. Well, after the break

7:46 p.m. A GK has been drafted. Washington still only have two keepers on the roster and no picks in this round.

7:35 p.m. Louisville call the first time out of the night. I am speculating wildly about the Spirit’s status.

7:21 p.m. False alarm. The tracker has been updated to show Chicago has the 14th pick.

7:17 p.m. CBS graphic showing Washington Spirit up next. Is there a trade to be announced?

7:15 p.m. Round two has begun. Some important personal news: I finally got Paramount+ to work on my Roku tv.

7:08 p.m. And that’s round one. We’ve had some interesting picks and trades, with NC Courage making a full 4 picks in the first round and Kansas City continuing to make big offseason moves to end up with #2 draftee Michelle Cooper. Still nothing from the Spirit, though, as we enter a 5-minute break.

Last year, the Spirit also entered with only 3rd and 4th round picks but traded $200,000 in allocation money for three earlier picks, including the 14th overall. Here’s hoping there’s some similar excitement in store for us tonight!

7 p.m. If, like me, you were watching on CBS Sports Network, it’s time to change the channel! Still no Spirit news.

6:23 p.m. Well, at least we know the Spirit are at the draft!

6:20 p.m. There has been a lot of movement so far, but the Spirit have been awfully quiet. Their first pick remains in the third round.