After completing the National Women’s Soccer League expansion draft on Friday night, Bay FC general manager Lucy Rushton has now successfully participated in expansion drafts in both the men’s and women’s professional soccer leagues in America.
Rushton left her job at Reading Football Club in England to help start Atlanta United FC as an expansion team in Major League Soccer in 2016. Atlanta won the MLS Cup the very next season.
Friday night was the NWSL expansion draft and Bay FC had the first overall pick, selecting 24-year-old fullback Alyssa Malonson from OL Reign.
“We were really delighted when we saw Alyssa’s name on that sheet,” Rushton said. “She’s a young player. She’s so exciting. Her ability and her ceiling is so high. Most importantly she fits our style of play. She’s a fullback who wants the ball.”
Bay FC made five selections in the expansion draft to bring its roster to 12 players. Clubs are allowed to take between 22 and 26 players into the regular season, which begins in March.
Rushton said she expects to start utilizing free agency and international signings to build the rest of the roster.
Here’s a breakdown of the players Bay FC selected on Friday and where their roster stands so far.
EXPANSION DRAFT SELECTIONS
No. 1 overall: Alyssa Malonson, 24, defender, OL Reign
Skinny: Bay FC wants outside defenders who can attack, and they’re hoping Malonson can fit the bill. At Auburn, she finished her career as the program’s record holder for games played and games started while playing for five seasons, earning SEC Defender of the Year and second-team All-American in her final season. She played a year professionally in Denmark before making her NWSL debut for OL Reign in June.
No. 3 overall: Tess Boade, 24, midfielder, North Carolina Courage
Skinny: After five years playing for Duke, Boade stayed in North Carolina to join the Courage prior to the 2022 season. She scored one goal with two assists in 13 games with the Courage this season.
No. 5 overall: Rachel Hill, 28, forward, San Diego Wave
Skinny: Hill was a standout at the University of Connecticut, where she was a first-team All-American and finished her career with 61 goals in 89 games, ranking second in program history. She made her professional debut in 2017 and has since played in Australia, Sweden and the United States. She played alongside Rowland in the U-20 World Cup in 2014.
No. 6: Katelyn Rowland, 29, goalkeeper, North Carolina Courage
Skinny: Bay FC wanted a veteran goalkeeper and they got one in Rowland, a Walnut Creek native and four-time NWSL champion. Before her professional career, she set NCAA records for career clean sheets (55) and single-season clean sheets (19) during her collegiate career at UCLA. She was the starting goalie for the United States Women’s Youth National Team in the U-20 World Cup in 2014.
No. 7: Sierra Enge, 23, midfielder, San Diego Wave
Skinny: A national champion while playing for Stanford in 2019, Enge will return to the Bay Area after just one year in San Diego.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED BEFORE THE EXPANSION DRAFT
Alex Loera, 24, defender/midfielder
Acquired: in a trade with the Kansas City Current in exchange for $175,000 in allocation money and protection in the expansion draft.
Skinny: Loera was the club’s first-ever signing and someone they’re hoping can excel in a holding defensive midfielder role. Served as a captain while playing at Santa Clara University (2017-2021), where she won the school’s second NCAA Division I national championship in 2020.
Caprice Dydasco, 30, fullback
Acquired: signed a three-year deal through 2026.
Skinny: Originally from Honolulu, Dydasco helped UCLA win its first NCAA Championship in 2013. An attacking-minded fullback who has played more than 10,000 minutes in the NWSL, Dydasco is one of the most experienced players in the league’s history.
Ellie Jean, 26, defender
Acquired: from NJ/NY Gotham FC in exchange for protection in the expansion draft. Bay FC also received $130,000 in allocation money from Louisville.
Skinny: During her collegiate career at Penn State from 2015-19, the Nittany Lions won a national championship. Won the 2023 NWSL title with Gotham.
Emily Menges, 31, center back
Acquired: from Portland Thorns FC in exchange for $75,000 in allocation money and protection in the expansion draft.
Skinny: The former Georgetown standout is a two-time NWSL Champion and NWSL Shield winner across 10 seasons in the league with Thorns FC.
Scarlett Camberos, 23, winger
Acquired: from Angel City FC in exchange for $50,000 in allocation money and protection in the expansion draft.
Skinny: A speedy forward, Camberos attended UC-Irvine from 2018-21, registering 17 goals and 10 assists in 57 games. The San Diego native is also a member of the Mexico women’s national team (13 appearances, two goals).
Dorian Bailey, 26, midfielder
Acquired: from the Washington Spirit in exchange for protection in the expansion draft.
Skinny: As a collegiate player, Bailey played in 86 games for North Carolina, scoring 17 goals and 17 assists while winning a NCAA Championship in 2017. Over five years with the Spirit, helped the club win the 2021 NWSL Championship.
Joelle Anderson, 25, midfielder
Acquired: along with $25,000 in allocation money from the Houston Dash in exchange for protection in the expansion draft.
Skinny: At Pepperdine from 2017-21, the San Jose native appeared in 88 matches, tallying 35 goals and 24 assists. She’s scored twice in two NWSL seasons with Houston.
By position:
Goalkeepers (one): Katelyn Rowland
Defenders (four): Caprice Dydasco, Ellie Jean, Alyssa Malonson, Emily Menges
Midfielders (four): Joelle Anderson, Dorian Bailey, Sierra Enge, Alex Loera
Forwards (three): Tess Boade, Scarlett Camberos, Rachel Hill
Source: www.mercurynews.com