It’s always shaky to try and make projections when just 25% of the evidence is in, and that probably goes double for this potential 2018 NWSL Draft Class, which is pretty muddled after Andi Sullivan, a no-brainer at #1 after 2014. Besides her and a pair of very promising goalkeepers in Cassie Miller and Casey Murphy, there’s very little separating the top cluster of prospects. But you probably expected that considering this is a ranking of players with just a season of match experience at this level under their belt.

Positional Top Fives

GK

1. Cassie Miller – Florida State

2. Casey Murphy – Rutgers

3. Emily Boyd – Cal

4. Laura Dougall – Buffalo

5. Kindra Lierz – Southeast Missouri State

DEF

1. Jessie Scarpa – North Carolina

2. Emma Koivisto – Florida State

3. Hailey Harbison – Pepperdine

4. Zoey Goralski – UCLA

5. Maddie Elliston – Penn State

MF

1. Andi Sullivan – Stanford

2. Emily Ogle – Penn State

3. Aly Moon – Arizona State

4. Rachel Corboz – Georgetown

5. Hannah Lopiccolo – Northeastern

FW

1. Michaela Abam – West Virginia

2. Megan Buckingham – North Carolina

3. Frannie Crouse – Penn State

4. Gabi Stoian – Arizona

5. Imani Dorsey – Duke

Overall Top 25

1. Andi Sullivan – MF (DMC), D (CB) – Stanford

There are still three years left to go before this draft class graduates, but it’s really hard at this point to see anyone displacing Sullivan from this #1 spot. Came in as the top recruit from the class of 2014 and more than lived up to that billing en route to grabbing numerous freshman of the year awards. Captain of the U.S. U20 team that disappointed in 2014 and eleven days short of getting a chance for redemption with the 2016 team. Played as both a defensive oriented central midfielder and as a libero type center-back for Stanford as a rookie, and her versatility is a big ace in the hole in her pursuit of being the top pick from this class. Not a flashy player by any means, but Sullivan is the type of building block that championship teams are constructed from, meaning she’ll be in high demand on draft day in 2018.

2. Michaela Abam – F/M/D – West Virginia

This is another projection pick and seems a little foolish on paper considering Abam started just six matches as a rookie. But Abam was also tremendously productive as a rookie, leading West Virginia with eight goals and winning Big XII Newcomer of the Year honors. For a forward, her efficiency numbers were really poor though, raising questions as to whether Abam can make a transition to being an attacker at the next level. Abam has played at center-back at youth international level though, and that may be a ticket to sticking at a higher level. Another contender for the 2016 U20 team and a player with a lot of raw potential who could turn into a true gem with a few more years of seasoning.



3. Emily Ogle – MF (AMC) – Penn State

A prized prospect who made waves by decommitting from Alabama in favor of a move to Big Ten powerhouse Penn State. Ogle’s bold move appears to have worked out for both player and club, as she turned into a major force in attacking midfield as a rookie last year. Was a full-time starter as a rookie, putting up a respectable three goals and six assists for the Nittany Lions en route to being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Ogle will be hoping to make the cut for the 2016 U20 World Cup and appears to be on track for a spot with the U.S. next year. With A-level midfielders in short supply in this class on paper, Ogle has every chance to be second off the board if she continues to impress.

4. Cassie Miller – GK – Florida State

FSU looked to have some serious questions in goal going into last year after Kelsey Wys’ graduation, but they ended up just fine as Miller was a shockingly excellent netminder right out of the gates as a redshirt freshman as the Noles won an elusive national title. Looked experienced beyond her years and deceptively calm in goal for a player coming into her first first-team action at this level. Questions will obviously linger about how much of her form is a result of being protected by a stout backline, but Miller still looked very good when called into action in 2014. Unfortunately a year too old for the U20 World Cup team in 2016 but should still get plenty of tests in the cutthroat ACC.

5. Megan Buckingham – F (LF), MF (LM) – North Carolina

Became the first UNC player to win ACC Freshman of the Year honors in twelve seasons this past year. Winger started all but two matches in her rookie season and scored four goals as a rookie, with three of those coming in league play. That goal total isn’t exactly one that jumps off the page, but Carolina also had a very young offense, meaning things are going to take a little while to come together. This is still as much a projection pick as anything else though, and with a year of college experience under her belt, Buckingham will need to make a big step forward to stay in this range next year.

6. Frannie Crouse – F (CF) – Penn State

Stepped into pretty big shoes as a rookie, taking the place of PSU legend and recent graduate, Maya Hayes. Got thrown in the deep end right away for a young Nittany Lions attack and did pretty well for herself, netting ten goals as a rookie spearheading PSU’s frontline. Did a solid job against top opposition, though efficiency needs to improve a bit if she’s to climb this list. Put just 47% of her shots on target, which is probably her biggest weakness at this point. PSU should be a College Cup contender in 2015, meaning she could rise into the top five if she stars.

7. Jessie Scarpa – D (CB) – North Carolina

Here’s a truly terrifying thought: Scarpa was already one of the best defenders in the ACC last season despite still being on the way back from an ACL injury suffered before she suited up for UNC. Ended up starting just eight matches but already showing the potential to be one of the nation’s best. Can play at full-back or defensive midfielder as well, but center-back suits her well. A potential first-round pick if she can continue to grow. With Scarpa likely to start from minute one this season, we’ll find out a lot about just how high her ceiling may be.

8. Emma Koivisto – D (RB, CB) – Florida State

Another off the international conveyor belt for the Seminoles. Koivisto may end up as one of the most seasoned members of this class, as she’s not just a youth international but a full Finnish international who has started for her nation in Women’s World Cup qualifying. Also played a little bit in the middle for Finland, but really, her future is as a bombs away full-back and has shown as such for the Noles in their title winning season in 2014. Two goals and six assists as a rookie despite missing three matches and only has more room to grow. A potential first round pick if she stays on these shores.

9. Hailey Harbison – D (FB) – Pepperdine

Reigning WCC Freshman of The Year aiming to ensure Waves don’t miss a beat after the graduation of Lynn Williams this past offseason. Joined sister Meagan, a talented player in her own right, in helping Pepperdine to another strong season last year. A bit of a ‘slash’ type player who can play all over the pitch out wide but looks to have a brightest future at full-back, where she played most of her freshman season with the Waves. Recalled to the U.S. U20 team training camp in the offseason and could see her stock soar further if she can make the U20 World Cup team in 2016.

10. Zoey Goralski – D (RB) – UCLA

Yeah, this is a bit of a projection pick. Goralski is going to be older than many prospects in this class having redshirted due to injury in 2013 as a true freshman. Goralski also wasn’t a starter last season as the Bruins were replete with seniors but should have plenty of opportunities his season for a young UCLA team this season. Likely slots in at right-back this year as a replacement for the graduated Ally Courtnall. Was very impressive off the bench as a top reserve with two goals and three assists despite not even playing seven hundred minutes. Is either going to soar or get found out in short order with more minutes.

11. Maddie Elliston – D (RB) – Penn State

With Brittany Basinger out for the season last year through injury, Penn State needed someone to pick up some of the slack at full-back, and Elliston fit the bill perfectly, albeit at right-back instead of left. Was considered an elite recruit coming into college and lived up to her billing as a freshman on the Big Ten powerhouse and was justly rewarded with a stint on the U20 team in the offseason and has to be considered a front-runner for a full-back spot on the U20 World Cup roster. Not the biggest player at 5’3″ but also a player that could grow in her role offensively once her attacking teammates also gain some experience after being pretty young in 2014.

12. Brittany Basinger – D (LB) – Penn State

Something of a mystery going into the new season, as she missed all of the collegiate campaign in 2014 through injury. Complicating matters, Basinger did play in the U.S.’ disappointing U20 World Cup campaign last year, starting one match at left-back. It was a torrid showing, with Basinger looking like she was running through concrete. The question now is if the full-back was playing hurt, which would certainly explain that bad showing after Basinger had done so well as a rookie in 2013. On paper, this looks like an impressive class of defenders, but Basinger can climb back up the ladder if she returns from injury in top form.

13. Gabi Stoian – F (LF, CF) – Arizona

The Great Young Hope for a perpetually downtrodden Arizona side. Stoian’s arrival in Tuscon and the Wildcats’ rise towards one of their best seasons in ages surely was not a coincidence. Goal totals against RPI Top 50 and Top 100 teams were far and away the best for a player in this rookie class who scored ten or more goals. Efficiency numbers not the best, but Stoian has another three seasons to rectify that. Has the potential to settle in around Top Ten range if she can keep improving.

14. Sabrina Flores – D (LB) – Notre Dame

Freshman left-back lived up to the hype in 2014, winning a starting spot right away on the Irish backline and being just one of three players to start every match for the ACC club. Now well entrenched with the U.S. U20 team and could start on the backline for the 2016 U20 World Cup. Put up decent offensive assist numbers with three as a rookie and could probably do a bit better if the Irish had a better crop of finishers in front of goal. Slightly undersized for the next level at 5’3″. Could rise a bit in the coming years if she can help lead the Irish back to the promised land after a bit of a down season in 2014.

15. Imani Dorsey – MF (LM, MC), F (LF, CF) – Duke

Another projection pick but one with seemingly unlimited upside. Dorsey netted just three goals on forty-six shots last season, which isn’t ideal, but Duke was also basically trying to freewheel on offense after the loss of so many key contributors from the season before. A player with prototypical size and pace for a variety of roles, Dorsey might be best served as a winger at the next level. 2015’s a big season for Dorsey, as she’ll need to up her production significantly if she wants to stick in this range.

16. Casey Murphy – GK – Rutgers

A revelation as a rookie for the Big Ten side in goal this season. Had a solid reputation going into her freshman year but sent said reputation surging with a tremendous campaign that may have her on the shortlist of goalkeepers in contention for a spot at the U20 World Cup in 2016 for the U.S. Great size for a prospect at the next level at 6’0″. Could project out to being a middle round pick in this class or possibly higher if she wins the starting job at the U20 World Cup and impresses.

17. Aly Moon – MF/F (AMC, WF) – Arizona State

Unheralded rookie ended up being one of the primary reasons that the Sun Devils were so fun to watch last year in blistering freshman campaign. Netted ten goals and six assists and topped the freshman Four Factors rankings for players with double digit goals. Played as both an attacking midfielder and winger as a rookie but will probably have to make her bones on the outside at the next level, as she’s extremely undersized (5’1″). Will be interesting to see how she fares as an upperclassman when Cali Farquharson isn’t there to draw defense’s attention.

18. Annia Mejia – D (CB) – Cal

One of many great prospects coming through the pipeline in Berkeley, Mejia could end up as one of the school’s best players after putting up a massively impressive season as a rookie for the Golden Bears. Already a nice leader at center-back for Cal and has ideal size for a central defender at the next level. Given the incoming flood of big talent coming to Berkeley in the next few seasons, the onus will be on Mejia to show she has the ‘it’ factor to rise up this list, namely the ability to help lead Cal to silverware.

19. Meaghan Carrigan – F – Richmond

Your “out of nowhere” prospect for this past season. Carrigan is actually a year older than most of this class after missing her true freshman season through injury before exploding for fourteen goals in 2014. Efficiency is a bit of a worry, as she put less than 43% of her shots on goal last season, and you wonder if she’ll be able to excel against A10 level competition in the long run. There’s wiggle room in terms of the attacker rankings in this class though, meaning Carrigan could end up being a nice sleeper in three seasons’ time.

20. Jackie Stengel – F – NC State

Call this a bit of a tenuous ranking, as Stengel missed almost all of 2014 through serious injury. As a freshman in 2013 though, Stengel was one of the brightest young forwards in DI, netting nine goals for a rebuilding NC State side. Stengel’s importance could perhaps be seen in her absence last year, as the Wolfpack promptly imploded without her. She’s not her sister, but if Stengel is healthy and back on form in 2015, she could rise up this list yet.

21. Rachel Corboz – MF/F (RF) – Georgetown

The Hoyas have been cranking out quality midfielders for a while now, and the assembly line looks to be producing another good one in the younger Corboz sister, her sibling, Daphne, having been a dynamo for GU for four years. With Daphne Corboz taking up such a pivotal role last season, the younger Corboz may truly blossom as the focus of the offense over the next three years. Played as a winger at times in 2014, and it’ll be interesting to see if she shifts back into the #10 role with her sister having graduated.

22. Hannah Lopiccolo – MF (AMC) – Northeastern

Californian proved to be a hit on the opposite coast as a rookie for Northeastern, immediately turning into one of the CAA’s top attractions and helping the Huskies prosper again. Already a part of the U.S. youth setup, Lopiccolo could well shake off her small school status to become one of this class’ top players. Netted six goals as a rookie, starting every match and could become one of the all-time greats in Parsons when all is said and done.

23. Mikaela Harvey – MF/F (AMC) – Texas A&M

We might look back on this ranking as way too conservative in a season’s time. Harvey basically was biding her time as a rookie behind a loaded A&M attack. She didn’t play badly as a freshman despite her non-existent numbers, but she’ll probably need a big step forward with the offense counting on her this upcoming season. If she can provide the production, Harvey could rise towards being a pick in the top few rounds of the draft.

24. Jennifer Cafferky – D (CB) – Central Connecticut State

Swedish colossus endured a winding path to DI soccer, initially committing to Hawaii a few years back before ending up far away at CCSU. Proved to be a shrewd acquisition for the Blue Devils, becoming the first freshman to win Defensive Player of the Year honors in NEC. Still, it’s hard to envision her eclipsing this position in future seasons given the level of competition she’s facing in the NEC. Might end up being a sought after player overseas though.

25. Alexa Ben – MF/F (LF) – DePaul

Little winger came in and turned into one of the leading lights for DePaul as the Blue Demons soared to their best season in program history. Likely to play as a 4-4-2 wide midfielder or 4-3-3 winger as she did on the left side as a rookie. Nine goals and eleven assists as a big haul for her first year at this level despite a down year in the Big East. Very undersized for the next level (5’0″) but should get a shot nonetheless if she keeps producing.