All eyes were on the Boston Breakers as they entered the 2017 NWSL college draft. Through a series of trades and the fortuitous position of coming last in the league in 2016, they ended up with not just the #1 pick in the draft but three other first-round draft picks. Boston went into the draft with picks #1, 3, 8, 9, 11, 31, and 38.
The picks came quickly after the first one. Perhaps in a fit of whimsy, the Breakers took their time with that first pick despite nearly everyone waiting for the name “Lavelle.” But in the end, as predicted by most draft previews, Rose Lavelle (Wisconsin) went #1 in the draft and will undoubtedly be a key part of Boston’s revamped midfield.