Of the seven players ever selected first-overall in the NWSL College Draft, five were on the United States national team that won the World Cup last summer. Combined, those players have won one league MVP, one Golden Boot, and accounted for seven Best XI (first team or second) selections.
Granted, a lot of that is one player – with North Carolina’s Crystal Dunn having claimed the MVP, Golden Boot and four Best XI honors – but noting the active, international careers the last six top picks have is a way to describe the obvious: The first picks in the NWSL’s drafts have been gateways to really, really good players – part of the reason it cost Portland Thorns FC so much to move into this year’s top spot.