Photo by Annie Kubiak | Forward State
In January, a record five Penn State women's soccer players were drafted into the National Women's Soccer League, each earning a spot on the final roster for the 2024 season, which begins this month.
Defender Kate Wisner was the first Penn State player to be selected in the first round of the draft, seventh overall by the Washington Spirit.
Next was forward Peyton Linehan, who was taken 11th overall by the Portland Thorns, and defenseman Ellie Wheeler, a second-round pick from Kansas City. Midfielder and All-American Second Team Cori Dike will go to the Orlando Pride, and goaltender Katherine Usman will go to the Portland Thorns.
Dike's selection sets a record for the Nittany Lions with four players taken in a single draft, and Usman's selection joins BYU and the program as the second-highest selection in the 2024 draft. Ta. Penn State was the only Big Ten program with multiple selections.
When the NWSL season opened on Saturday, March 16, all five Penn State graduates were named to the opening roster and signed with their teams after preseason training camp.
With the five newest Nittany Lions additions, the NWSL now has a total of 18 former PSU players in the league.
Portland has the most, with four Penn State alums, including Sam Coffey, Marissa Siva, Linnehan and Usman.
The Chicago Red Stars have three captains: Alyssa Naeher, Penelope Hocking, and Arie Schlegel, and the Kansas City Currents have three: Elizabeth Ball, Mallory Weber, and Ellie Wheeler.
The Orlando Pride have Kelly Abello and Dike, while the Utah Royals have Kallie Leal and Frankie Tagliaferri in their first year.
Additionally, 2015 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Raquel Rodriguez played in Angel City, Ellie Jean played at Racing Louisville, Morgan Messner started in San Diego, and Wiesner started her career in the spirit of Washington. Let it start.
The league began with Portland visiting Kansas City's CPKC Stadium. CPKC Stadium is the first venue in the United States purposely built to host women's professional sports.
And if Penn State's program was worried about losing five pro-level players, it helps that Penn State just announced it has signed the nation's No. 5 freshman class. It might be.
The program signed nine players, including four defenders, three forwards, a midfielder and a goalkeeper.
The Lions also announced that three transfer players will be joining the Lions for the 2024 season.
Those transferring include defenseman Ginger Fontenot, a two-time All-Ivy League selection from Penn, midfielder Jordan Fusco from Tennessee, and defenseman Kaylee Herr from North Carolina.
The 2023 Penn State team finished with a record of 15-2-4 overall and 6-1-3 in the Big Ten. The team is scheduled to begin play in August 2024.
