BOWLING GREEN — Bowling Green soccer standout Chelsee Washington on Thursday became the first player in program history to be drafted by a team in the National Women’s Soccer League, the top domestic women’s league in the United States.
The Orlando Pride selected Washington with the third pick in the fourth round of the NWSL draft, which is the 30th overall pick.
Washington was the 2019 Mid-American Conference offensive player of the year and helped BG qualify for the NCAA tournament in back-to-back seasons. She finished her four-year career with 21 goals and 23 assists.
"I am extremely humbled and blessed for this opportunity to fulfill my dreams as a professional soccer player with the Orlando Pride," Washington said in a release. "BG was the perfect place for me to develop as a person and as a player, and I'm forever grateful for my time spent there."
Washington was the only player from a MAC school to be drafted on Thursday.
The Pride boast a number of international stars on their roster, including Marta, a six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, as well as current and former U.S. Women’s National Team members Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux, Ali Krieger, and Ashlyn Harris.
First Published January 17, 2020, 12:58 a.m.
