NWSL teams took turns making their selections over four rounds, with nine picks per round. Draft order was determined by the final
2019 regular season standings.
The draft was broadcast live via the NWSL website,
Facebook and
YouTube.[2]
Final list of registered players was released on January 15, 2020.[3]
The 2020 draft was the first since the introduction of
allocation money, and the league's first transactions exchanging allocation money involved picks in this draft.[4]
^Orlando Pride → Portland Thorns FC.
Portland Thorns FC received
Orlando Pride's No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for the No. 7 and No. 14 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft,
Emily Sonnett and the rights to
Caitlin Foord.[5]
^Sky Blue FC → Chicago Red Stars → Portland Thorns FC.
Portland Thorns FC acquired the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft from
Chicago Red Stars in exchange for the No. 15 and No. 16 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and $70,000 of allocation money.
Chicago Red Stars acquired the No. 2 and No. 3 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft from
Sky Blue FC in exchange for the No. 4 and No. 5 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and $80,000 of allocation money.[6]
^Houston Dash → Chicago Red Stars → Sky Blue FC → Chicago Red Stars → Orlando Pride.
Orlando Pride acquired the No. 3 and No. 26 picks in the 2020 NWSL College draft in exchange for the No. 19 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, Orlando's natural first-round selection in the 2021 NWSL College Draft,
Rachel Hill and $50,000 of allocation money.
Chicago Red Stars acquired the No. 2 and No. 3 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft from
Sky Blue FC in exchange for the No. 4 and No. 5 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and $80,000 of allocation money.[6]Sky Blue FC received
Chicago Red Stars' highest first-round pick and a second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for
Savannah McCaskill.[7] Chicago Red Stars' highest first-round pick was acquired from
Houston Dash along with
Christen Press in exchange for
Sofia Huerta and
Taylor Comeau.[8]
^Utah Royals FC → Chicago Red Stars → Sky Blue FC → Washington Spirit.
Washington Spirit acquired the No. 4, No. 13 and No. 17 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and a first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft from
Sky Blue FC in exchange for
Mallory Pugh.[9]Sky Blue FC acquired the No. 4 and No. 5 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and $80,000 allocation money from
Chicago Red Stars in exchange for the No. 2 and No. 3 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[6]Chicago Red Stars acquired
Utah Royals FC's first and second-round picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft as well as the number one overall 2019 NWSL College Draft pick, another first-round draft pick in 2019 and Utah's natural first-round pick in 2021 in exchange for the rights to
Christen Press and
Samantha Johnson.[8]
^Washington Spirit → Chicago Red Stars → Sky Blue FC.
Sky Blue FC acquired the No. 4 and No. 5 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and $80,000 of allocation money from
Chicago Red Stars in exchange for the No. 2 and No. 3 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[6]Chicago Red Stars acquired
Washington Spirit's natural first-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and a third-round pick (No. 20) in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for a first-round pick (No. 7) in the 2019 NWSL College Draft.[10]
^Reign FC → Chicago Red Stars → North Carolina Courage.
North Carolina Courage acquired the No. 6 pick from
Chicago Red Stars in exchange for the No. 9 and No. 18 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[11]Chicago Red Stars had acquired
Reign FC's natural first-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for a 2019 international roster spot.[12]
^Portland Thorns FC → Orlando Pride.
Orlando Pride received
Portland Thorns FC's No. 7 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft as well as the No. 14 pick,
Emily Sonnett and the rights to
Caitlin Foord in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[5]
^Chicago Red Stars → Utah Royals FC.
Utah Royals FC acquired
Chicago Red Stars' natural first-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for $60,000 of allocation money.[13]
^North Carolina Courage → Chicago Red Stars → Reign FC.
Reign FC acquired the No. 9 pick in the 2020 NWSL College draft from
Chicago Red Stars in exchange for
Reign FC's natural third-round pick (No. 24) in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and natural first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft.[14]Chicago Red Stars had received
North Carolina Courage's No. 9 pick as well as the No. 18 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for the No. 6 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[11]
Round 2:
^Houston Dash → Utah Royals FC.
Utah Royals FC received
Houston Dash's natural second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and natural second-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft in exchange for
Utah Royals FC's third-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and
Katie Stengel.[15]
^Utah Royals FC → Chicago Red Stars → Sky Blue FC → Washington Spirit.
Washington Spirit acquired the No. 4, No. 13 and No. 17 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and a first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft from
Sky Blue FC in exchange for
Mallory Pugh.[9]Sky Blue FC received
Chicago Red Stars' highest first-round pick and a second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft in exchange for
Savannah McCaskill.[7]Chicago Red Stars had acquired the pick from
Utah Royals FC along with a 2020 first-round pick, the number one overall 2019 NWSL College Draft pick, another first-round draft pick in 2019 and Utah's natural first-round pick in 2021 in exchange for the rights to
Christen Press and
Samantha Johnson.[8]
^Washington Spirit → Portland Thorns FC → Orlando Pride.
Orlando Pride received
Portland Thorns FC's No. 14 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft as well as the No. 7 pick,
Emily Sonnett and the rights to
Caitlin Foord in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[5]Portland Thorns FC acquired
Washington Spirit's natural second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and a fourth-round pick (No. 31) in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 17) in the 2019 NWSL College Draft.[10]
^Reign FC → Portland Thorns FC → Chicago Red Stars.
Chicago Red Stars acquired he No. 15 and No. 16 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and $70,000 of allocation money from
Portland Thorns FC in exchange the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[6]Portland Thorns FC received
Reign FC's natural second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and
Caitlin Foord in exchange for
Allie Long.[16]
^Portland Thorns FC → Chicago Red Stars.
Chicago Red Stars acquired he No. 15 and No. 16 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and $70,000 of allocation money from
Portland Thorns FC in exchange the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[6]
^Chicago Red Stars → Sky Blue FC → Washington Spirit.
Washington Spirit acquired the No. 4, No. 13 and No. 17 picks in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and a first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft from
Sky Blue FC in exchange for
Mallory Pugh.[9]Sky Blue FC received
Chicago Red Stars' highest second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and a first-round pick (No. 6) in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for
Katie Johnson.[17]
^Orlando Pride → Chicago Red Stars.
Chicago Red Stars acquired the No. 19 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, Orlando's natural first-round selection in the 2021 NWSL College Draft,
Rachel Hill and $50,000 of allocation money in exchange for the No. 3 and No. 26 picks in the 2020 NWSL College draft.[6]
^Utah Royals FC → Houston Dash.
Houston Dash received
Utah Royals FC's natural third-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and
Katie Stengel in exchange for
Houston Dash's natural second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 NWSL College Drafts.[15]
^Reign FC → Chicago Red Stars.
Chicago Red Stars acquired
Reign FC's natural third-round pick (No. 24) in the 2020 NWSL College Draft and natural first-round pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft in exchange for a first-round pick (No. 9) in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.[14]
^Chicago Red Stars → Orlando Pride.
Orlando Pride acquired the No. 3 and No. 26 picks in the 2020 NWSL College draft in exchange for the No. 19 pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft, Orlando's natural first-round selection in the 2021 NWSL College Draft,
Rachel Hill and $50,000 of allocation money.[6]
In 2020, a total of 27 colleges had players selected. Of these, four had a player drafted to the NWSL for the first time:
Auburn,
Bowling Green,
NC State and
South Florida.