KU women’s soccer makes history when two Jayhawks are chosen in NWSL Draft

For the first time in program history, Kansas soccer had two players selected within the same professional draft.

Senior forward and Wichita native Katie McClure, from Maize High, was selected with the 23rd overall pick by the Washington Spirit during the 2020 National Women’s Soccer League Draft on Thursday. Senior defender Addisyn Merrick, from Lee’s Summit North, was selected 28th overall by the North Carolina Courage.

McClure proved an instrumental part of the Jayhawks making it to the Sweet 16 in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, scoring a career-high 17 goals and nine assists in 25 regular-season games.

McClure’s 17 goals were not only the second-most by a KU player in a single season but also led the Big 12 in 2019. Her 43 points also led the conference.

“I would definitely have to say it was a breakout year for me, for sure,” McClure told The Star. “I think if I didn’t have the season that I did maybe things wouldn’t have gone the way they did in this draft. I think this breakout year helped out a lot of things in my future.”

Her efforts earned her third-team All-America honors.

“I’m just absolutely over the moon that (McClure’s) still around this late in the draft,” Spirit coach Richie Burke said. “We were shocked when her name didn’t get picked, we were doing a backflip. So to get a player of her caliber at this late stage in the draft is a steal, an absolute steal.”

Merrick, despite not attending the draft, was selected just five picks later by the Courage, who’ve won the last two NWSL championships.

“This is just a surreal moment for me and I’m so grateful to get the opportunity at the next level and for a team of that caliber to want me to play for them is just such an accomplishment and just makes me happy that I’m seen like that,” Merrick said.

Merrick won the Big 12 defender of the year award and was chosen first-team All-Big 12 in 2019 after playing a team-high 2,278 minutes during the season.

After a bumpy start to Merrick’s career, which saw her feature periodically among Kansas’ attacking options, the speedy wingback became a permanent fixture in a KU backline that posted 11 shutouts in 2019.

“I’m excited to possibly get the chance to play (McClure) again on opposite playing grounds when I get to go against her,” Merrick said. “It’ll be good, I’m excited.”