Alyssa Thompson, described by her new team Angel City as a “generational player,” made history on Thursday as the first high school student ever drafted in National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) history, selected No. 1 overall.
This draft pick marks another outstanding milestone in her already impressive young career.
Thompson, now 18 years old, has already earned two caps for the US Women’s National Team (USWNT), debuting at just 17 in a friendly against European champion England at a sold-out Wembley Stadium in September.
Her talent on the field has been evident from a young age, making her a highly touted prospect. In 2020, Alyssa and her younger sister Gisele moved to play for the Total Futbol Academy, a boys’ club in Major League Soccer’s academy system, MLS NEXT.
In May 2022, the Thompson sisters secured a groundbreaking multiyear deal, becoming the first high school athletes to sign a name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreement with Nike.
Hailing from Los Angeles, Alyssa Thompson was named the 2021 High School Soccer Player of the Year after scoring an impressive 48 goals in just 18 games for Harvard-Westlake School, where she continues to attend as a senior.
Beyond soccer, Thompson has shown prowess in track, competing in the 100 meters during high school and achieving top 10 times in California over three years.
Angel City notes that she recorded the sixth fastest time statewide in 2022. Thompson’s versatility on the field allows her to play in all three front-line positions as well as midfield. She impressed Angel City during last year’s preseason training camp.
Reflecting on her experience training with the full team, Thompson told the Angel City website, “Being in that environment, I thought: ‘Wow, I can do this.’”
Although Thompson had verbally committed to playing for Stanford next year, according to ESPN, she opted to forgo her college eligibility and declared for the NWSL draft last week—a requirement for high school athletes aiming to enter the league.
ESPN reports that Thompson plans to complete her senior year at Harvard-Westlake through online classes once the NWSL season begins on March 25. She will attend school in person when her schedule permits.
Thompson emphasizes that pursuing a degree remains a priority alongside her professional soccer career, a commitment supported by Angel City, who will assist her in managing her education next year.
“From the beginning, it’s always been something that if I’m going to go pro, I’m still going to get an education,” Thompson told ESPN. “I want to continue to get better, and since there’s an opportunity to still go to college, why wouldn’t I do it?”
Thompson’s historic selection at No. 1 in the NWSL draft underscores her rapid ascent in US Soccer, promising her regular appearances in front of nearly 20,000 fans at Angel City’s Banc of California Stadium.
With the Women’s World Cup kicking off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand, Thompson stands a strong chance of earning a spot in the USWNT squad for the tournament, further cementing her burgeoning career.