For the second year in a row, a UCLA player has been selected as the first overall pick in the National Women’s Soccer League draft.
Forward Zakiya Bywaters, who was named Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2012, was selected by the Chicago Red Stars at the Indianapolis Convention Center today.
Last year, Bruin forward Sydney Leroux was the first overall pick by the Atlanta Beat.
Bywaters led the Pac-12 with 15 goals and 34 points this season. She played 92 games in her time at UCLA, starting 88 of those games. She battled injuries throughout the season and managed to help the team to an 18-3-2 record, making it all the way to the quarterfinals of the College Cup.
Bywaters marks UCLA’s 10th No. 1 overall pick in professional sports, joining basketball’s Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Bill Walton, football’s Troy Aikman, men’s soccer’s Tahj Jakins, Steve Shak, Marvell Wynne and Chance Myers, baseball’s Gerrit Cole and fellow women’s soccer player Leroux.
Compiled by Emma Coghlan, Bruin Sports senior staff.