BALTIMORE — The 2020 NWSL Draft featured 17 Women’s Premier Soccer League players selected in the draft on Thursday, including three of the top seven picks.

With 40 WPSL players drafted in the past two seasons, the largest women’s soccer league in the world has established itself as the foremost league in providing its players the development and competition as a final step toward their professional careers.

The Portland Thorns FC drafted Seattle Sounders Women forward Morgan Weaver with the No. 2 overall pick. Weaver led the Sounders to the 2019 WPSL Championship semifinal with three goals in nine matches.

Motor City FC had two players selected in the first round, both by the Orlando Pride. Midfielder Taylor Kornieck, who played for Motor City from 2017-18, was selected No. 3 overall, and defender Courtney Petersen was selected No. 7 overall. Similar to Weaver, Petersen was one of the top players leading her club to the 2019 WPSL Championship semifinals.

“Thank you to Orlando for believing in me and allowing me to live out my childhood dream,” Petersen said at the draft podium after her selection.

Orlando Pride also drafted defender Konya Plummer with the first selection of the second round (No. 10 overall). Plummer, who played for Florida Krush in 2018, was the captain of the Jamaican National Team at the 2019 FIFA World Cup in France.

In total, the drafted players represent 11 WPSL clubs. Sounders Women, Motor City and Washington Spirit Reserves each had three players drafted.

Undrafted WPSL players will also likely have an impact in the 2020 NWSL Season. This past NWSL season, former Seattle Sounders forward Bethany Balcer won the league's rookie of the year after signing as an undrafted free agent with Reign FC.

For more information on the WPSL, visit wpslsoccer.com.

The WPSL is in its 23rd season and is the largest women’s soccer league in the world with more than 130 clubs from coast-to-coast.  WPSL rosters feature elite collegiate, post-collegiate, international and standout prep student-athletes.  Many of the United States’ most accomplished women’s players have played in the WPSL, including household names such as Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain.

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WPSL players selected in the 2020 NWSL Draft

First Round:

No. 2 overall: Morgan Weaver, F, Portland Thorns FC (Seattle Sounders Women)

No. 3 overall: Taylor Kornieck, M, Orlando Pride (Motor City FC)

No. 7 overall: Courtney Petersen, D, Orlando Pride (Motor City FC)

Second Round:

No. 10 overall: Konya Plummer, D, Orlando Pride (Florida Krush)

No. 11 overall: Kaleigh Riehl, D, Sky Blue FC (Washington Spirit Reserves)

No. 16 overall: Camryn Biegalski, D, Chicago Red Stars (Chicago Red Stars Reserves)

No. 17 overall: Averie Collins, M, Washington Spirit (MVLA Wolves)

No. 18 overall: Bridgette Andrzejewski, F, Houston Dash (Washington Spirit Reserves)

Third Round:

No. 19 overall: Zoe Morse, M, Chicago Red Stars (Motor City FC)

No. 21 overall: Cheyenne Shorts, D, Orlando Pride (Colorado Rapids Women)

No. 23 overall: Katie McClure, F, Washington Spirit (FC Wichita)

No. 25 overall: Meaghan Nally, D, Portland Thorns FC (Washington Spirit Reserves)

No. 26 overall: Abi Kim, F, Orlando Pride (Seattle Sounders Women)

Fourth Round:

No. 30 overall: Chelsee Washington, M, Orlando Pride (FC Dallas)

No. 33 overall: Samantha Hiatt, M, Reign FC (Seattle Sounders Women)

No. 34 overall: Meg Brandt, M, Reign FC (Elite Girls Academy)

No. 35 overall: Aerial Chavarin, F, Chicago Red Stars (San Ramon FC)