Ordoñez Taken Sixth Overall By NC Courage In NWSL Draft
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Junior forward Diana Ordoñez of the Virginia women’s soccer team was the sixth overall pick in the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Draft on Saturday when she was selected by the North Carolina Courage.
Virginia has now had 19 players taken in the NWSL Draft in the 10-year history of the event. Ordoñez joins fellow Virginia players Caroline Miller, Molly Menchel, Annie Steinlage, Shasta Fisher, Morgan Brian, Danielle Colaprico, Emily Sonnett, Makenzy Doniak, Brittany Ratcliffe, Alexis Shaffer, Kristen McNabb, Veronica Latsko, Betsy Brandon, Courtney Petersen, Phoebe McClernon, Zoe Morse, Alissa Gorzak and Taryn Torres as NWSL draft selections.
Virginia has had at least one player selected in every NWSL Draft.
Ordoñez was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year this season, becoming the first Cavalier to win the honor since the 2016 season, and also garnered first-team All-America, All-Region and All-ACC honors. She finished her year with 18 goals and 39 points, leading Virginia and the ACC in both categories. Her 18 goals was second nationally, while she was also ninth nationally in total points. She was fifth among active NCAA Division I players in career points per game (1.65) and goals per game (0.73).
Of her 18 goals this season, eight of them were game winners which is the most in a single season in Virginia history and led the nation this year. This included game-winning goals against then No. 2 Duke, at No. 12 West Virginia, No. 24 Clemson and Milwaukee, and pushed her to 15 game-winning goals in her three-year career, tying for fifth in program history at UVA. Her 18 goals pushed her to 45 goals for her career to tie for the third most in a career at Virginia and it was the fourth most in a single season at Virginia. Her 39 points pushed her to 102 for her career – both marks are tied for sixth most in a season and career at Virginia. She helped Virginia claim the ACC regular-season title as the only team to go unbeaten in ACC play this season.
FROM DIANA ORDOÑEZ ON BEING DRAFTED BY NORTH CAROLINA
“I am so grateful for my time at UVA and how much I developed thanks to the amazing coaching staff and my incredibly talented teammates. I can’t thank God enough for this opportunity. I feel so blessed to get to live out my dream surrounded by my family and friends. I’d like to give a big thank you to the coaching staff at the Courage for picking me and getting my professional career started. I’m so excited for what the future holds.”
FIRST-ROUND PICKS IN THE NWSL DRAFT FOR VIRGINIA
2022 – Diana Ordoñez – North Carolina (6th overall)
2020 – Courtney Petersen – Orlando (7th overall)
2016 – Emily Sonnett – Portland (1st overall)
2015 – Morgan Brian – Houston (1st overall), Danielle Colaprico (9th overall)