USL News Release
Friday, January 13, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. - Led by former Vancouver Whitecaps Women standout Sydney Leroux, who was selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Atlanta Beat, the USL W-League saw another strong contingent of players selected in Friday’s 2012 Women’s Professional Soccer Draft, held in Kansas City, Mo. Eleven of the 23 players selected had previously played in the W-League.
Leroux, who was the 2011 W-League Rookie of the Year and an All-League selection, was the third consecutive W-League alumna taken with the first pick of the WPS Draft, following the Pali Blues duo of Tobin Heath and Alex Morgan. Leroux tied for second in the league with 24 points in 11 games, recording a goal and assist as the Whitecaps won the Western Conference title with a thrilling 4-3 victory against the Santa Clarita Blue Heat.
Leroux will be joined in Atlanta by former Atlanta Silverbacks standout Katy Frierson, who was selected with the No. 10 pick overall, and former Seattle Sounders Women standout Kate Deines, who was selected with the No. 23 pick.
Former Pali Blues standout Camille Levin, who helped Stanford win its first NCAA National Championship last month, was the other W-League alum taken in the first round, being selected by Sky Blue FC with the fourth pick. Sky Blue FC also selected former New Jersey Rangers player Ingrid Wells with the No. 9 selection and Laura Heyboer with the No. 19 selection.
A pair of former Colorado Rush standouts were also selected, with Tori Huster being taken by the Western New York Flash with the No. 8 pick and Danielle Foxhoven being taken by the Philadelphia Independence with the No. 17 pick.
Other alums included Toni Pressley, taken by the Independence with the No. 13 selection, Tahnai Annis, taken by the Flash with the No. 18 selection and former Rochester Ravens standout Erica Henderson, who was taken by the Flash with the No. 22 selection.