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NWSL Season Preview 2023: 10 newcomers to watch

By Caden Charpentier

BUCARAMANGA, COLOMBIA - JULY 26: Graciela Martínez of Paraguay competes for the ball with Adriana of Brazil during the Women's CONMEBOL Copa America 2022 Semi Final match between Brazil and Paraguay at Estadio Alfonso Lopez on July 26, 2022 in Bucaramanga, Colombia. (Photo by Gabriel Aponte/Getty Images)
BUCARAMANGA, COLOMBIA - JULY 26: Graciela Martínez of Paraguay competes for the ball with Adriana of Brazil during the Women's CONMEBOL Copa America 2022 Semi Final match between Brazil and Paraguay at Estadio Alfonso Lopez on July 26, 2022 in Bucaramanga, Colombia. (Photo by Gabriel Aponte/Getty Images) /
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PLAYA VISTA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 12: Angel City Football Club President Julie Uhrman and first overall draft pick Alyssa Thompson pose with a jersey during the Angel City Football Club 2023 NWSL Draft Party at Nike LA on January 12, 2023 in Playa Vista, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
PLAYA VISTA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 12: Angel City Football Club President Julie Uhrman and first overall draft pick Alyssa Thompson pose with a jersey during the Angel City Football Club 2023 NWSL Draft Party at Nike LA on January 12, 2023 in Playa Vista, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /

4. Alyssa Thompson

What were you doing at 18? In January’s draft, Angel City gave up a hefty amount of assets to secure the No. 1 overall selection. In a city filled with stars, the club knew that it needed to make a splash in the offseason heading into its second season in the NWSL.

Despite not acquiring as many free agents compared to other clubs, Freya Coombe may have just added a potential NWSL star, Alyssa Thompson. At just 18 years of age, the forward decided to take her talents from high school to the professional game. In October of 2021, Thompson became the young USWNT player to earn a call-up to the full national team since Sophia Smith in 2017.

The former 2021 Gatorade National women’s soccer player of the year originally committed to Stanford when she was 15 but opted against it as she was the player her hometown team had their eyes on the minute they acquired the top selection. She is a creative attacking player that is battle tested against players far older and more experienced than her. She may only be 18, but having collected two national team caps already says a lot about her potential going forward. Who knows how long it is going to take her to adapt to the NWSL, but Thompson has the quality at such a young age that Angel City is seeking to build its club around.

3. Olivia Wingate

Sean Nahas and the North Carolina Courage have made it abundantly clear that this is a team that is going to be driven by youth. With four selections in the top 10 of the draft, the Courage are flipping the page. Debinha has moved on. Mexican international standout Diana Ordonez is no longer on the east coast. Nahas will be looking for answers from the club’s exciting pool of young talent.

The first pick of the four in the top 10 was former Notre Dame forward Oliva Wingate. With three out of the Courage’s top-five goal-scorers from last season no longer with the club, Wingate may be tasked with a larger role in her rookie season compared to her fellow first-year attackers. The Massachusetts native played in 95 contests with the Fighting Irish, scoring 14 goals to go along with five assists in her final collegiate campaign.

North Carolina selected her over Penn State superstar Penelope Hocking, making it seem as if the club knows something that the rest of the league does not. There are only three returning forwards for the Courage heading into the 2023 season. Wingate, and fellow rookie Haley Hopkins are among the new faces in the front line. The Courage have a load of new players this season. NC’s first selection in the January draft is one to watch as the season unfolds.

2. Michelle Cooper

The 2022 MAC Hermann Trophy winner possesses all the tools to become Kansas City’s forward of the future. The Current believed in the former Duke forward so much that they dealt a quality USWNT senior player for the right to select her with the No. 2 overall pick the in the draft. KC may not have Lynn Williams on the flank anymore, but with the selection of a 20-year-old, the Current are looking more toward the long run.

Cooper started in just 40 games for the Blue Devils, netting an astounding 31 goals while assisting 16. She had seven multi-goal games in 2022 en route to her becoming the first Duke player to win the Hermann Trophy. Paired with the likes of Cece Kizer, Mimmi Larsson, and Kristen Hamilton this upcoming season in KC, Cooper is in the perfect environment to learn and grow into the professional game. It may not be an immediate impact type of effect for Cooper, but as time goes on, this is a player that could absolutely light up the scoreboard.

The Golden Boot winner in the 2022 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship is a striker NWSL fans should familiarize themselves with right now. Her leadership at international youth levels and potent attacking talent make her one of the next stars of this growing league.

1. Hanna Glas

The acquisition of this player by the Current made the NWSL world take note that Kansas City was not messing around. Matt Potter and Camille Levin Ashton were relentless all offseason. The Swedish international defender Hanna Glas may still be rehabbing, but the hope is she is back at full strength come time for the World Cup in July. If that is true, Glas would be a plug-and-play wing back for a team with title aspirations.

The 29-year-old is a former Champions League goal scorer and Frauen-Bundesliga winner in 2021. Glas played her final two seasons in Europe with Bayern Munich. She started in 51 of the 57 contests in both the domestic league and Champions League. As a regular in the backline for the German powerhouse, Glas finished her career in Munich with eight goals and eight assists across the two competitions. Glas put the stamp on the Current’s offseason.

With experience at the very highest level both internationally and at the club level in Europe, Glas is well prepared for the challenge of the NWSL. It will be an adjustment for sure, but with 46 caps and starts in the World Cup, Olympics, and the Women’s Euros, Glas possesses the resume to succeed. She won’t be on the field at Children’s Mercy Park until possibly August, but when she does, the Current defense is going to get a massive boost in quality.

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