The fourth Women's Professional Soccer Draft unfolded earlier today at the 2012 NSCAA Convention in Kansas City. Dean Linke, play-by-play announcer for WPS and the NSCAA College Game of the Week on Fox Soccer, and Kyndra de St. Aubin, sports broadcaster and reporter, helped sort through the talent of this year’s draft class. This year’s draft was a tale of attacking talent and promising futures for the five WPS teams as the nation’s best college players were chosen to join a new team and a new future.

Forward Sydney Leroux of UCLA was chosen as the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Atlanta Beat. Leroux finished her collegiate career as a Bruin with 57 goals, ranked fourth on the school list, including 16 in her senior year. She was a semifinalist for the 2011 MAC Hermann Trophy . Leroux was a member of the 2008 U.S. U-20 World Cup Champion team led by Coach Tony DiCicco.

The two-time NSCAA All-American, forward, Melissa Henderson of Notre Dame joins Sky Blue FC as the No. 2 overall pick. Henderson scored 70 goals and added 26 assists in four seasons with the Fighting Irish. She currently ranks among the top 15 in school history in six career categories. Henderson was a member of the Notre Dame team who won the 2010 NCAA Soccer Championship.

Stephanie Ochs, forward, of the University of San Diego was chosen by the Boston Breakers as the No. 3 overall draft pick. Ochs made a name for herself by becoming the first player in San Diego’s program history to be recognized as the West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2011.

Now that the draft is over, the only thing left to do is to wait for the start of the 2012 season. WPS CEO Jennifer O’Sullivan expresses her excitement to her first year in the league.

“We are excited to welcome a new class of players to the league and we look forward to seeing these women showcase their talent on the field and watching them grow in their roles as professionals and role models in the WPS.”

Below is the entire 2012 WPS Draft listed by team.

Atlanta Beat
1. Sydney Leroux, UCLA - Forward
10. Katy Frierson, Auburn University - Midfielder
23. Kate Deines, University of Washington - Midfield/Forward

Sky Blue FC
2. Melissa Henderson, Notre Dame - Forward 4. Camille Levin, Stanford University - Defender
5. Sarah Hagen, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee - Forward
6. Lindsay Taylor, Stanford University - Forward
9. Ingrid Wells, Georgetown University - Midfielder
15. Jill Mastrioanni, Boston College - Goalkeeper
19. Laura Heyboer, Michigan State - Forward

Boston Breakers
3. Stephanie Ochs, University of San Diego - Forward
11. Courtney Jones, UNC - Forward
16. Melinda Mercado, Ohio State University - Defender
20. Jessica Luscinski, Boston University - Midfielder

Philadelphia Independence
12. Courtney Goodson, UC Irvine - Defender
13. Toni Pressley, Florida State University - Defender
14. Bianca Henninger, Santa Clara - Goalkeeper
17. Danielle Foxhoven, Portland University - Forward
21. Jasmyne Spencer, Maryland - Forward

Western New York Flash
7. Teresa Noyola, Stanford University - Midfielder
8. Tori Huster, San Fransico University - Midfielder
18. Tahnai Annis, Florida - Forward
22. Erica Henderson, West Virginia - Forward

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