Meet the 2022 San Diego Wave draft picks and rookies they picked up in off season trades
Naomi Girma -
Team: San Diego Wave FC
Position: Defender
Hometown: San Jose, California
College: Stanford
College Number: 2
College Major: Symbolic Systems / Management Science & Engineering
College Awards: NCAA Champion (2019), Two-time Pac-12 Champion (2018-19), Three-time team captain (2019-21), Two-time United Soccer Coaches All-America first team (2019, 2021), Two-time Pac-12 Defender of the Year (2019, 2021), Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2021), U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year (2020), MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist (2019, 2021), College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player (2019)
Draft Pick: First Overall
Pro Contract: Signed by the club
Quote: “She has a very bright future as a player with her outstanding technical ability and game understanding,” San Diego Wave head coach Casey Stoney said. “Her character, leadership, and professionalism will mean her transition into the professional game will be seamless.”
Marleen Schimmer -
Team: San Diego Wave FC
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Mainz, Germany
College: Grand Canyon University
College Number: 27
College Major: Psychology
College Awards: Transferred from Arizona State to GCU where she Appeared in 17 games with 15 starts. Scored four goals and four assists en route to earning First Team All-WAC honors. Became the fourth transfer to earn All-WAC honors in their first season as a Lope and the first player to make the first team and scored first GCU goal with a game-winning penalty kick against Utah Valley on Feb. 20.
Draft Pick: First round, Pick #9
Pro Contract: Signed by the club
Sydney Pulver -
Team: San Diego Wave FC
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Parker, Colorado
College: Washington State University
College Number: 9
College Major: Business
College Awards: Holds the all-time record for matches played for the program with 87 matches played in her collegiate career. Won Pac-12 athlete of the week for Women’s Soccer with her play and defensive efforts in the midfield.
Draft Pick: Round 2, Pick No.25
Pro Contract: In preseason but not yet signed
Belle Briede -
Team: San Diego Wave FC
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Alpharetta, Georgia
College: Stanford University
College Number: 4
College Major: Human Biology
College Awards: Two-time NCAA Champion (2017, 2019), Three-time Pac-12 Champion (2017-19), Three College Cup appearance (2017-19), and 2020-21 All Pac-12 Third Team
Draft Pick: Round 3, Pick No. 27
Pro Contract: In preseason but not yet signed
Kayla Bruster -
Team: San Diego Wave FC
Position: Defender
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
College: University of Georgia
College Number: 25
College Major: unknown
College Awards: 2019 First Team All-SEC, 2020 Second Team All-SEC, 2020-21 United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Third Team, Two-time SEC Preseason Watch List Selection (2020, 2021), Three-time SEC Honor Roll Selection
Draft Pick: Round 4, Pick No. 40
Pro Contract: In preseason but not yet signed
Kelsey Turnbow -
Team: San Diego Wave FC
Position: Forward
Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
College: Santa Clara University
College Number: 10
College Major: Unknown
College Awards: College Cup Offensive Most Outstanding Player, First Team All-West Region, First Team All-WCC, tied for sixth all-time at Santa Clara with 45 goal
Draft Pick: 18th overall by Chicago Red Stars in 2021 and traded to San Diego for expansion protection
Pro Contract: Signed by the club
Quote: “We hope Kelsey’s achievements at a top NCAA women’s soccer program such as Santa Clara translates to a promising professional career with us.” said Wave FC President Jill Ellis.
Amirah Ali -
Team: San Diego Wave FC
Position: Forward
Hometown: Voorhees, New Jersey
College: Rutgers University
College Number: 17
College Major: Criminal Justice
College Awards: 2017 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, 2018 All-Big Ten First Team, MAC Hermann Trophy Candidate, 2019 All-American First Team, 2020-2021 All-American First Team, 2020-21 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, Team Captain, Started all 21 matches as a Freshman
Draft Pick: 22 overall by Portland Thorns, Traded to San Diego for expansion protection
Pro Contract: In preseason but not yet signed
As preseason starts keep an eye out for these rookies who has stellar college careers with even more potential to excel in the NWSL.