UCLA graduates, NCAA champions and San Clemente natives Lauren Brzykcy and Madelyn Desiano were selected in the 2023 NWSL Draft on Thursday evening in Philadelphia. Brzykcy was chosen in the third round as the No. 33 overall selection by San Diego Wave FC, while Desiano was the final pick in the draft, taken at No. 48 overall by the Houston Dash, who made a trade for the pick.
Brzykcy will remain close to her hometown of San Clemente after being selected by San Diego. The 2020 All-American and Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year was a three-time All-Region and All-Pac-12 goalkeeper and was selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team in 2018. Brzykcy finished her UCLA career ranked in the school’s all-time Top 5 in career goals against average (0.65), saves (222), shutouts (29) and wins (57). She also tied the school record for single-season victories with 22 in 2022. During the Bruins’ NCAA Championship run in the fall, she blanked UCF in a penalty kick shootout, and she totaled 24 saves and two shutouts in six games. A three-year starter, Brzykcy led UCLA to the 2022 NCAA Championship and a pair of Pac-12 titles in 2020 and 2021 and was a member of three NCAA College Cup teams.
headed down I-5. see you soon, @laurenbrzykcy11! ?? pic.twitter.com/CXvvprLpQW
— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) January 13, 2023
Desiano’s selection by Houston gave UCLA multiple draft picks for the fourth consecutive year. After missing her first two seasons with ACL injuries, she made her collegiate debut in February 2021. During the shortened 2021 fall season, she led UCLA with nine assists, and in her senior season of 2022, she played in all 25 games and was a starter at left back for 23. Desiano scored her first collegiate goal on Oct. 6 against Arizona State and then scored two postseason goals, the game-winner in the third round against Northwestern and the Bruins’ third goal in a 3-0 semifinal win over Alabama. She finished her UCLA career with 54 games played, three goals and 14 assists.
This moment ??#HoldItDown pic.twitter.com/KACKNaOtCl
— Houston Dash (@HoustonDash) January 13, 2023
With Brzycky and Desiano being drafted, UCLA now leads all colleges with 22 total NWSL draft picks since the league’s inception in 2013.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at UCLA…