January 12, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Orlando Pride News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando Pride selected defender Emily Madril with the third overall pick at the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Draft out of Florida State University. In addition, the Pride opted to select Messiah Bright at No. 21 overall out of Texas Christian University followed by Tori Hansen three picks later out of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Entering the day with both the No. 29 and No. 34 overall pick, the Pride traded both selections to the Washington Spirit for $75,000 in Allocation Money. With two picks in the fourth round, the side selected forward Summer Yates at No. 39 overall out of the University of Washington before wrapping up the evening by taking forward and Orlando native Kristen Scott out of the University of Central Florida with the No. 41 overall selection.
“We’re really pleased. Obviously we got some very exciting players, players that cover a lot of positions of need as well. Overall, we’re really excited and really pleased with the picks that we have,” Head Coach Seb Hines said following the draft. “[We gained] variety. We highlighted key players in key positions and you look at the picks that we got, they can come in and make an immediate impact to the team. I spoke about having a competitive environment in our training and I think we have that in our draft picks.”
A two-time NCAA National Champion, Madril joins the Pride following a decorated collegiate career in Tallahassee, finishing her time at Florida State with 62 appearances, 61 starts, six goals and seven assists. Named the 2021 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Madril led the Seminoles with 2,306 minutes, anchoring a defense that allowed just 13 goals in 25 games, securing 14 clean sheets on the season en route to the program’s third national title. That same year, she earned United Soccer Coaches All-American honors, while also being named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region First Team, TopDrawer Soccer Best XI First Team, College Cup All-Tournament Team, ACC All-Tournament Team and All-ACC First Team.
The year prior marked the Navarre, Fla. native’s return to the pitch following back-to-back ACL tears that sidelined her for the 2018 and 2019 seasons, playing all but 10 minutes in 16 matches for the Seminoles in 2020. Her return to the pitch saw her earn United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American honors, while also being named to…
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