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Photo by: Duke Athletics
1/14/2021 12:39:00 AM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C. – In the 2021 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Draft Wednesday evening, Duke University senior Tess Boade was selected in the fourth round with the 40th overall pick by Sky Blue FC.
"We are extremely excited and proud of Tess for being drafted," said Duke head coach Robbie Church. "It is a great honor. The NWSL is a very high-level league. For them to think so highly of her is outstanding. It is a cumulation of a lot of work. The one thing about Tess is she has gotten better and better over the four years. She has put a lot of time and work into her game. We are very, very happy for her."
Boade, a product of Highlands Ranch, Colo., has appeared in 65 career matches with the Blue Devils, while starting 39. She has collected 11 goals, eight assists and 30 points as the midfielder/forward enters the spring season at Duke (7-4-2, 4-2-2 ACC). Over the last three years, Boade has registered four game-winning goals. Â
"I am very excited and grateful to Sky Blue for the opportunity and I am looking forward to getting to play with Imani again," said Boade. "It is a dream come true being drafted in the NWSL. While COVID has given me the opportunity to have an extra year of eligibility at Duke, the timing of when I head to Sky Blue is yet to be determined. Thank you to all my coaches, teammates, family and friends who have helped me get to this special day in my career."
It marks the second time out of the last four years Sky Blue FC has taken a Blue Devil in the draft as Imani Dorsey was selected with the fifth overall pick in the first round in 2018. Dorsey went on to be named the 2018 NWSL Rookie of the Year with four goals and one assist in 13 appearances. Former Duke All-American Rebecca Moros and 2007 Blue Devil graduate is currently an assistant coach with Sky Blue FC. Â
With Boade being selected in the 2021 NWSL Draft, it is the sixth straight season a member of the Duke women's soccer team has been drafted. She is the 15th overall Blue Devil selected in the NWSL.
#GoDuke
All-Time DWS Players in the Drafts
Â
YEARÂ Â Â Â PLAYERÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â TEAMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â ROUND (PICK)
1996     Kelly Walbert                    Atlanta Beat (WUSA)                                  6th (81)
1998     Kristy Whelchel                New York Power (WUSA)                            3rd (20)
2000     Sherrill Kester                  San Diego Spirit (WUSA)                             2nd (14)
2009     Rebecca Moros                Washington Freedom (WPS)                      6th (36)
2010     Elisabeth Redmond          St. Louis Athletica (WPS)                            7th (64)
2014     Natasha Anasi                  Boston Breakers                                         2nd (13)
            Mollie Pathman                Boston Breakers                                          3rd (23)
            Kim DeCesare                  Boston Breakers                                          4th (34)
2016     Kara Wilson                     Washington Spirit                                         4th (37)
2017     Christina Gibbons            FC Kansas City                                            1st (5)
            Toni Payne                       FC Kansas City                                            2nd (13)
2018     Quinn                       Washington Spirit                                         1st (3)
            Imani Dorsey                    Sky Blue FC                                                 1st (5)
              Schuyler DeBree             Washington Spirit                                         2nd (11)
              Ashton Miller                   Boston Breakers                                          3rd (22)
              EJ Proctor                      Utah Royals FC                                            4th (34)
              Morgan Reid                   NC Courage                                                 4th (38)
2019     Kayla McCoy                    Houston Dash                                              2nd (18)
2020     Ella Stevens                     Chicago Red Stars                                        3rd (24)
2021   Tess Boade                     Sky Blue FC                             4th (40)
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"We are extremely excited and proud of Tess for being drafted," said Duke head coach Robbie Church. "It is a great honor. The NWSL is a very high-level league. For them to think so highly of her is outstanding. It is a cumulation of a lot of work. The one thing about Tess is she has gotten better and better over the four years. She has put a lot of time and work into her game. We are very, very happy for her."
Boade, a product of Highlands Ranch, Colo., has appeared in 65 career matches with the Blue Devils, while starting 39. She has collected 11 goals, eight assists and 30 points as the midfielder/forward enters the spring season at Duke (7-4-2, 4-2-2 ACC). Over the last three years, Boade has registered four game-winning goals. Â
"I am very excited and grateful to Sky Blue for the opportunity and I am looking forward to getting to play with Imani again," said Boade. "It is a dream come true being drafted in the NWSL. While COVID has given me the opportunity to have an extra year of eligibility at Duke, the timing of when I head to Sky Blue is yet to be determined. Thank you to all my coaches, teammates, family and friends who have helped me get to this special day in my career."
It marks the second time out of the last four years Sky Blue FC has taken a Blue Devil in the draft as Imani Dorsey was selected with the fifth overall pick in the first round in 2018. Dorsey went on to be named the 2018 NWSL Rookie of the Year with four goals and one assist in 13 appearances. Former Duke All-American Rebecca Moros and 2007 Blue Devil graduate is currently an assistant coach with Sky Blue FC. Â
With Boade being selected in the 2021 NWSL Draft, it is the sixth straight season a member of the Duke women's soccer team has been drafted. She is the 15th overall Blue Devil selected in the NWSL.
#GoDuke
All-Time DWS Players in the Drafts
Â
YEARÂ Â Â Â PLAYERÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â TEAMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â ROUND (PICK)
1996     Kelly Walbert                    Atlanta Beat (WUSA)                                  6th (81)
1998     Kristy Whelchel                New York Power (WUSA)                            3rd (20)
2000     Sherrill Kester                  San Diego Spirit (WUSA)                             2nd (14)
2009     Rebecca Moros                Washington Freedom (WPS)                      6th (36)
2010     Elisabeth Redmond          St. Louis Athletica (WPS)                            7th (64)
2014     Natasha Anasi                  Boston Breakers                                         2nd (13)
            Mollie Pathman                Boston Breakers                                          3rd (23)
            Kim DeCesare                  Boston Breakers                                          4th (34)
2016     Kara Wilson                     Washington Spirit                                         4th (37)
2017     Christina Gibbons            FC Kansas City                                            1st (5)
            Toni Payne                       FC Kansas City                                            2nd (13)
2018     Quinn                       Washington Spirit                                         1st (3)
            Imani Dorsey                    Sky Blue FC                                                 1st (5)
              Schuyler DeBree             Washington Spirit                                         2nd (11)
              Ashton Miller                   Boston Breakers                                          3rd (22)
              EJ Proctor                      Utah Royals FC                                            4th (34)
              Morgan Reid                   NC Courage                                                 4th (38)
2019     Kayla McCoy                    Houston Dash                                              2nd (18)
2020     Ella Stevens                     Chicago Red Stars                                        3rd (24)
2021   Tess Boade                     Sky Blue FC                             4th (40)
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Players Mentioned
F/M
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's SoccerThursday, October 22
Thursday, October 22
Monday, October 19
Saturday, October 17
