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Boade Drafted by Sky Blue FC in NWSL
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.
"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.
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
YEAR PLAYER TEAM 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)
"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.
"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.
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
YEAR PLAYER TEAM 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)
Players Mentioned
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