CHICAGO, IL. (December 18, 2021) – The 2022 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Draft has concluded with Chicago making five selections.
In the second round, the Red Stars traded the 23rd overall pick to the Washington Spirit. In return the Red Stars received $25,000 in allocation money and the Spirit’s highest second round pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft.
The players selected by the Red Stars are as follows:
Ava Cook
Michigan State University
Battle Creek, Mich.
5’10”
F
Ava Cook is a forward from Michigan State University. The Michigan native spent three years playing at Grand Valley State prior to joining the Spartans. While at Grand Valley State Cook helped lead the team to three-straight GLIAC Championships and was a unanimous selection for first team All-American selection from D2CCA and United Soccer Coaches, among other accolades. At MSU Cook led the team in goals, assists, points, shots and game-winning goals. Cook was named Second Team All-Big Ten and United Soccer Coaches All-Region.
Samantha Fisher
Notre Dame
Simi Valley, CA
5’6”
M
Samantha Fisher is a midfielder from Notre Dame University where Fisher was named to the 2017 ACC All-Freshman Team, the 2019 All-ACC Third Team and 2020 All-ACC Second Team. The California native was named Captain of the Fighting Irish during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. In 2019 Fisher tied a school record with three goals in the second half in a 3-0 win against Miami. Fisher started in 84 of 91 games at Notre Dame, scored 29 goals and tallied 15 assists while at Notre Dame.
Sarah Griffith
Purdue University
Naperville, Ill.
5’4”
F
Sarah Griffith is a forward from Purdue University where Griffith holds multiple records including most goals scored in a season (16), consecutive games with a goal (8 in 7-game stretch), shots in a season (101) and shots on goal for a season (56). In 202, the Naperville native was named Big Ten Forward of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team, Big Ten All-Tournament Team, Academic All-Big Ten and was the team captain. Griffith helped lead the Boilermakers to their first NCAA tournament berth since 2009 last year, as well as the second-best record and second-most wins in program history.
Kayla McKeon
Arkansas
Garland, Texas
5’10”
M
Kayla McKeon is a midfielder from the University of Arkansas where she was named to multiple SEC All-Tournament Teams. In 2020, McKeon was named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and was a nominee for the SEC H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete award. As a freshman McKeon was selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team and Ranked No. 29 on TopDrawerSoccer.com’s ‘Women’s Freshmen Top 100’ list. The Texas native scored a total of 35 goals and tallied 24 assists in her time at Arkansas.
Jayda Hylton-Pelaia
Arizona State
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
D
Jayda Hylton-Pelaia is a defender from Arizona State University. Prior to joining ASU, Hylton-Pelaia played at East Carolina where she started 55 of 56 games and was recognized as the AAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year of the year. Hylton-Pelaia started 16 of ASU’s 19 games in 2021, accounting for one goal and two assists. Internationally, Hylton-Pelaia represented Jamaica at the 2019 Pan Am games in Lima, Peru.