BALTIMORE, Md.—History was made as two American Athletic Conference women’s soccer players, including USF forward Evelyne Viens and UCF defender Konya Plummer, were selected in the 2020 NWSL College Draft Thursday (Jan. 16) at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore.
Viens was selected by Sky Blue FC with the fifth pick of the first round, becoming the first opening-round pick by a player from The American. Viens is also the first USF player to be selected in the NWSL Collegiate Draft.
With 73 goals, 169 points and 360 shots in her career, Viens set new USF and American Athletic Conference records in all three categories. The Canadian also sent new conference career records with 2.19 points per game, 0.95 goals per game and 4.68 shots per game. Viens was a United Soccer Coaches Second-Team All-American and First-Team Scholar All-American.
Viens tallied 25 goals in her senior season, setting a new program and conference single-season high. In the program record book, she now holds the first, second and third-place spot on the single-season goals list. Her 53 points on the season also sets a new program record. She also holds the program single-season records for shots (113) and game-winning goals (10). On the conference level, she broke the season records for points per game (2.65) and goals per game (1.25).
Plummer was picked 10th overall with the first pick of the second round by the Orlando Pride. Plummer, who captained Jamaica at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, becomes the first Jamaican-born player to be drafted in the NWSL.
Starting 16 out of 17 games, Plummer led the UCF back line throughout the 2019 campaign. The Knights defensive unit allowed just seven goals in the 16 games that Plummer was in the starting lineup, and only allowed multiple goals in a single match. A two-time American Defensive Player of the Week, Plummer was also a First Team All-Conference Honoree and a United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First Team member.
American Athletic Conference in the NWSL Draft
| Year |
Player |
School |
Pick |
| 2014 |
Marissa Diggs |
UCF |
11 |
| 2015 |
Tatiana Coleman |
UCF |
18 |
| 2015 |
Carleigh Williams |
UCF |
31 |
| 2017 |
Rachel Hill |
UConn |
14 |
| 2017 |
Stephanie Ribeiro |
UConn |
17 |
| 2020 |
Evelyne Viens |
USF |
5 |
| 2020 |
Konya Plummer |
UCF |
10 |