Many years from now, the 2018 NWSL season is going to be known as the lost year for rookies. The six-year-old league contains the best talent from the United States, Canada, and Australia along with numerous players from Brazil, Japan and other countries around the world. On the whole, it is easily the most talent-heavy women’s soccer league in the world.
That’s why, when forward Frannie Crouse was drafted by the North Carolina Courage in the first round of the 2018 NWSL College Draft, she knew it was going to be hard to make the roster, but she was excited about the opportunity to play somewhere like North Carolina.