Less than a year ago, Portland Thorns FC selected defender Emily Sonnett from the University of Virginia with the first pick of the 2016 NWSL College Draft.
Sonnett went on to appear in 15 matches for the Thorns, anchoring a defense that conceded a league-fewest 19 goals and earning accolades from both Thorns head coach Mark Parsons and U.S. Women's National Team coach Jill Ellis.
In this year's draft, however, the Thorns currently possess no first round picks.
But the NWSL College Draft can often bring surprises.
In the 2014 edition, the Thorns selected a little-known defender from Georgetown University with the 25th overall pick in the third round who has since gone on to appear in over 60 matches and became a mainstay in last year's league-best defense: Emily Menges.