Orlando Pride strengthens roster through NWSL Expansion Draft
Orlando Pride has selected 10 players through the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Expansion Draft as the team continues to build a competitive roster for its 2016 inaugural campaign.
The team’s first pick, Meghan Klingenberg (pictured above), was traded to the Portland Thorns in order to fulfill its trade obligation in relation to the acquisition of forward Alex Morgan, announced last week.
With the second selection in the draft, Orlando Pride acquired U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) goalkeeper and FIFA World Cup Champion Ashlyn Harris (pictured above) from the Washington Spirit.
“We’re really pleased with our selections in today’s draft,” said Head Coach Tom Sermanni (pictured above). “After carefully analyzing the list of unprotected players, we feel very confident that we’ve chosen a core group of players that will help make this team very competitive in the Club’s inaugural season.”
Below is the complete list of players selected by Orlando Pride in the NWSL Expansion Draft:
| Pick | Name – Position | Hometown | D.O.B. | Height | Previous Club |
| 1 | Meghan Klingenberg – D | Gibsonia, Pa. | 10/02/1988 | 5’2” | Seattle Reign |
| 2 | Ashlyn Harris – GK | Satellite Beach, Fla. | 10/19/1985 | 5’9” | Washington Spirit |
| 3 | Taryn Hemmings – D | Greeley, Colo. | 04/26/1986 | 5’8” | Chicago Red Stars |
| 4 | Jasmyne Spencer – F | Bayshore, NY | 08/27/1990 | 5’1” | Western NY Flash |
| 5 | Jamia Fields – F | Alta Loma, Calif. | 09/24/1993 | 5’5” | Western NY Flash |
| 6 | Camille Levin – D | Newport Coast, Calif. | 04/24/1990 | 5’3” | Sky Blue FC |
| 7 | Lianne Sanderson – F | Lewisham, England | 02/03/1988 | 5’8” | Portland Thorns |
| 8 | Toni Pressley – D | Melbourne, Fla. | 02/19/1990 | 5’11” | Houston Dash |
| 9 | Maddy Evans – M | Philadelphia, Pa. | 04/21/1991 | 5’6” | Boston Breakers |
| 10 | Aubrey Bledsoe – GK | Cincinnati, OH | 11/20/1991 | 5’9” | Sky Blue FC |
