NWSL Draft 2019: Washington Spirit select Stanford left back Tegan McGrady

With their third pick of the first round, the 7th pick overall, the Washington Spirit selected defender/forward Tegan McGrady from Stanford University. McGrady is a long-time member of the United States women’s national team youth setup, and has made one appearance with the senior national team. She is joined on the Spirit by former Stanford teammates Andi Sullivan and Jordan DiBiasi.

The 5’6” left backwas a 2018 3rd team All-American, as well as a member of the Top Drawer Soccer 3rd-team Best XI and the All-Pac 12 first team. Her one cap for the senior USWNT came in April 2018 against Mexico, where she replaced her now-teammate Mallory Pugh in the 58th minute.

She looks to bolster a back line that was the team’s main problem last season, and the fact that Taylor Smith is injured and Rebecca Quinn is rumored to be possibly moving to France gives McGrady a chance to slide right in. She described her game on the broadcast by saying “Everyone knows my left foot is special,” and head coach Richie Burke obviously thought that having her send crosses into Ashley Hatch, Mallory Pugh, and Rose Lavelle all season long is something that he needed for this team.

Welcome Tegan!