ANAHEIM, Calif. – Penn State women’s soccer made history at the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League Draft presented by Ally, shattering its previous program record for most student-athletes selected in a single draft by landing all five of its registrants on NWSL Draft boards Friday night from the Anaheim Convention Center. The previous Nittany Lion program record of three selections was set in the 2016 draft following PSU’s national championship run the fall prior.
Kate Wiesner was the first Nittany Lion chosen, going seventh overall to the Washington Spirit. Payton Linnehan came off the board second for Penn State with the 11th overall pick, being selected by Portland Thorns FC and becoming the second Nittany Lion first rounder of the night. Ellie Wheeler was selected with the fourth pick in the second round by the Kansas City Current, making her PSU’s third player selected on the evening. With the eighth pick in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft, the Orlando Pride made history by selecting Cori Dyke, marking the Penn State program record for players selected in a single draft. Katherine Asman rounded out the five Nittany Lions selected, picked up with the 11th pick of the third round by Portland Thorns FC.
Penn State’s five draftees tied for second in the 2024 draft alongside BYU, with both programs sitting behind North Carolina’s six choices. The Nittany Lions were one of just 11 collegiate teams to have more than one player selected, joining Arkansas, BYU, Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Texas Tech and UCLA. The Blue & White led the Big Ten Conference in total selections and was the only program to notch more than one choice, with Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin placing players in the league out of the B1G.
“Draft night is such a special time for everyone in our program, especially those who reaped the benefits of all their hard work in Anaheim tonight,” Head Coach Erica Dambach said. “I am incredibly proud of Kat, Cori, Payton, Ellie and Kate, and I fully believe that each of them will bring something special to the NWSL. When these young women first picked up a soccer ball when they were little and hit the field for the first time, they all dreamed of this night. It was incredibly special for me personally, as well as our entire staff, to be with them as their dreams came true.”
PENN STATE’S 2024 NWSL DRAFTEES
R1:P7 | Kate Wiesner | Washington Spirit | D | 5-7 | Monrovia, Calif.
R1:P11 | Payton Linnehan | Portland Thorns FC | F | 5-6 | Douglas, Mass.
R2:P4 | Ellie Wheeler | Kansas City Current | D | 5-6 | Fairfax Station, Va.
R2:P8 | Cori Dyke | Orlando Pride | M | 5-6 | Littleton, Colo.
R3:P11 | Katherine Asman | Portland Thorns FC | GK | 5-10 | Roswell, Ga.
R1:P7 | KATE WIESNER | WASHINGTON SPIRIT | D | 5-7 | MONROVIA, CALIF.
A valuable team leader and crucial presence on the Penn State back line over the past five seasons, the Monrovia, California, native Wiesner established herself as the premier left back prospect in the 2024 NWSL draft. Her final season in 2023 proved to be her most highly decorated, landing Third Team All-Big Ten recognition and First Team All-North Region accolades from the United Soccer Coaches. Her efforts as an on-ball defender and facilitator during the Big Ten Tournament landed her a placement on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team in her fifth year. She also mustered B1G Co-Defensive Player of the Week and NCAA Digital National Player of the Week honors on Sept. 19 after scoring a banger against Maryland. In 2022, she paired up with teammate and current Chicago Red Stars midfielder Penelope Hocking to tie for the Big Ten lead in total assists with 11 dishes on the year.
In four seasons of on-field competition, Wiesner racked up an astonishing 30 points split between six goals scored and 18 total assists from 2019 to 2023. Wiesner appeared in 71 matches over the course of her collegiate career and made 59 starts, amassing 4,668 minutes of effort on the pitch. In the classroom, Wiesner garnered Second Team College Sports Communicators Academic All-America laurels and Second Team United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America accolades in 2023. She picked up CSC Academic All-District Distinction in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023 and appeared on the Academic All-Big Ten Team in all four of her eligible seasons.
Wiesner was the seventh player chosen in the first round of the 2024 NWSL Draft, selected by the Washington Spirit. Wiesner became Penn State’s sixth first round NWSL Draft selection in program history. After finishing eighth in the 2023 NWSL regular season with a 7-9-6 overall record, the Washington Spirit return to action in 2024 with a new head coach installed and a re-tooled roster thanks to an eventful set of offseason transactions. Former FC Barcelona women’s manager and finalist for FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year Jonatan Giraldez Costas accepted the head coaching position in the nation’s capital on January 9. On the field, the Spirit are led by returning goal-scoring leader Ashley Hatch, who found the back of the net on nine occasions last season. Former Nittany Lion and Ireland Women’s National Team sensation Marissa Sheva is also set to make her return to D.C. this year.
R1:P11 | PAYTON LINNEHAN | PORTLAND THORNS FC | F | 5-6 | DOUGLAS, MASS.
A remarkable attacking player in every sense of the term, Linnehan brings a wealth of experience, speed and goal-scoring ability to the next level. The Douglas, Massachusetts, native owns some of the most iconic moments in Penn State women’s soccer history over the past five years, including the match-winning goal that clinched the 2019 B1G Tournament championship in overtime against Michigan, as well as the overtime match-winner against Saint Louis in 2023 that propelled Penn State to its first Elite Eight appearance in five years. Linnehan leaves Penn State with an astonishing 92 points to her name, split between 34 goals and 24 assists in 90 matches played.
Linnehan picked up a wide variety of accolades during her time in the Blue & White, including a Second Team All-Big Ten appearance in the 2021 spring campaign. During the 2023 season, her last at PSU, she earned a pair of placements on the TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week thanks to her astonishing point total in PSU’s first three matches of the postseason. Her powerful presence on the pitch was recognized early in her career, as the then-freshman Linnehan picked up B1G All-Freshman Team, B1G All-Tournament Team and B1G Tournament Offensive MVP accolades in 2019. In the classroom, she was named a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District pick and earned Academic All-B1G honors in every eligible season.
Linnehan was the 11th player chosen in the first round of the 2024 NWSL Draft, selected by Portland Thorns FC. Linnehan became Penn State’s seventh first round NWSL Draft selection in program history and second first-rounder of the night. Arguably the most iconic franchise in the NWSL, Portland Thorns FC returns to action in 2024 after rattling off a 10-5-7 finish in the regular season and a semifinal exit against the eventual champion NJ/NY Gotham FC. Portland manager Mike Norris brought an exciting brand of soccer to the Rose City, finishing as the highest-scoring team in NWSL due in large part to the league’s Golden Boot recipient, Sophia Smith. The USWNT star booked a pair of hat tricks last year and tallied 11 total goals scored. Nittany Lion fans will recognize a pair of Penn State superstars on the Thorns roster, highlighted by 2015 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Raquel Rodriguez and former First Team All-Big Ten selection Sam Coffey.
R2:P4 | ELLIE WHEELER | KANSAS CITY CURRENT | D | 5-6 | FAIRFAX STATION, VA.
One of the most dominant on-ball defenders and elusive dribblers in women’s college soccer, Wheeler represents an ideal combination of speed and skill from the right back position. The Fairfax Station, Virginia, native is fresh off a 2023 senior season which saw her participate in all 11 of Penn State’s clean sheets while playing an instrumental role in orchestrating a defense which ranked first in the Big Ten Conference and 24th nationally in goals-against average with a 0.640 mark. While primarily being tasked with defending elite Big Ten goal-scorers, Wheeler found herself in the middle of the action offensively on multiple occasions in her collegiate career, finishing with 12 points on three goals and six assists.
A breath of fresh air on the back line for the Nittany Lions, Wheeler burst onto the scene in the COVID-impacted spring 2021 season and made an immediate impact for the Blue & White, appearing and starting in all 16 Penn State matches that season. In total, Wheeler appeared in 77 total matches during her stint in University Park and made 76 starts, totaling an astonishing 6,430 minutes on the pitch in that span. In recognition of her role in maintaining the shutout against North Carolina to open the 2023 season, Wheeler was awarded as a TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week designee on Aug. 21. For her work in the classroom, Wheeler picked up a trio of Academic All-Big Ten laurels, one for each season in which she was eligible.
Ellie Wheeler was selected with the fourth pick in the second round of the NWSL Draft by the Kansas City Current. Wheeler became Penn State’s fifth second-round draft choice and third player selected on the evening. The Kansas City Current prepare for their first season in the newly constructed CPKC Stadium, the first privately financed stadium in the United States purpose-built exclusively for a professional women’s soccer team. To christen the new facility, Kansas City welcomes first-year head coach and former U.S. Women’s National Team skipper Vlatko Andonovski. On the field, the Current are led by 2023 NWSL Best XI forward Debinha, who ranked tied for third in the league last season with nine goals scored. Penn State alumnae Elizabeth Ball and Mallory Weber both grace the KC Current roster and will team up with Wheeler next season.
R2:P8 | CORI DYKE | ORLANDO PRIDE | M | 5-6 | LITTLETON, COLO.
The longest-tenured women’s soccer player in Penn State history, Dyke shattered multiple school records and finished her stellar collegiate career as the Penn State career record holder for matches played (108), matches started (108) and minutes played (9,054:22). Her most recent season in 2023 was by far her most effective, becoming Penn State’s seventh Big Ten Defender of the Year while simultaneously earning United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-America accolades. She finished her fifth year at PSU at the eighth-ranked player in the nation according to TopDrawerSoccer, additionally picking up First Team All-B1G and United Soccer Coaches First Team All-North Region honors in the postseason.
As a key leader on the 2022 B1G Tournament championship team, Dyke was recognized on the B1G All-Tournament Team alongside multiple teammates. Her star power on the pitch was recognized in her first year on campus, earning placements on the B1G All-Freshman Team and TopDrawerSoccer Freshman Best XI First Team in 2019. Dyke was honored as a Second Team CSC Academic All-American and First Team United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American in 2023 in recognition of her stellar academic efforts. She was named to the CSC Academic All-District team in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023 and appeared as both a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten member every season in which she was elibigle.
Cori Dyke was selected with the eighth pick in the second round of the 2024 NWSL Draft by the Orlando Pride. Dyke became Penn State’s sixth second-round draft choice and the Nittany Lion program-record fourth player selected in a single draft. Fresh off a 10-1-11 campaign that saw them finish just outside the 2023 playoff bracket due to tiebreaking procedures, the Orlando Pride look to turn the page in 2024 under the leadership of second-year head coach Seb Hines. On the pitch, Orlando is led by one of the league’s rising stars in second-year performer Messiah Bright, who finished tied for eighth in the league with six goals last year, as well as team captain Marta. Dyke will join former teammate and Nittany Lion star Kerry Abello in sunny Central Florida this season.
R3:P11 | KATHERINE ASMAN | PORTLAND THORNS FC | GK | 5-10 | ROSWELL, GA.
The most effective goalkeeper in the Big Ten Conference over the past few seasons, Asman established herself as one of the nation’s premier shot-stoppers and defensive orchestrators since arriving on Penn State’s campus in the fall of 2018. A veteran presence for the Nittany Lion back line, Asman is fresh off a 2023 campaign that saw the Roswell, Georgia, native pick up Second Team All-Big Ten accolades in addition to United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-North Region honors. As a crucial leader in Penn State’s 2022 B1G Tournament Championship run, she appeared on the Big Ten All-Tournament team and was awarded as the Big Ten Tournament Defensive MVP.
During her time in Happy Valley, Asman picked up a whopping seven B1G Goalkeeper or Co-Goalkeeper of the week honors, thanks in large part to a record-setting career on the pitch. In the classroom, Asman garnered College Sports Communicators Third Team Academic All-America honors in 2023 as well as Academic All-District laurels in each of the past two seasons. Asman was a regular on the Academic All-Big Ten Team and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar lists, booking those honors on multiple occasions over the past few years. Asman finished with the third-most saves in Nittany Lion history with 323, owns the third-most career shutouts in PSU history with 27, played the third-most minutes in goal by any Nittany Lion in history (7,570) and finished with the fourth-most victories in the Penn State record book with 55.
Asman was the 11th player chosen in the third round of the 2024 NWSL Draft, selected by Portland Thorns FC. Asman became Penn State’s sixth third round NWSL Draft selection in program history and fifth player taken from PSU on the night. She was the second player taken from PSU by Portland Thorns FC in the 2024 NWSL Draft, joining teammate and first-round forward Payton Linnehan in the Rose City. Asman teams up with a pair of Nittany Lion legends in the aforementioned Rodriguez and Coffey, and will look to bolster a talented goalkeeping room comprised of Bella Bixby, Shelby Hogan and Lauren Kozal.
PENN STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER NWSL DRAFT HISTORY
The Penn State women’s soccer program has placed 22 women in the NWSL Draft since its inception prior to the 2013 season. The full list of Penn State’s NWSL Draft placement history is listed below:
2013 | R1:P7 | Christine Nairn | Seattle Reign FC
2013 | R4:P5 | Maddy Evans | Boston Breakers
2014 | R1:P6 | Maya Hayes | Sky Blue FC
2015 | R4:P3 | Whitney Church | Washington Spirit
2016 | R1:P2 | Raquel Rodriguez | Sky Blue FC
2016 | R2:P4 | Mallory Weber | Western New York Flash
2016 | R3:P6 | Britt Eckerstrom | Western New York Flash
2017 | R4:P2 | Nickolette Driesse | Orlando Pride
2018 | R1:P10 | Frannie Crouse | North Carolina Courage
2018 | R3:P1 | Brittany Basinger | Washington Spirit
2019 | R3:P6 | Emily Ogle | Portland Thorns FC
2019 | R3:P9 | Maddie Nolf | Utah Royals FC
2020 | R2:P2 | Kaleigh Riehl | Sky Blue FC
2021 | R2:P2 | Sam Coffey | Portland Thorns FC
2021 | R3:P4 | Kerry Abello | Orlando Pride
2023 | R1:P7 | Penelope Hocking | Chicago Red Stars
2023 | R2:P11 | Ally Schlegel | Chicago Red Stars
2024 | R1:P7 | Kate Wiesner | Washington Spirit
2024 | R1:P11 | Payton Linnehan | Portland Thorns FC
2024 | R2:P4 | Ellie Wheeler | Kansas City Current
2024 | R2:P8 | Cori Dyke | Orlando Pride
2024 | R3:P11 | Katherine Asman | Portland Thorns FC
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State women’s soccer. Fans can keep up to date with the Nittany Lion women’s soccer team on X and Instagram @PennStateWSOC, in addition to the team’s Facebook page at /PSUWomensSoccer.
The 30th Season of Penn State women's soccer is presented by the Smeal College of Business.