Former North Texas Soccer players Cyera Hintzen and Chelsee Washington were selected in 2020 NWSL College draft. The North Texas alums were selected back-to-back as Washington is headed to the Orlando Pride with the 30th pick, while Hintzen will now compete for Utah Royals FC after being selected with the 31st pick.
The 2020 NWSL College Draft took place January 16, 2020 in Baltimore. The NWSL preseason will begin March 9 with the regular season beginning on the weekend of April 18.
Washington is a native of Carrollton, Texas and became the first player from Bowling Green University to be selected in the NWSL draft. The senior midfielder was named the United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-Midwest Region First Team and the USC Scholar All-American Third Team. During her senior year, Washington was named the Mid-American Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year. Washington led her team with 25 points and was named to the All-MAC First Team for the second straight season.
Washington competed with the North Texas Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 2009-11 and attended the 2011 Southern Region ODP Camp. Washington competed with Dallas Texans and Solar Soccer Club. In 2014, Washington won the 2014 North Texas State Cup and reached the finals of the 2014 US Youth Soccer Southern Regional Championships with Solar 98 Elite.
After recovering from an injury early in the season, Hintzen would record 14 points in 17 starts for the University of Texas. The senior forward from Garland, Texas finished her career ranking fourth all-time in goals (27) and points (72). Hintzen will join fellow Longhorn and North Texas alum Abby Smith at Utah Royals FC.
Hintzen was a North Texas ODP competitor from 2009-13 and represented North Texas at the 2013 US Youth Soccer ODP Championships. Hintzen played club soccer for Sting and FC Dallas and won the 2010 North Texas Soccer State Cup with the latter.