USC's Tara McKeown, Kaylie Collins Selected in NWSL Draft
LOS ANGELES – The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) held its annual college draft on Wednesday and USC had a pair of players selected in Tara McKeown and Kaylie Collins.
McKeown, an All-American forward, was taken in the first round as the eight overall selection by the Washington Spirit, and Collins, the Trojans' All-American keeper, was selected 34th overall in the fourth round by the Orlando Pride. Both players will still be eligible to play this spring for USC.
The @WashSpirit have selected @MckeownTara with the 8th pick in the @NWSL draft!#Congrats T!#FightOn pic.twitter.com/HcON4ZcNaQ
— USC Women's Soccer (@USC_WSoccer) January 14, 2021
McKeown has played all over the pitch for the Trojans during her collegiate career, but really broke through as a star this past season when she moved up top and earned Pac-12 Forward of the Year and All-American first team recognition. As a junior, McKeown posted 15 goals and eight assists in leading USC to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. In addition to be a consensus All-American, McKeown was a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, given each year to the top collegiate soccer player in the country.
The Trojan striker currently sits tied for sixth on the USC career goals list with 25 and is seventh on the career assists list with 20 helpers. In addition to her laundry list of 2019 accolades, McKeown earned All-Pac-12 recognition as a sophomore in 2018 and was named to the conference's All-Freshman Team in 2017.
The @ORLPride have selected @kayliecollins_ with the 34th overall pick in the @NWSL Draft!
Congrats Kaylz!#FightOn pic.twitter.com/VuvimaKO9w
— USC Women's Soccer (@USC_WSoccer) January 14, 2021
Collins redsirted her first year on campus (2016), but since then has been a mainstay in goal each of the last three campaigns leading USC to the postseason each year and earning Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year and All-American second team honors in 2018. In 2019, despite missing time early in the year with an injury, Collins came back to lead USC to an NCAA quarterfinals appearance.
For her career, Collins ranks fourth with 23 solo-shutouts and is ninth with 162 career saves. Her 10 shutouts in 2018 were the fourth best total in program history and her 2018 goals against average (0.506) was ninth in the NCAA that year. Collins was named to the Pac-12's All-Freshman Team in 2017 and also earned All-Region first team honors in 2018.