University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Mace Selected by Sky Blue FC as No. 2 Overall Pick
January 10, 2019 | Women's Soccer
Defender/forward Hailie Mace was selected by Sky Blue FC as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NWSL Draft, becoming the fifth Bruin to be among the Top 5 overall picks in NWSL history. Mace is UCLA's highest draft selection since Sarah Killion went No. 2 in 2014, also to Sky Blue FC.
Mace, a four-year starter from Ventura, Calif., finished her career at UCLA as a 2017 first-team All-American, a two-time All-Region player, and a three-time All-Pac-12 honoree. After starting her career as a defender, she moved to forward in 2017 and scored a team-high 15 goals and 33 points, becoming a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy. Mace began playing with the U.S. Women's National Team in 2018, earning her first cap in April and then being selected to the U.S. squad for the CONCACAF Women's Championships in October.
While on U.S. National Team duty, Mace missed nearly half of her senior season but earned her first career U.S. Women's National Team start against Panama on Oct. 7. Upon her return to UCLA for the team's final eight games of the season, Mace moved to left back and contributed seven goals while helping the Bruins earn four shutouts. Over the course of the 2018 season, Mace totaled nine goals with six assists for 24 points in just 13 games played. In her career, she recorded 24 goals, 12 assists and 60 points.
Mace is the 12th Bruin all-time to be drafted by a NWSL team. She will join 14 other players in the league in 2019.
UCLA's NWSL Players
Lauren Barnes – Seattle Reign FC
Abby Dahlkemper – North Carolina Courage
Caprice Dydasco – Washington Spirit
Zoey Goralski - Chicago Red Stars
Darian Jenkins – Seattle Reign FC
Sarah Killion – Sky Blue FC
Sydney Leroux – Orlando Pride
Hailie Mace - Sky Blue FC
Sam Mewis – North Carolina Courage
Megan Oyster – Seattle Reign FC
Mal Pugh - Washington Spirit
Katelyn Rowland – North Carolina Courage
Taylor Smith – Washington Spirit
Rosie White – Chicago Red Stars
McCall Zerboni – North Carolina Courage
