PISCATAWAY, N.J. –  Senior forward Amirah Ali of Rutgers women's soccer was selected 22^nd overall by Portland Thorns FC in the 2021 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Draft, held virtually on Wednesday. Ali becomes the eighth Scarlet Knight in the last six years to hear her name called during the draft. Portland Thorns FC is also home to Ali's former teammate at Rutgers, Madison Pogarch.

With the 22nd pick in the 2021 #NWSLDraft, we have selected Amirah Ali! #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/thGYAKFvoj

— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) January 14, 2021

 
"We are very excited for Amirah's future in the NWSL and thrilled to have her back for another year," said Rutgers Head Coach Mike O'Neill. "We look forward to the opportunity to continually develop Amirah in all aspects of her game so she can be best prepared when she joins Portland."
 
The NWSL announced that its board of governors voted to expand the draft-eligible pool of collegiate athletes by waiving the requirement for senior collegiate athletes to register for the 2021 draft. With the change, all players who exhausted three years of intercollegiate soccer eligibility prior to the 2020-2021 academic year were automatically eligible to be selected into the league.
 
"I am at a complete loss for words and honored to be given this opportunity by Coach Mark Parsons and the entire Portland Thorns FC association," said Ali. "I am looking forward to learning from and playing alongside some of the best players in the NWSL. This has been a dream of mine for longer than I can remember, and I am absolutely ecstatic for my new journey to Portland."
 
"I would love to thank the entire coaching staff and all members working behind the scenes that have assisted me here at Rutgers. I have decided that I will finish out my final collegiate year as a student-athlete at Rutgers University for one last go at a Big Ten title and an NCAA run."
 

ALI QUICK KICKS

Ali, a two-time All-American and three-time All-Big Ten recipient, was named a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2019.  Her nine goals and four assists last season helped lift RU to a second-place finish in the Big Ten for a second consecutive campaign. Of her four game winners on the year, three came in overtime to solidify her as the program-leader with eight career golden goals.
 
The New Jersey native helped push RU to its eighth straight NCAA Tournament, 10^th in the last 12 seasons, and 14^th time overall in 2019. On the conference side, Ali guided the Scarlet Knights to their sixth straight Big Ten Tournament since joining the league in 2014, advancing to their third B1G semifinal.
 
The 2017 Big Ten Freshman of the Year has started all 62 games since her arrival "On the Banks" in 2017, tallying a total of 62 career points (25g, 12a). Her name is etched across the Rutgers career and single-season charts. She ranks eighth in career points (62), seventh in career goals (25), fifth in career game winning goals (10), and first in single season overtime goals (4).
 
In the classroom, the criminal justice major is an Academic All-Big Ten honoree. She is a two-time team captain entering the 2020-21 season.
 

SCARLET KNIGHTS IN THE DRAFT

It marks the sixth consecutive season that the program had at least one player drafted into the NWSL. Last year, Chantelle Swaby was picked 29^th overall by Sky Blue FC. The year prior, Kenie Wright was selected 29^th overall also by local New Jersey side Sky Blue FC. In 2018, Casey Murphy was selected 13th overall by the club as well.
 
Madison Tiernan was drafted 24th overall by Sky Blue FC and Erin Smith was picked 33rd overall by the Houston Dash in 2016. In the inaugural college draft in 2015, Brianne Reed was selected 18th overall by FC Kansas City and Erica Skroski at 23rd overall by Sky Blue FC to become the first Scarlet Knights to be drafted into the league.
 

NWSL KNIGHTS

A total of nine Scarlet Knights were active in the NWSL for the 2020 season, including Cassidy Benintente (Sky Blue FC), Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC), Kristen Edmonds (Orlando Pride), Casey Murphy (Seattle Reign), Madison Pogarch (Portland Thorns), Erica Skroski (Sky Blue FC), Chantelle Swaby (Sky Blue FC), Madison Tiernan (Sky Blue FC), and Kenie Wright (Sky Blue FC).

"I'm just at a loss for words."

Hear from Amirah Ali, who gives a special shoutout to a former Rutgers teammate. 🥰 #NWSLDraft #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/sNMal1V0k9

— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) January 14, 2021

With the 22th pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft...@ThornsFC selects: Amirah Ali from Rutgers University

#NWSLDraft pic.twitter.com/otQzOzfBky

— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) January 14, 2021

 
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