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Kornieck Drafted Third Overall

January 16, 2020 | Soccer

Becomes highest Colorado player selected in NWSL Draft

BALTIMORE — Colorado soccer's Taylor Kornieck did not have to wait long to hear her name called at 2020 NWSL Draft on Thursday. The CU standout was selected third overall by the Orlando Pride, becoming the highest drafted player in Colorado soccer history. 

"It was such a surreal moment for me," Kornieck tried to explain. "Honestly, when I heard my name I just kind of blacked out. I walked up to the podium and had a bunch of interviews to do after. It has just been an incredible feeling. I'm so excited to get started."

Kornieck became the fifth Buffalo player to be drafted in the NWSL and the fourth in the past four seasons. She is the highest Colorado draft pick, in any sport, since Chauncey Billups was drafted No. 3 overall by the Boston Celtics in 1997. Kornieck joins former teammate Erin Greening who just wrapped her rookie season with the Pride. 

The 6-1 midfielder, according to the NWSL's draft broadcast, will be the tallest field player in NWSL history. 

"We're very excited for Taylor to have the opportunity to start her professional career with the Orlando Pride," head coach Danny Sanchez exclaimed. "Being picked third overall is a testament to all that she did while at Colorado. She had some great teammates and a great support staff that helped push her to this level. This is the first step in her journey and we're looking forward to seeing what her future holds. The sky's the limit as far as what she can accomplish."

Last summer Kornieck and the Buffs traveled to France as part of its NCAA Foreign Tour. The trip coincided with the Women's World Cup. Colorado sat in the stands and witnessed Kornieck's new teammates, Alex Morgan and Marta, play on the world's biggest stage.

"That's incredible," Kornieck added. "Playing with the best of the best has been a dream of mine since I can remember. Being able to assist them up top is just a dream come true."

Kornieck, a Henderson, Nev., native, started all 82 games in her career and became the first player in CU history to surpass 100 career points. She wrapped up her Colorado career as the team's all-time leader in points (102) and tied the school record for career assists with 24.

She earned her second consecutive All-American honor (third team), totaling career-highs in points (30) and goals (12) in 2019. She ranked seventh in the NCAA with 5.0 shots per game and was tied for the nation's lead with a perfect 4-for-4 showing from the penalty spot. Kornieck helped the Buffs back to the NCAA Tournament, her third trip in four years, with four game-winning goals and five multi-point matches. She concluded the season with 1.36 points per game, ranking fourth in CU history. 

Kornieck's CU career started on a blistering trajectory and never leveled out. She scored 11 goals and had 26 points during her first season in Boulder. She was the Pac-12's Freshman of the Year to go along with First-Team All-Conference and All-Region honors. Kornieck was named to the Preseason MAC Herman Trophy Watch List in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons. She totaled a career-high 10 assists and finished with 28 points as a junior., despite missing four games to injury. Her efforts earned her Second-Team All-American honors, becoming CU's first All-American since 2006. 

Kornieck joins Greening, Becca Rasmussen, Amy Barczuk and Danica Evans as former Buffs to be drafted in the NWSL, which began its draft in 2013. Greening was the selected 25h overall by Orlando in last year's draft. Barczuk was selected 14th overall by the Western New York Flash in 2013. Evans was the 22nd overall selection in the 2017 draft by the Orlando Pride. Rasmussen was the 20th selection by the North Carolina Courage in 2018. 

That group joins five other former CU standouts that have been in the NWSL. Michelle (Wenino) Lomnicki played the first three seasons of the league's existence with the Chicago Red Stars to wrap up a seven-year professional career. Nikki Marshall played two seasons with Portland Thorns FC in 2013 and 2014, finishing a five-year professional playing career before an injury led her to retire at the end of the 2014 season. Annie Brunner, Kate Scheele and Kate Russell have all also been on NWSL rosters.

The Pac-12 Conference had the first four players off the board on Thursday. Stanford's Sophia Smith went No. 1 overall to Portland followed by Morgan Weaver (Portland), Kornieck (Orlando) and Ashley Sanchez (Washington DC). The Pac-12 had 11 players selected overall.

Top CU Draft Picks

No. Overall Player Year Drafted League
2 John Stearns  1973 MLB
2 Bo Matthews 1974 NFL
Scott Wedman 1974     ABA
2 Isabelle Fijalkowski 1997     WNBA*
3 Chauncey Billups 1997 NBA
3 Taylor Kornieck 2020 NWSL
4 Byron White 1938 NFL
4 Michael Westbrook 1995 NFL

*Was the 1997 WNBA Elite Draft held prior to the inaugural season and for players who had competed professionally in other leagues