Another Idaho native selected in NWSL Draft. She’s part of a growing trend
Idaho women have quickly become a force in the National Women’s Soccer League. Another one, maybe even two, are about to join them.
The Utah Royals selected Eagle native Olivia Smith-Griffitts with the 20th overall pick of the NWSL Draft last week. The defender is the fifth Idaho woman drafted into North America’s top women’s soccer league.
“It’s a big dream that lots of people have,” Smith-Griffitts said. “Being able to achieve that is awesome.
“I’m honestly just excited to increase my level of play even higher. Going from high school to college, I feel like I grew so much as a player and a person. I can only imagine how much more I can develop moving to this next stage and playing with the best of the best.”
The right back started 79 games in four seasons at BYU, leading the Cougars to the national championship game in 2021 and the national semifinals last fall. She wasn’t always known as a defender, though. She led the 5A Southern Idaho Conference in scoring (18 goals, 12 assists) and was a first-team all-state forward as a senior at Eagle High in 2018-19.
Smith-Griffitts recently graduated from BYU and had a year of eligibility remaining. But she opted to turn pro and landed with an expansion franchise not far from her college campus.
Training camp starts Monday.
“Obviously, the draft is very up in the air and unknown as far as what is going to happen,” the Boise Timbers-Thorn alum said. “But my top two picks were Utah or San Diego, so I was very excited to be picked by Utah.”
Her second-round selection continues a banner year for Idaho women at the highest levels of women’s soccer. Boise native Sofia Huerta represented the U.S. at last summer’s World Cup, making her the first Idaho man or woman to play for the U.S. in a World Cup. And Maria Sanchez, a Nampa native, American Falls High grad and Mexican national team captain, signed the richest contract in NWSL history in December worth a reported $1.5 million.
U.S. national team regular Mallory Swanson has since surpassed Sanchez’s record deal, signing a four-year, $2 million contract with Chicago on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.
Other Idaho women in the NWSL include Boise native Emily Madril and Post Falls grad Kelcie Hedge. Madril was the third overall pick in last year’s draft by the Orlando Pride and fell just 3 minutes short of leading the league in minutes played as a rookie. Hedge made four appearances with the Houston Dash in 2022 and ‘23 before the club released her last summer.
Idaho could place a sixth woman into the NWSL this season. The Chicago Red Stars invited Lake City High graduate Bridget Rieken, an undrafted free agent, to their preseason training camp.
“It’s really exciting,” Smith-Griffitts said. “It shows all the younger girls in Idaho that it’s definitely possible.”
