PROVO, Utah — Five BYU women’s soccer players were selected in the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League draft Friday evening.
This is the highest number of BYU soccer players to be drafted in a single season. The last Cougars drafted into the NWSL were Mikayla Colohan and Cameron Tucker following the 2021 College Cup runner-up season. BYU has had eight soccer players drafted, dating back to 2013, with four currently playing in the league.
There are 56 picks in the 2024 NWSL draft with 14 selections in each of four rounds. This is the first NWSL broadcast on ION since the announcement in November of a landmark distribution agreement involving Scripps Sports/ION, CBS Sports, ESPN and Prime Video.
Brecken Mozingo
5'6" | Midfielder | Sandy, Utah | Utah Royals FC
Brecken Mozingo was selected by the Utah Royals with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NWSL draft on Friday. Mozingo leaves BYU with several conference, regional and national accolades after transferring from UCLA her sophomore season. Mozingo was a member of BYU’s only two College Cup teams in 2021 and 2023.
Mozingo was named one of the 2024 Honda Sport Award finalists, as well as a MAC Hermann Trophy finalist following her record-breaking season. She was named to the All-Midwest Region Team, the Big 12 All-Tournament Team and earned All-Big 12 First Team honors her senior season. Leading the Cougars in goals (14), assists (15), points (43) and shots (89) this season, Mozingo was also selected for the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team and received NCAA Division I First Team All-American honors. Mozingo’s 36 career goals is ranked No. 10 in the BYU record book, while her 37 career assists puts her at No. 4 overall. With 294 career shots, she finds herself ranked No. 5 in BYU’s record book for total career shots. Top Drawer Soccer listed Mozingo as one of the Top 10 2024 Draft prospects earlier this week.
Olivia Smith-Griffitts
5'6" | Defender | Eagle, Idaho | Utah Royals FC
Olivia Smith-Griffitts was selected by the Utah Royals with the 20th overall pick in the 2024 NWSL draft on Friday. Starting in 79 games for the Cougars over her career, Smith-Griffitts was an integral part of BYU’s defense against some of the best offenses in the nation.
With a brace against rival Utah and eight assists in her final season at BYU, Smith-Griffitts earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors. With 1,575 minutes on the pitch in 2023, the Eagle, Idaho native helped secure nine shutout victories and a trip to the College Cup for the second time in three years. Over her time at BYU, Smith-Griffitts earned All-WCC Freshman Team honors, All-WCC Second Team honors and CSC Academic All-District honors. Top Drawer Soccer listed her as one of nine NWSL Draft sleeper picks earlier this week.
Olivia Wade-Katoa
5'8" | Midfielder | Kaysville, Utah | Portland Thorns FC
Olivia Wade-Katoa was selected by the Portland Thorns with the 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NWSL draft on Friday. After serving a Spanish-speaking mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Houston, Texas, Wade-Katoa helped lead the Cougars to two College Cups in three seasons.
With 12 goals and eight assists on the season, the senior captain was a major part of BYU’s offensive success. With two assists and three goals during the Big 12 Tournament, Wade-Katoa was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team and the Big 12 All-Tournament Team. During her five years as a member of the BYU women’s soccer team, Wade-Katoa earned All-WCC Freshman Team honors, All-WCC Second Team honors and NCAA Third Team All-Region honors. Following her senior season, she was honored as a NCAA Division I Third Team All-American.
Jamie Shepherd
5'7" | Midfielder | American Fork, Utah | Bay FC
Jamie Shepherd was selected by Bay FC with the 30th overall pick in the 2024 NWSL draft on Friday. Holding BYU’s new record for most games played by a women’s soccer player at 108, Shepherd has played more career minutes than anyone else on the BYU roster.
Starting every game she has played in since her freshman season in 2019, Shepherd’s control at the center of the field allowed the Cougars to maintain majority possession against their toughest opponents, including UNC and UCLA. The 2022 All-American came into her senior season with high national and conference praise, being named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team and the 2023 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. With 2,117 minutes on the pitch her senior season, Shepherd had one goal, five assists and 17 shots from the midfield position, earning her All-Midwest Region Team honors.
Laveni Vaka
5'6" | Defender | Sandy, Utah | Bay FC
Laveni Vaka was selected by Bay FC with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NWSL draft on Friday. As BYU’s starting center back, Vaka has played the most minutes of any player over the last two seasons, playing 2,272 minutes on the pitch in 2023.
With 97 games and 7,068 minutes under her belt, Vaka’s strength and timing on tackles proved to be a strong defensive force for the Cougars. Coming into the 2023 season, Vaka was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, later earning Semifinalist honors. She was also named to the All-Midwest Region Team and the All-Big 12 First Team after helping the Cougars secure nine shutout victories her senior season. In 2022, Vaka earned All-WCC First Team honors, WCC Defender of the Year honors and NCAA First Team All-Region honors. In 2022, Vaka and her twin sister, Daviana, played for the Tonga Women's National Team and competed in the OFC Women's Nations Cup.