Former UCLA defender Quincy McMahon was excited to launch her professional soccer career with choices about where she’d land.

McMahon was among the first college players to navigate a transition to the NWSL this coming season in the absence of a college draft as she signed with the San Diego Wave.

The NWSL became the first major pro sports league in the United States to eliminate the draft last year as part of its collective-bargaining agreement with players. While many college players in years past prepared at this time of year for a January draft, now they’re on the open market.

McMahon got interest from several NWSL teams, many of which she was familiar with because of offseason training sessions. Upon graduation, she hired an agent and began interviews.

she said.

The first player to test this draft-less future was Texas all-time leading scorer Trinity Byars, who signed with the San Diego Wave in November. McMahon joined the Wave in December, inking a three-year deal.

The NWSL Players’ Association says the change will give players like Byars and McMahon greater control over the start of their careers. Teams will need to compete for the best players, which in turn could boost salaries and prompt clubs to invest in better facilities.

While the draft was a celebratory moment in the past — players got their moment in the spotlight in front of family and friends — the reality was that nothing was official until contracts were signed. Teams held their drafted players’ rights for a period, even if they ultimately didn’t sign, said Meghann Burke, executive director of the NWSL Players Association.

Burke said.

While elite players may choose to skip college in the absence of a draft, players and coaches alike said most athletes can still benefit from development at the college level.

Stanford women’s coach Paul Ratcliffe said.

Sophia Smith, part of the U.S. team that won the gold medal at the Olympics in France last summer, played for Stanford for two years and won a national title before she declared for the draft and was taken with the was No. 1 overall pick by the Portland Thorns in 2020.

Smith said.

Teams are also adjusting to the new draft-less landscape in women’s soccer.

There were 56 players taken in the 2024 draft. So far, the 14 NWSL teams have collectively signed some 27 free agents out of college.

said Racing Louisville interim general manager Caitlyn Milby.

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman also said it will take time to see the impact on the league.

Berman said.