Houston receives protection in 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft
San Francisco (Dec. 12, 2023) – Bay FC, the Bay Area’s new women’s professional soccer franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), have acquired midfielder Joelle Anderson and $25,000 in Allocation Money from the Houston Dash in exchange for protection in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft, it was announced today.
Drafted in the 2021 NWSL Draft by the Houston Dash, Anderson returned to Pepperdine for her senior season and joined the Dash ahead of the 2022 campaign. In two seasons with Houston, Anderson played in 30 games across all NWSL competitions, earning 15 starts with two goals. In NWSL regular season play, she appeared in 26 matches (15 starts), scoring a pair of goals.
“Joelle has real dynamic ability to drive though with the ball in midfield and turn defense to attack. She brings a tireless work ethic to her game and has a willingness to compete on both sides of the ball,” said Bay FC General Manager Lucy Rushton.
At Pepperdine from 2017-21, Anderson was a five-time All-West Coast Conference selection, earning first team honors three times and second team recognition twice in her career. Across her career, she appeared in 88 matches, totaling 35 goals and 24 assists, which earned her All-West Region accolades four times, including three first team selections. In her final season, Anderson notched 11 goals and eight assists – career highs in both categories – in 22 games (21 starts) for the Waves.
Joelle Anderson
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-9
Birthdate: Oct. 6, 1998
Hometown: San Jose, Calif.
Previous Club: Houston Dash (NWSL)
Citizenship: United States
College: Pepperdine
Bay FC is entering its first season in the NWSL and will have the first pick in the 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft set to take place virtually on Friday, December 15. The 2024 NWSL Expansion Draft will air live on CBS Sports Network with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The “Attacking Third” women’s soccer show will also provide additional coverage and analysis during the week of the expansion draft on CBS Sports Golazo Network and across @AttackingThird social accounts.
Bay FC will kick off its inaugural season in March 2024 at PayPal Park in San Jose. Ticket deposits are now open for Bay FC’s inaugural season and new merchandise can be purchased at BayFC.com. Fans can also follow @wearebayfc on social channels for more exciting announcements to come.
About Bay Football Club
Bay Football Club (Bay FC) is the new women’s professional soccer franchise representing the Bay Area and the 14th team to join the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Bay FC was established in April 2023 and co-founded by USWNT legends Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, and Aly Wagner in partnership with global investment firm Sixth Street and an investor group of leading tech, business and sports executives. Sixth Street’s investment is the largest institutional investment to date in a women’s professional sports franchise. Bay FC is changing the face of women’s soccer as we know it. Beginning play in the 2024 season, we are building a squad that will play the beautiful game with power, passion, energy, and creativity. Ticket deposits are now open for Bay FC at https://bayfc.com and fans can follow Bay FC’s social channels (@wearebayfc) for the latest news, merchandise, and events.
