Mills, Johnson continue careers via NWSL draft
LOS ANGELES — In just a little more than a month’s time, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy products Kayla Mills and Katie Johnson have enjoyed quite a ride.
The pair that helped the USC women’s soccer program to its second-ever national championship in December enjoyed some of the spoils after that success with selections in Thursday’s National Women’s Soccer League Draft.
The event took place at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles and Mills was the first to hear her named called as the Trojans defender was selected with the fourth overall pick by Sky Blue Football Club based in Tinton Falls, NJ.
Johnson was selected in the second roudn with the 16th pick by the Seattle Reign.
Mills was the first defender taken off the board and one of two defenders selected by Sky Blue in the first round as the club also picked up Mills’ Trojan teammate Mandy Freeman.
“It is fantastic to have been able to draft both Kayla Mills and Mandy Freeman in the first round,” Sky Blue FC Coach Christy Holly stated in a press release. “They are two players we identified as far back as September. We knew they had great personalities in addition to possessing fantastic qualities both on and off the field.
“They each fit into the dynamic that we have already established with the club and what we are looking to build upon. We are delighted to bring in these two national champions, and we are very excited about what they will bring to our club.”
Mills earned All-Pac-12 first-team honors a season after she was named the 2015 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. En route to her team’s championship, Mills was named to the Women’s College Cup All-Tournament Team.
Mills joins a Sky Blue team that finished seventh in the NWSL standings with a 7-8-5 record. Sky Blue tied for the second-most goals (30) allowed last season with the Orlando Pride.
As for Johnson, the striker was taken sixth in the second round with the 16th overall selection by Seattle.
Johnson had a College Cup to remember as she tallied three of USC’s four goals in victories of 1-0 and 3-1 over Georgetown and West Virginia, respectively.
Johnson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the College Cup and tallied the go-ahead score in the title victory over West Virginia on Dec. 4 in San Jose, Calif.
“Seattle has been my dream team since day one,” Johnson stated in a Reign press release. “Hearing my name called was the most relieving and exciting thing. I’m so thrilled to start this new chapter in my life.”
Seattle finished fifth in the NWSL standings with an 8-6-6 mark.
Mills and Johnson were two of five Trojans selected in the draft, which spans four rounds and 40 total players. USC set the record for most players ever drafted from one school.
