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Gibbons, Payne Go No. 5, No. 13 in NWSL Draft
1/12/2017 6:58:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C. – In the 2017 NWSL College Draft Thursday, Duke University two-time All-America Christina Gibbons was selected with the No. 5 selection in the first round, while senior Toni Payne was taken with the No. 13 overall pick in the second round by FC Kansas City at the JW Marriott in Los Angeles, Calif.
With the first overall selection, the Boston Breakers took Rose Lavelle of Wisconsin, while Ashley Hatch of BYU (NC Courage), Morgan Andrews of USC (Boston Breakers) and Kayla Mills of USC (Sky Blue FC) went in the first four picks prior to Gibbons being selected.
“We're so excited to have Christina and Toni be drafted so high,” said Duke head coach Robbie Church. “They've worked extremely hard all their lives and have been dreaming of this their whole lives. Kansas City really wanted them. We were speaking with them the other day, and they were talking, if they had their choice they wanted the two Duke players. Everything worked out and it fell where they could take Christina and then take Toni right behind her. It's a great honor for them to be able to play in this league and just great for our program, to have two players drafted in the top 15. We're just so very proud of them.”
Gibbons earning the No. 5 selection marks the highest NWSL pick for a Duke alumna in school history. The previous high was Natasha Anasi at No. 13 overall in 2014.
One of the most decorated Duke women's soccer standouts in school history, Gibbons was just the third Blue Devil to earn NSCAA First Team All-America honors and one of two Duke alumnae to be named a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy. The 5-6 defender/midfielder earned First Team All-ACC honors in each of her final three years and concluded her career starting 87-of-88 contests, including the final 73 in a row.
“Thank you so much,” commented Gibbons on stage after being selected. “I am extremely humbled to be standing here today. First off, I would like to thank the NWSL for such a wonderful event and for everyone who is in attendance today. Secondly, I would like to thank Kansas City. I am super excited to start my journey and I hope to make the entire city and all the fans extremely proud. Thirdly, I would like to thank my coaches, teammates and everyone at Duke University who supported me, as well as my family. I would not be up here today without any of them. Lastly, good luck to the rest of my fellow players in today's draft. I wish you all the best. Thank you.”
She totaled 10 goals, 19 assists and 39 points, while also helping lead Duke to 38 shutouts on the defensive end over her career. The 2016 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Gibbons finished her career with a Duke-record seven penalty kick goals and was a two-time captain. Gibbons logged 7,794 minutes, which was the second-most by a field player in Blue Devil history. She was selected the NSCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year and CoSIDA Academic All-America as well as a senior.
Payne, a native of Birmingham, Ala., is coming off a standout career with the Blue Devils where she tallied 23 goals, 21 assists and 67 points over four years. She started 86-of-90 matches at both the midfield and forward positions. Payne's 21 assists ranked tied seventh on the Duke record books and finished her career with six game-winning goals. She became just the sixth Blue Devil to register 20 goals and 20 assists over her career.
“I just want to thank Kansas City,” said Payne. “Thank you so much for believing in me and drafting me. I want to thank the NWSL for such an amazing opportunity. I want to thank my mom, dad, brother and sister for always believing in me in everything I do. I want to thank my coaches at Duke, Erwin and Coach Robbie and Lane for everything you've done for me. I want to thank my club coaches at home in Alabama and Georgia. I just want to say thank you to the league and I'm really excited for this new chapter in my life. Thank you.”
A 2016 All-ACC first team and 2015 NCAA College Cup All-Tournament team honoree, Payne helped lead the U.S. U-23 squad to the Women's Nordic Tournament championship in England this past June. She also was a part of the U.S. U-23 team to the Istria Cup title in Croatia in March of 2016.
The duo led Duke to the 2015 NCAA Championship match prior to falling to Penn State, 1-0.
#GoDuke
With the first overall selection, the Boston Breakers took Rose Lavelle of Wisconsin, while Ashley Hatch of BYU (NC Courage), Morgan Andrews of USC (Boston Breakers) and Kayla Mills of USC (Sky Blue FC) went in the first four picks prior to Gibbons being selected.
“We're so excited to have Christina and Toni be drafted so high,” said Duke head coach Robbie Church. “They've worked extremely hard all their lives and have been dreaming of this their whole lives. Kansas City really wanted them. We were speaking with them the other day, and they were talking, if they had their choice they wanted the two Duke players. Everything worked out and it fell where they could take Christina and then take Toni right behind her. It's a great honor for them to be able to play in this league and just great for our program, to have two players drafted in the top 15. We're just so very proud of them.”
Gibbons earning the No. 5 selection marks the highest NWSL pick for a Duke alumna in school history. The previous high was Natasha Anasi at No. 13 overall in 2014.
One of the most decorated Duke women's soccer standouts in school history, Gibbons was just the third Blue Devil to earn NSCAA First Team All-America honors and one of two Duke alumnae to be named a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy. The 5-6 defender/midfielder earned First Team All-ACC honors in each of her final three years and concluded her career starting 87-of-88 contests, including the final 73 in a row.
“Thank you so much,” commented Gibbons on stage after being selected. “I am extremely humbled to be standing here today. First off, I would like to thank the NWSL for such a wonderful event and for everyone who is in attendance today. Secondly, I would like to thank Kansas City. I am super excited to start my journey and I hope to make the entire city and all the fans extremely proud. Thirdly, I would like to thank my coaches, teammates and everyone at Duke University who supported me, as well as my family. I would not be up here today without any of them. Lastly, good luck to the rest of my fellow players in today's draft. I wish you all the best. Thank you.”
She totaled 10 goals, 19 assists and 39 points, while also helping lead Duke to 38 shutouts on the defensive end over her career. The 2016 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Gibbons finished her career with a Duke-record seven penalty kick goals and was a two-time captain. Gibbons logged 7,794 minutes, which was the second-most by a field player in Blue Devil history. She was selected the NSCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year and CoSIDA Academic All-America as well as a senior.
Payne, a native of Birmingham, Ala., is coming off a standout career with the Blue Devils where she tallied 23 goals, 21 assists and 67 points over four years. She started 86-of-90 matches at both the midfield and forward positions. Payne's 21 assists ranked tied seventh on the Duke record books and finished her career with six game-winning goals. She became just the sixth Blue Devil to register 20 goals and 20 assists over her career.
“I just want to thank Kansas City,” said Payne. “Thank you so much for believing in me and drafting me. I want to thank the NWSL for such an amazing opportunity. I want to thank my mom, dad, brother and sister for always believing in me in everything I do. I want to thank my coaches at Duke, Erwin and Coach Robbie and Lane for everything you've done for me. I want to thank my club coaches at home in Alabama and Georgia. I just want to say thank you to the league and I'm really excited for this new chapter in my life. Thank you.”
A 2016 All-ACC first team and 2015 NCAA College Cup All-Tournament team honoree, Payne helped lead the U.S. U-23 squad to the Women's Nordic Tournament championship in England this past June. She also was a part of the U.S. U-23 team to the Istria Cup title in Croatia in March of 2016.
The duo led Duke to the 2015 NCAA Championship match prior to falling to Penn State, 1-0.
#GoDuke
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