2021 NWSL Draft: Orlando Pride Select BYU Midfielder Mikayla Colohan at No. 14

The Orlando Pride selected attacking midfielder Mikayla Colohan from BYU with the 14th pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft. 

“I can’t wait for the opportunity,” Colohan said via Zoom after being drafted. “I’m just excited to be a part of that city. Looking forward to it a ton and I just hope to bring my best. I hope anything that I can provide for the team and any assists that they need, I hope that I’m able to provide and I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to it.”

Colohan has played 50 games (48 starts) in three years at BYU. She scored 23 goals in college, with 15 coming in 2019. She also bagged 15 assists in her three years. She did not play in 2020 because the season was canceled due to COVID-19 and at this point we have not confirmed whether or not she’ll play in her spring season before joining Orlando. She totaled 3,977 minutes in three seasons at BYU.

The Kaysville, UT native’s best year to date was her junior season. She started in all 23 games for BYU and scored 16 goals and added seven assists. Four of her goals were game-winners. She was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist and was named fifth on the Top Drawer Soccer’s Top 100 Players.

The 5-foot-8 senior was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2019. She also got All-WCC honors as a freshman and sophomore. She compiled a plethora of accolades in high school, including the Utah high school assists record, with 35 in 2016 and 37 in 2015, Utah’s Ms. Soccer in 2016, Gatorade Player of the Year finalist, and Salt Lake Tribune 2015 MVP, amongst others.

“I love playing in the midfield,” Colohan said of her ideal spot. “Just a possession-style player that loves to attack from a variety of ways — whether it’s trying to get in behind quickly or by combination play.”

What it Means for Orlando

Colohan is an attacking midfielder with a history of scoring goals. She looks to have the ability to link the midfield to the attack. Additionally, she averages five assists a season. She should be given some time to get into the midfield. The Pride selected midfielder Viviana Villacorta in the first round, so it seems that this is a position that Orlando is looking to improve.