The 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft was a special draft held on November 12, 2020, by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) for Racing Louisville FC, an expansion team, to select players from existing teams in the league. Louisville would be able to select up to 18 players from a list of unprotected players provided by the nine incumbent NWSL teams.
On October 26, 2020, the NWSL announced that Chicago Red Stars would receive full roster protection after executing a trade with Racing Louisville FC.
Format
Each of the NWSL's nine teams could protect 11 players, with a limit of two United States federation players. Racing Louisville FC could select a maximum of two players (or one United States federation player) per team, and two United States federation players in total. All players currently under contract, on loan, or whose NWSL rights are held by an NWSL team (e.g., draft picks, waiver claims, retired players) were eligible for selection unless included on the protected list, and only players not yet signed from an NWSL team's discovery list were exempt.
The timeline for the Expansion Draft process was as follows: Thursday, Oct. 22 (1 p.m. ET) – Trade/waiver window closes Thursday, Oct. 22 (5 p.m. ET) – All previously unannounced trades announced Thursday, Oct. 29 (5 p.m. ET) – End-of-season process deadline Wednesday, Nov. 4 (5 p.m. ET) – Protected list due from clubs to the NWSL Thursday, Nov. 5 (1 p.m. ET) – Protected/unprotected lists distributed and made public Thursday, Nov. 12 – 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft Friday, Nov. 13 (9 a.m. ET) – Trade window opens
Draft results
Racing Louisville FC selected 14 players on November 12, 2020.
Blue highlights indicate United States federation players
Italics indicate players who are not under contract but whose NWSL playing rights remain with the team
Protected lists by team
After Chicago Red Stars traded for full roster protection, the remaining eight current NWSL teams released their respective protected lists on November 5, 2020.
Bold indicates players selected in the Expansion Draft
Blue highlights indicate United States federation players
Italics indicate players who are not under contract but whose NWSL playing rights remain with the team