I'm assuming by draft year, you're referring to if each player had finished a full four years of college. I was saying that had Macario or Fleming decided to enter the draft in 2020, both of them would have been drafted ahead of Soph. They both decided to go abroad (we always knew Fleming wasn't going to enter the draft, but there was some uncertainty about Cat), so Smith and Sanchez became the top prospects in the 2020 draft. Smith only entered the draft once the Thorns traded for the #1 pick.
Smith would have likely stayed at Stanford if Portland didn’t guarantee selecting her. Macario was never coming out that year. She was always finishing her degree.
Fleming bypassing the draft led to that option opening up.
As a senior, Fleming has more film but Sophia as a sophomore was likely going to develop into a similar prospect with more time. I do believe Portland would have selected Fleming at 1 if she came out that year, but it was never an option.
Sophia would likely be playing for the San Diego Wave the following year
Fleming was a senior when Sophia was a sophomore and Macario was a junior.
Fleming and Castellanos were 1-2 in the 2020 draft
Macario and Sanchez were 1-2 in the 2021 draft
Sophia was the 1 in the 2022 draft
When Macario decided to go back and Fleming/Castellanos went overseas, both Sanchez and Smith came out early.
Smith was likely going to be rated similarly, but Fleming had the career
I'm assuming by draft year, you're referring to if each player had finished a full four years of college. I was saying that had Macario or Fleming decided to enter the draft in 2020, both of them would have been drafted ahead of Soph. They both decided to go abroad (we always knew Fleming wasn't going to enter the draft, but there was some uncertainty about Cat), so Smith and Sanchez became the top prospects in the 2020 draft. Smith only entered the draft once the Thorns traded for the #1 pick.
Smith would have likely stayed at Stanford if Portland didn’t guarantee selecting her. Macario was never coming out that year. She was always finishing her degree.
Fleming bypassing the draft led to that option opening up.
As a senior, Fleming has more film but Sophia as a sophomore was likely going to develop into a similar prospect with more time. I do believe Portland would have selected Fleming at 1 if she came out that year, but it was never an option.
Sophia would likely be playing for the San Diego Wave the following year
Things work out for a reason