Angel City has selected three players in the 2024 NWSL draft: midfielder Felicia Knox from the University of Alabama, midfielder Jessica Garziano from St. Johns University, and defender Madison Curry from Princeton.
Knox, a Kansas City native, was in attendance to hear her name called in person at the Anaheim Convention Center.
"I'm so excited and overwhelmed and all the emotions," said Knox after being selected. "I can't really put it into words right now."
After the pick came in, several dozen ACFC fans welcomed her with chants and scarves. "It's amazing—if if they're showing up here, I can only imagine what the games are like," said Knox. "I'm excited to get started. I'm excited about the team and the culture and to get to experience what it's like to be an Angel City player."
Knox was a celebrated attacking mid at Alabama, where she holds the school record for career assists, as well as the single-season records for assists and assists per game. She was a first-team All-SEC honoree in 2022 and 2023 and was named SEC Midfielder of the Year in 2022.
"I feel like one of my strongest characteristics is soccer IQ and my technical skills," said Knox. "So I feel like I can bring some consistency and some excitement, as well as creativity to the game."
In addition to being a standout in college, Knox has international experience, having been called up to the U-23 USWNT in 2023. She also captained the US National Youth Futsal team from 2014-2016.
Knox says her futsal experience helped elevate her technique. "You get a different feel for the game [in futsal]," she said. "Futsal is so small and it's about tight spaces. It's exciting and fast paced, and it has great qualities I can bring to bring to outdoor soccer."
ACFC selected Garziano, a native of Melville, NY, with the 44th overall pick, which the club acquired during the draft from Utah Royals FC in exchange for $15,000 in allocation money. Garziano is also an attacking midfielder, having notched 22 goals and 32 assists in her college career—including 10 goals and 11 assists in her 2023 graduate season. She was a three-time All-Big East honoree, once to the first team and twice to the second team.
The club chose Curry, a left back who hails from Orange County, with the 51st overall pick. Curry was a three-time first-team All-Ivy honoree as well as a 2023 third-team All American. She co-captained the Tigers in 2023 when the team made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
