CHICAGO, Ill. (Dec. 18, 2021) -- Long Beach State Defender Kaitlin Fregulia was selected 12th overall by the North Carolina Courage in the first round of the 2022 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Draft. She is the third women’s soccer student-athlete from The Big West to be drafted in the NWSL and first for Long Beach State.
Fregulia is a two-time Big West Defensive Player of the Year (2017, 2021) and has been an All-Big West selection four times (2016, 2017, 2019, 2021). She was a member of the All-Freshman Team in 2016. Fregulia is also a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-West Region honoree (2017, 2021).
Fregulia is the highest draft pick The Big West has produced. Christina Burkenroad (Cal State Fullerton) was selected in the second round, 16th overall, in the 2016 draft by the Orlando Pride and Kiana Palacios was picked in the fourth round, 35th overall, in the 2018 draft by the then-Sky Blue FC, now known as NY/NJ Gotham.