NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Marking a first for the Vanderbilt soccer program, a Commodore heard her name called Wednesday night in the 2021 NWSL Draft with Myra Konte picked in the third round by the North Carolina Courage.
Selected with the 30th overall pick, the selection marks Vanderbilt’s first women’s soccer player taken in the NWSL Draft and the first to be selected to play at the next level directly from college. The program’s first draft pick came in 2000 when Asta Helgadottir was selected by the Carolina Courage in the inaugural WUSA Draft after returning to her native Iceland for one season prior to being selected.
Konte has one season of college eligibility remaining and plans to utilize the opportunity to continue her career at Vanderbilt throughout the upcoming spring and fall seasons. Due to the unique and extenuating circumstances associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the pandemic on the 2020-21 soccer playing season, the NCAA and NWSL agreed to a one-time waiver allowing athletes that had competed in three complete collegiate seasons to be selected in the 2021 NWSL Draft.
While selected this year, athletes that plan to return to college for the fall 2021 season for their final season of eligibility have their commitments to the drafting organization pushed back to the 2022 season.
Music City ➡️ @TheNCCourage
Congratulations to Myra Konte, selected in the third round of tonight’s @NWSL Draft to the North Carolina Courage.#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/NZVUsEzPYp
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@VandySoccer) January 14, 2021
“I am beyond thrilled for Myra,” Vanderbilt head coach Darren Ambrose said. “Her impact on the field is clear and what she has overcome to get there is equally impressive. She has always been one of the most consistent performers over the past four years, but I am so happy Commodore fans will get to see her for one more year on West End.
“That said, I have every confidence she will work even harder than she already has to be prepared for a career beyond Vanderbilt in the professional ranks”
Upon completion of her career in black and gold, Konte has the opportunity to join Simone Charley as Vanderbilt’s representatives in the NWSL. Charley went undrafted but was signed by the Portland Thorns and has played a big role in the team’s recent fixtures on the way to Portland protecting Charley’s status with the organization ahead of last November’s expansion draft.
Returning from injury and posting a big 2020 season, Konte scored two goals from her defensive position and has played a key role on the Vanderbilt back line since stepping on campus. Starting the final 21 games of her freshman season in 2017, Konte has played in 59 games to date and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team before going on to earn SEC Tournament MVP honors last November when Vanderbilt captured its first tournament title in more than 20 years.
Dear @TheNCCourage fans,
A quick rundown for you:
-2020 @SEC Tournament MVP
-2x SEC All-Tournament honoree
-Four-year starter
-An honor roll studentLove,
Vanderbilt Soccer ⚓️⬇️#AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/Fp7fqUWna4
— Vanderbilt Soccer (@VandySoccer) January 14, 2021
With the SEC Tournament title in hand, Vanderbilt has the SEC’s automatic bid to the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Continuing the 2020-21 season this spring, the program will release its 2021 schedule ahead of April’s NCAA Tournament at a later date.
