Schimmer becomes GCU's 1st NWSL Draft pick

A season of record-setting performances and first-ever accomplishments for the GCU women's soccer program continued Saturday when Lopes senior forward Marleen Schimmer became the program's first player to be drafted.

The Mainz, Germany, native was picked ninth overall in the National Women's Soccer League Draft by San Diego Wave FC, a newly formed expansion team.

"This is an absolutely amazing accomplishment for Marleen," GCU head coach Chris Cissell said. "We are so happy for her and so proud of her. For her to be drafted in the first round and with the ninth pick overall is just a true testament to how great of a player and person she is. I expect Marleen to excel at this level.

"I am excited that the San Diego Wave saw in her everything that all of us at GCU have been fortunate to witness for the past couple of years and I feel that this is the perfect organization for her to begin her professional career."

Schimmer will join current U.S. Women's National Team star Alex Morgan in San Diego with four other draftees, including No. 1 overall pick Naomi Garcia from Stanford, when the Wave kick off their inaugural season in 2022.

Schimmer finished her 74-game collegiate career with 28 goals and 23 assists, most of which came in two seasons at GCU after playing two years for Arizona State. As a Lope, she flourished in the freedom that Cissell gave her offensively and tallied 17 goals and 18 assists in her final two seasons.

This fall, Schimmer was named WAC Offensive Player of the Year and made the All-WAC first team after leading GCU to the program's first WAC regular-season title, first WAC Tournament championship and first NCAA tournament appearance.

Schimmer rewrote the GCU record books with Division I-era single-season records for goals, assists, points, shots attempted and shots on goal. In just two seasons, she also set a career DI-era record with 18 assists and finished second in points with 52.

Schimmer was part of an offensive revolution for the GCU soccer program, which finished top 10 nationally in goals, assists and points in back-to-back seasons.

Read more about Schimmer in a November feature about her here.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Marleen Schimmer

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