NWSL Expansion Draft: Breakers Unveil List of Protected and Unprotected Players

After releasing a list of protected and unprotected players ahead of Friday's expansion draft, NWSL clubs nationwide have begun strategizing, searching for opportunity to take advantage of available talent. The draft will enable the Houston Dash, the league's ninth and newest club, to bolster its roster ahead of the 2014 season, selecting up to ten players.

On Thursday, the Breakers unveiled a list of their own, offering only minor room for speculation. Noteworthy unprotected players include Jazmyne Avant, Boston's speedy wing back, and Melissa Ortiz, the team's newly-acquired-yet-unproven striker. Avant serves as the greater surprise, having played every possible minute (990) in royal and white, following her midseason trade to Boston. Losing the Starting XI hopeful would create yet another roster hole, forcing Head Coach Tom Durkin to find a potentially unproven replacement.

The Breakers will lose a maximum of two players in Friday's draft, with results arriving near 11:00 a.m.

The complete Breakers list includes:

Protected

Courtney Jones, Julie King, Kaylyn Kyle (CAN), Joanna Lohman, Kia McNeill, Kristie Mewis (USA), Alyssa Naeher, Heather O'Reilly (USA), Lianne Sanderson, Cat Whitehill

Unprotected

Jazmyne Avant, Michelle Betos, Bianca D'Agostino, Maddy Evans, Dinora Garza (MEX), Meghan Klingenberg (USA), Jessica Luscinski (2013 Hold-over rights), Melissa Ortiz, Katie Schoepfer, Kyah Simon, Chelsea Stewart (CAN)

Stay tuned for expansion draft coverage as the 2014 NWSL off season continues.