Former Auburn soccer player Bri Folds was selected in the 2020 National Women’s Soccer League Draft by the North Carolina Courage on Thursday afternoon.
Selected in the fourth round with the 36th overall pick, Folds became the first Tiger to be drafted since Katy Frierson in 2012. She is one of two players from the Southeastern Conference to be selected, alongside Alleandra Watt from Texas A&M, who was also selected by the Courage.
When she heard her name called, Folds “couldn’t even believe it.”
“There were so many emotions, and I’m just so happy and excited for this new adventure,” Folds said in a statement from Auburn soccer.
The head coach of the Tigers, Karen Hoppa, was “thrilled” at the sight of Folds being drafted.
“She had an outstanding career at Auburn and worked for four years for this moment. We can't wait to see what she can accomplish at the next level,” Hoppa said.
Over her four-year career, Folds played in 79 games, scoring 24 goals and recording 25 assists. She is one of five players in Auburn soccer history to rank in the top 10 for both career goals and assists.
Throughout her time on the Plains, Folds accumulated several awards and honors. She was selected to the All-SEC Freshman Team in 2016, first team All-SEC in 2018, United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-American in 2018 and second team All-SEC in 2019.
“To me, she’s got a great soccer IQ,” NC Courage head coach Paul Riley said of Folds. “She knows how to run the game and is an intelligent player. It’s something that we needed. We needed to get another midfielder. She scores goals from that area, too, and assists. She gets points on the board.”
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