BALTIMORE – Former Auburn soccer standout Bri Folds was selected by the North Carolina Courage with the 36th pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft Thursday afternoon in Baltimore, Maryland.
"I froze. I couldn't even believe it," Folds said of the moment she heard her name called. "There were so many emotions, and I'm just so happy and excited for this new adventure. I can't wait to get to work."
Folds, who will join the two-time defending NWSL champs, becomes the first Auburn player to be drafted since Katy Frierson was selected 10th overall in the 2012 WPS Draft. She was one of two players from the Southeastern Conference to be selected in the draft.
"We were thrilled to see Bri's name come up in the draft today," head coach Karen Hoppa said. "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."
A native of Lakeland, Florida, Folds was a three-time All-SEC honoree, two-time United Soccer Coaches All-Region player and a 2018 United Soccer Coaches All-American, becoming just the sixth player in program history to earn the distinction.
"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."
Folds capped off her career ranked in the top 10 in program history in goals (24), assists (25), points (73) and game-winning goals (nine). She is also one of just five Auburn players to rank in the top 10 in goals and assists.
Folds led the Tigers in goals (six) and points (15) for the second straight season in 2019. The dynamic midfielder tied the program record with a goal in four straight contests at the beginning of the season and was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week after registering a combined five points in back-to-back games against Syracuse and Troy.