Nielsen Selected by Philadelphia Fire in Inaugural WPLL Draft
8/24/2017 11:29:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- On a monumental day for University of Michigan women's lacrosse head coach Hannah Nielsen and the sport of women's lacrosse, Nielsen was selected in the second round in the inaugural Women's Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL) Draft as the No. 10 overall pick by the Philadelphia Fire on Wednesday (Aug. 23).
Nielsen was hired as the second head coach in Michigan women's lacrosse history on June 26, 2017, and is preparing for her first season with the Maize and Blue, which begins in February 2018. With all WPLL games occurring during the summer months, Nielsen will have the opportunity to continue to compete at the highest level while leading the women's lacrosse program at Michigan.
"This is such an incredible moment for the growth of women's lacrosse," said Nielsen.
"As a kid, this is something I dreamed about, and it is so exciting that it is now a reality. I want to thank WPLL founder Michelle DeJuliis and commissioner Jen Adams, who have done an incredible job of putting this together to enable college coaches to take part in the league. I also want to thank Bitsy Ritt here at Michigan for her support of me being involved."
One of the most decorated athletes to play the game of lacrosse, Nielsen was a four-time national champion and two-time Tewaaraton Award winner during her collegiate career at Northwestern (2006-09).
An Adelaide, Australia, native, Nielsen also continues to compete internationally as a member of the Australia women's national team. She has competed in four World Cups, most recently leading Australia to the 2017 FIL Rathbones Women's Lacrosse World Cup semifinals. After recording seven goals and nine assists in the tournament, she was one of 12 players named to the All-World Team.
The WPLL will launch in the summer of 2018 and will feature five teams -- the Baltimore Brave, New England Command, New York Fight, Upstate Pride and Nielsen's Philadelphia Fire. Ricky Fried, who is currently the women's lacrosse head coach at Georgetown as well as the head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team, will serve as the head coach of the Fire.
The WPLL will replace the United Women's Lacrosse League (UWLX), which was the first women's professional league and competed in its first season during the summer of 2017.
