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Maycee Bell was nervous. It was the morning of the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League Draft, and the day she could fulfill a dream of turning pro. Finally, with the last pick in the first round, Bell heard her name called. She had been selected by the 2023 NWSL Champions NJ/NY Gotham FC.
“I have just been super anxious all day,” Bell exclusively told The Equalizer. “I had met with Gotham earlier today and really enjoyed the meeting, so I was really hopeful that they were going to pick me. I was super relieved and super happy that’s how it all played out.”
The defender out of the University of North Carolina was expected to be a highly sought-after prospect. After all, she was just named to the 2023 All-ACC Second Team and has received a handful of call-ups to the US youth national team.
“We couldn’t be more excited to add a talented player like Maycee to our back line,” Gotham general manager Yael Averbuch West said. “She has all the tools to succeed at the next level and we look forward to supporting her to be her very best. We had talked about all the possibilities for center backs specifically and if Maycee could possibly still be available by 14. So when she was, we were very assured in our decision and excited to bring her to Gotham.”
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