Jaida Thomas enters 2024 NWSL Draft, but could return to Tennessee soccer if not selected
Tennessee soccer forward Jaida Thomas has registered for the 2024 NWSL Draft, a school spokesperson confirmed to Knox News.
The senior from Dallas was Tennessee's returning leading scorer in 2023, playing two games and scoring once before she suffered a season-ending injury. She has 39 career goals, only five from surpassing Kylee Rossi's program record of 43.
Thomas was a second-team All-American as a sophomore and was first-team All-SEC as a junior. She had eight assists, 11 game-winning goals and 86 points in 59 appearances for the Lady Vols.
Thomas has been one of the best forwards in the SEC since arriving at Tennessee. Her 0.68 goals per game as a junior ranked first in the SEC and 12th in the nation. She was a key piece in Tennessee's historic 20-win season in 2021, scoring five goals to lead it to its first SEC Tournament championship since 2008.
The 2024 NWSL Draft will take place Friday (8 p.m. ET, ION) in Anaheim, California. Thomas was listed among the top 10 forwards in the draft by Top Drawer Soccer, and is an intriguing prospect given her leg injury. But she possesses a skill set that would translate to the pro level.
Thomas has the ability and physicality to hold on to the ball as a center forward, but she's also fantastic off the ball in the attacking third. She anticipates the next play and has a great touch from close range, which led to crucial goals in crunch time for Tennessee.
She still has an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and if she goes undrafted, could return to Tennessee.
According to NCAA rules, undrafted players may return to their school and retain their collegiate eligibility if they notify their institution's athletic director within 72 hours following the NWSL Draft.
Thomas has faced season-ending injuries previously in her career, with two ACL tears in high school, the second of which forced her to redshirt her freshman season at UT.
If Thomas does not return, it would be a blow to the Lady Vols, who already lost their top players to the transfer portal. Junior midfielder Jordan Fusco transferred to Penn State and sophomore forward Kameron Simmonds transferred to reigning champion Florida State to play for former Tennessee coach Brian Pensky.
Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Jaida Thomas enters 2024 NWSL Draft, could return to Tennessee soccer
