Viviana Villacorta is beaming with Pride…

The Orlando Pride have selected the 21-year-old UCLA midfielder as the No. 9 pick in the first round of the 2021 NWSL College Draft. She’s the first Latina selected in this year’s draft.

Villacorta played in every match during her three-year tenure with UCLA, scoring seven goals and adding 16 assists during 71 total appearances with the Bruins. A California native, Villacorta is an efficient passer through the midfield whose extensive college experience could help her transition immediately into a role with the Pride.

It was the first draft pick for general manager Ian Fleming and executive vice president Amanda Duffy during their tenure with the Pride.

Villacorta will join a midfield unit that’s been a focal point for the Pride throughout the offseason. After strengthening the team’s backline depth in 2020, coach Marc Skinner focused on bringing in players who could increase the team’s on-ball possession to allow the Pride to command the tempo of matches.

Villacorta was coached at UCLA by Amanda Cromwell, a former U.S. women’s national team standout who coached at UCF in Orlando from 1999-2013.