2019 season MVP Sarah Sjostrom is among the second wave of big names registered for the 2021 International Swimming League (ISL) draft.
The ISL announced Sjostrom, Katinka Hosszu, Emma McKeon, Cate Campbell, Bronte Campbell, Florent Manaudou, Chad le Clos, Kylie Masse, Kayla Sanchez, Kathleen Baker, Alia Atkinson, Kliment Kolesnikov, Daiya Seto, Vladimir Morozov, Nicholas Santos, Duncan Scott, Mitch Larkin, Kristof Milak and Emre Sakci in a press release today. They join a list of previously-announced swimmers including 2020 league MVP Caeleb Dressel and #2 overall scorer Lilly King.
The ISL is implementing a draft this season for the first time. That comes along with a May 31 deadline for swimmers to register for the draft. With about a week left to that deadline, here are some of the biggest names the ISL has not yet announced:
(Note: it’s possible some of these athletes are registered, but haven’t yet been publicly announced by the league.)
- Ryan Murphy (#4 scorer in 2020)
- Ilya Shymanovic (#12)
- Ranomi Kromowidjojo (#13)
- Adam Peaty (#14)
- Beata Nelson (#15)
- Szebaztian Szabo (#16)
- Kira Toussaint (#17)
- Marie Wattel (#20)
- Katie Ledecky
- Simone Manuel
Of the new names announced, several will return to the league after missing the 2020 season. McKeon and the Campbells were among a large group of Australians who did not compete in 2020 due to strict international travel restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic. Milak bowed out while recovering from a bout with COVID-19 shortly before the season. Sanchez missed the season due to shoulder surgery.
ISL DRAFT BACKGROUND
In previous seasons, ISL teams have built their rosters in what was essentially a free agency period with a few blocks of geographically-based exclusive recruiting. In the league’s third season, the ISL will add a draft, allowing teams to retain up to 16 of their athletes from 2020 while sending the unretained swimmers (along with new ISL rookies) into the draft pool.
More info on the ISL draft process:
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