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The article quotes Pugh's father as saying:
We did look at her possibly going pro. It's all over the Internet she's going to play professionally. It was very close to happening, but her gut feeling was that she wanted to go to college.
This puts to rest the rumors which arose last week about Pugh skipping college and going straight to the pros.
Those rumors began when the NWSL's Portland Thorns acquired the number 1 pick in the new "Unattached Subsidized Individual" program in exchange for the number 3 pick in the NWSL Draft. One of the reasons Pugh's name came up is because the Pughs have extended family in the Portland area.
Pugh's father explained more about the situation:
People made speculation out of Portland getting rid of this draft pick to be in the position to take the first allocated player, who would have been Mallory. People in the industry put two and two together, but nothing formally was out there. We never talked to (Portland) coaches, general manger, organization or anyone.
Bruins Nation would like to welcome (back) Mallory to Westwood and we commend her for her decision to get her education at UCLA!
Go Bruins!!!