NWSL awards
Annual recognition awarded by the National Women's Soccer League
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) presents six annual awards to individual players. The Golden Boot award is presented to the top scorer at the end of the regular season, while the Most Valuable Player, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year awards are voted on by various league constituents. As of 2021,[update] these awards are voted upon in two rounds: in the first round, players (50%), owners/general managers/coaches (25%), and media (25%) vote to determine the nominees; in the second round, players (50%), owners/general managers/coaches (20%), media (20%), and fans (10%) vote among the nominees to determine the winners.[ 1]
In addition, the league also presents two teams of the season awards, the NWSL Best XI and the NWSL Second XI, to individual players. As of 2021,[update] the teams of the season awards are voted on by players (50%), owners/general managers/coaches (20%), media (20%), and fans (10%).[ 2] Voters for the teams of the season awards are required to name one goalkeeper, four defenders, and a combination of six midfielders and forwards.
Most Valuable Player
Kerolin , 2023 Most Valuable Player
Season
Player
Club
Other finalists
Ref
2013
Lauren Holiday
FC Kansas City
Abby Wambach , Lori Chalupny
[ 3]
2014
Kim Little
Seattle Reign FC
Verónica Boquete , Amy Rodriguez
[ 4]
2015
Crystal Dunn
Washington Spirit
[ 5]
2016
Lynn Williams
Western New York Flash
Tobin Heath , Allie Long , Kealia Ohai , and Christen Press
[ 6]
2017
Sam Kerr
Sky Blue FC
Marta , Sam Mewis , Christen Press , Megan Rapinoe
[ 7]
2018
Lindsey Horan
Portland Thorns FC
Sam Kerr , Megan Rapinoe , Lynn Williams , McCall Zerboni
[ 8]
2019
Sam Kerr (2)
Chicago Red Stars
Yūki Nagasato , Debinha , Kristen Hamilton , Lynn Williams
[ 9]
2021
Jess Fishlock
OL Reign [ a]
Ashley Hatch , Mallory Pugh , Midge Purce , Angela Salem
[ 10]
2022
Sophia Smith
Portland Thorns FC
Debinha , Naomi Girma , Alex Morgan , Mallory Pugh
[ 11]
2023
Kerolin
North Carolina Courage
Sam Coffey , Debinha , Naomi Girma , Sophia Smith
[ 12]
Golden Boot
Sophia Smith , 2023 Golden Boot winner
Defender of the Year
Naomi Girma , 2022 and 2023 Defender of the Year
Goalkeeper of the Year
Jane Campbell , 2023 Goalkeeper of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Jenna Nighswonger , 2023 Rookie of the Year
Coach of the Year
Juan Carlos Amorós , 2023 Coach of the Year
Teams of the Year
2013
Best XI
Second XI
2014
Best XI
Second XI
[ 60]
2015
Announced September 24, 2015[ 61]
Best XI
Second XI
2016
Announced October 7, 2016[ 62]
Best XI
Second XI
2017
Best XI
Announced October 12, 2017[ 63]
POSITION
PLAYER
CLUB
NOTE
Goalkeeper
Adrianna Franch
Portland Thorns FC
11 shutouts, 80 saves, .83 GAA
Defender
Casey Short
Chicago Red Stars
1 goal, 3rd-best defense in NWSL
Defender
Abby Dahlkemper
North Carolina Courage
121 corner kicks taken, 2 assists
Defender
Becky Sauerbrunn
FC Kansas City
157 clearances, 24 blocks, 1 goal, 2 assists
Defender
Ali Krieger
Orlando Pride
99 clearances, 49 interceptions, 2 assists
Midfielder
Jess Fishlock
Seattle Reign FC
7 goals, 2 assists
Midfielder
Sam Mewis
North Carolina Courage
6 goals, 3 assists
Midfielder
McCall Zerboni
North Carolina Courage
3 goals, 1 assist
Forward
Marta
Orlando Pride
13 goals, 6 assists, 64 chances created
Forward
Sam Kerr
Sky Blue FC
17 goals, 4 assists, 2 hattricks, 1 4-goal game
Forward
Christen Press
Chicago Red Stars
11 goals, 4 assists
Second XI
Announced October 10, 2017[ 64]
POSITION
PLAYER
CLUB
NOTE
Goalkeeper
Katelyn Rowland
North Carolina Courage
39 saves, 8 shutouts
Defender
Steph Catley
Orlando Pride
2,032 minutes played
Defender
Abby Erceg
North Carolina Courage
1 goal, 2 assists
Defender
Meghan Klingenberg
Portland Thorns FC
6 assists
Defender
Emily Menges
Portland Thorns FC
2,063 minutes played
Midfielder
Danielle Colaprico
Chicago Red Stars
1,903 minutes played
Midfielder
Julie Ertz
Chicago Red Stars
4 goals, 3 assists
Midfielder
Lindsey Horan
Portland Thorns FC
4 goals, 2 assists
Midfielder
Sofia Huerta
Chicago Red Stars
6 goals, 4 assists
Forward
Alex Morgan
Orlando Pride
9 goals, 4 assists
Forward
Megan Rapinoe
Seattle Reign FC
12 goals, 1 assist
2018
Announced September 20, 2018[ 65]
Best XI
Second XI
2019
Announced October 24, 2019[ 66]
Best XI
Second XI
2021
Announced November 17, 2021[ 67]
Best XI
Second XI
2022
Announced October 25, 2022[ 68]
Best XI
Second XI
2023
Announced November 6, 2023[ 69]
Best XI
Second XI
Most selections
As of November 6, 2023. Only players with multiple total selections are included.
Players still active in the NWSL
Bold*
Players on most recent list
See also
Notes
^ Seattle Reign FC was previously known as OL Reign.
^ Kealia Ohai also scored 11 goals in 2016, but Williams won the tiebreaker with five assists to Ohai's four.
References
^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL" . www.nwslsoccer.com . November 5, 2021.
^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL" . www.nwslsoccer.com . November 17, 2021.
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^ "Reign midfielder Little named 2014 NWSL MVP" . The Equalizer . August 28, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2024 .
^ "Top-scorer Dunn becomes youngest-ever NWSL MVP" . The Equalizer . September 23, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2024 .
^ "2016 NWSL MVP: Lynn Williams" . The Equalizer . October 6, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2024 .
^ "Kerr caps remarkable season with NWSL Most Valuable Player nod" . The Equalizer . October 20, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2024 ."2017 NWSL Awards Finalists Revealed" . National Women's Soccer League . October 5, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2024 .
^ Bush, Chelsey (September 21, 2018). "Horan's MVP season is only the beginning" . The Equalizer . Retrieved June 26, 2024 . Purdy, Jacqueline (September 16, 2018). "2018 NWSL Awards Finalists Revealed" . National Women's Soccer League . Retrieved June 26, 2024 .
^ "Sam Kerr is NWSL's first two-time NWSL MVP" . The Equalizer . October 25, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2024 .
^ "Jess Fishlock named 2021 NWSL MVP" . The Equalizer . November 16, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2024 ."National Women's Soccer League Announces Nominees for the 2021 NWSL Awards" . National Women's Soccer League . November 5, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2024 .
^ Kriger, Rachael (October 27, 2022). "Sophia Smith wins 2022 NWSL MVP Award" . The Equalizer . Retrieved June 26, 2024 . "National Women's Soccer League Announces Nominees for the 2021 NWSL Awards" . National Women's Soccer League . October 14, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2024 .
^ Cascone, Arianna (November 10, 2023). "Kerolin named NWSL MVP after outstanding season with the Courage" . The Equalizer . Retrieved June 26, 2024 . "2023 NWSL End-of-Year Awards: NWSL Most Valuable Player, Presented by Bud Light Finalists" . National Women's Soccer League . November 3, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2024 .
^ McDowell, Sam (August 19, 2013). "FCKC's Lauren Holiday wins Golden Boot award" . The Kansas City Star . Retrieved June 26, 2024 .
^ Campbell (September 30, 2014). "Kim Little boost for Scotland ladies" . The Scotsman . Retrieved June 26, 2024 .
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^ "Ex-Bullard High star Lynn Williams lighting up National Women's Soccer League" . The Fresno Bee . October 1, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2024 ."WNY Flash Forward Lynn Williams Wins 2016 NWSL Golden Boot" . National Women's Soccer League . September 26, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2024 .
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^ Hruby, Emma (October 16, 2023). "NWSL Golden Boot Race: Sophia Smith Outlasts Competition" . Just Women's Sports . Retrieved June 26, 2024 .
^ a b c d Kassouf, Jeff (August 27, 2013). "Holiday named 2013 NWSL MVP; KC sweeps awards" . The Equalizer. Retrieved December 29, 2013 .
^ "Becky Sauerbrunn named 2014 NWSL Defender of the Year" . NWSL. August 26, 2014. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2014 .
^ "FCKC'S BECKY SAUERBRUNN VOTED DEFENDER OF THE YEAR" (Press release). NWSL. September 21, 2015. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
^ "SEATTLE REIGN FC'S LAUREN BARNES VOTED DEFENDER OF THE YEAR" (Press release). NWSL. October 5, 2016. Archived from the original on October 7, 2016.
^ "Defender of the Year: Abby Dahlkemper, North Carolina Courage" (Press release). NWSL. October 19, 2017.
^ Balf, Celia (September 27, 2018). "Defender of the Year: Abby Erceg, North Carolina Courage" . NWSLsoccer.com . NWSL. Retrieved September 27, 2018 .
^ Levine, Matthew (October 30, 2019). "Utah Royals FC defender Becky Sauerbrunn named 2019 NWSL Defender of the Year" . NWSL. Retrieved November 6, 2019 .
^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL" . www.nwslsoccer.com . November 15, 2021.
^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL" . www.nwslsoccer.com . October 27, 2022.
^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL" . www.nwslsoccer.com . November 8, 2023.
^ "Alyssa Naeher named 2014 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year" . NWSL. August 25, 2014. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014 .
^ "THORNS FC'S MICHELLE BETOS VOTED GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR" (Press release). NWSL. September 16, 2015. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015.
^ "ORLANDO PRIDE'S ASHLYN HARRIS VOTED GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR" (Press release). NWSL. October 4, 2016. Archived from the original on October 6, 2016.
^ "Goalkeeper of the Year: Adrianna Franch, Portland Thorns FC" (Press release). NWSL. October 18, 2017.
^ Balf, Celia (September 27, 2018). "Goalkeeper of the Year: Adrianna Franch, Portland Thorns FC" . NWSLsoccer.com . NWSL. Retrieved September 27, 2018 .
^ Levine, Matthew (November 1, 2019). "Washington Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe named 2019 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year" . NWSL. Retrieved November 6, 2019 .
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^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL" . www.nwslsoccer.com . October 26, 2022.
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^ Goldberg, Jamie (September 14, 2015). "Chicago Red Stars midfielder Danielle Colaprico named NWSL rookie of the year" . The Oregonian .
^ "SKY BLUE FC'S RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ VOTED ROOKIE OF THE YEAR" . NWSL. October 3, 2016. Archived from the original on October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016 .
^ "Rookie of the Year: Ashley Hatch, North Carolina Courage" . NWSL. October 17, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016 .
^ Balf, Celia (September 26, 2018). "Rookie of the Year: Imani Dorsey, Sky Blue FC" . NWSLsoccer.com . NWSL. Retrieved September 26, 2018 .
^ Levine, Matthew (October 29, 2019). "Reign FC forward Bethany Balcer named 2019 NWSL Rookie of the Year" . NWSL. Retrieved October 29, 2019 .
^ "Washington Spirit Forward Trinity Rodman Named 2021 NWSL Rookie of the Year" . www.nwslsoccer.com . November 18, 2021.
^ "San Diego Wave FC Defender Naomi Girma Named 2022 NWSL Rookie of the Year, Presented by Ally" . www.nwslsoccer.com . October 27, 2022.
^ "NJ/NY Gotham FC Midfielder/Defender Jenna Nighswonger Named 2023 NWSL Rookie of the Year, Presented by Ally" . www.nwslsoccer.com . November 9, 2023.
^ "Laura Harvey named 2014 NWSL Coach of the Year" . NWSL. August 27, 2014. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2014 .
^ "Laura Harvey named 2015 NWSL Coach of the Year" . NWSL. September 18, 2015. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015 .
^ "PORTLAND THORNS FC'S MARK PARSONS VOTED COACH OF THE YEAR" . NWSL. October 3, 2016. Archived from the original on October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016 .
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^ "San Diego Wave FC's Casey Stoney Tabbed 2022 NWSL Coach of the Year" . NWSL. October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022 .
^ "National Women's Soccer League Official Site | NWSL" . www.nwslsoccer.com . November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023 .
^ "National Women's Soccer League Announces 2014 Best XI – Chicago Red Stars" . chicagoredstars.com . Archived from the original on September 7, 2014.
^ "NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE ANNOUNCES 2015 BEST XI" . NWSL. September 25, 2015. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2015 .
^ "NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE ANNOUNCES 2016 BEST XI" . NWSL. October 7, 2016. Archived from the original on October 7, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2016 .
^ "2017 Best XI announced" . NWSL. October 12, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017 .
^ "NWSL announces Second XI selections" . NWSL. October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2017 .
^ "2018 NWSL Best XI and Second XI announced" . September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018 .
^ "2019 NWSL Best XI and Second XI announced" . October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019 .
^ "NWSL Announces the Winners of Mastercard Inaugural 2021 Best XI Awards" . October 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021 .
^ "NWSL Announces Winners of Mastercard Best XI Awards" . October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022 .
^ "NWSL Announces Winners of 2023 Mastercard Best XI Awards" . November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023 .
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