NWSL awards
The National Women's Soccer League hands out a number of annual awards. Six were awarded for the inaugural season in 2013, including: Golden Boot, Most Valuable Player, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year.[1] The awards are voted on by media (25%), coaches/owners (25%), and players (50%).
In addition, NWSL Best XI and NWSL Second XI teams are named and voted on by journalists, club officials and NWSL players.[2] Voters for the Best XI named selections for four defenders and a combination of six midfielders and forwards; with a minimum of one and maximum of three forwards. The Goalkeeper of the Year is automatically named to the Best XI. The NWSL Second XI team is composed of the subsequent vote recipient leaders at each position who did not make the Best XI.
Most Valuable Player
Golden Boot
Defender of the Year
Goalkeeper of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Coach of the Year
Teams of the Year
2013
Best XI
POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB | NOTE |
---|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Nicole Barnhart | FC Kansas City | 10 shutouts |
Defender | Christie Rampone | Sky Blue FC | 1.20 GAA |
Defender | Leigh Ann Robinson | FC Kansas City | 5 assists |
Defender | Becky Sauerbrunn | FC Kansas City | 1.00 GAA |
Defender | Brittany Taylor | Western New York Flash | 3 goals, 4 assists |
Midfielder | Lori Chalupny | Chicago Red Stars | 5 goals, 4 assists |
Midfielder | Jess Fishlock | Seattle Reign FC | 4 goals |
Midfielder | Lauren Holiday | FC Kansas City | 12 goals, 9 assists |
Midfielder | Diana Matheson | Washington Spirit | 8 goals, 3 assists |
Forward | Sydney Leroux | Boston Breakers | 11 goals, 2 assists |
Forward | Abby Wambach | Western New York Flash | 11 goals, 8 assists |
Second XI
POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Adrianna Franch | Western New York Flash |
Defender | Rachel Buehler | Portland Thorns |
Defender | Caitlin Foord | Sky Blue FC |
Defender | Ali Krieger | Washington Spirit |
Defender | Lauren Sesselmann | FC Kansas City |
Midfielder | Megan Rapinoe | Seattle Reign FC |
Midfielder | Desiree Scott | FC Kansas City |
Midfielder | Erika Tymrak | FC Kansas City |
Forward | Alex Morgan | Portland Thorns |
Forward | Lianne Sanderson | Boston Breakers |
Forward | Christine Sinclair | Portland Thorns |
2014
Best XI
POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB | NOTE |
---|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Alyssa Naeher | Boston Breakers | 106 saves |
Defender | Kendall Fletcher | Seattle Reign FC | .83 team GAA |
Defender | Ali Krieger | Washington Spirit | 1 goal |
Defender | Christie Rampone | Sky Blue FC | 1 goal, 2 assists |
Defender | Becky Sauerbrunn | FC Kansas City | 8 shutouts |
Midfielder | Verónica Boquete | Portland Thorns FC | 4 goals, 6 assists |
Midfielder | Jess Fishlock | Seattle Reign FC | 4 goals, 8 assists |
Midfielder | Kim Little | Seattle Reign FC | 16 goals, 7 assists |
Forward | Lauren Holiday | FC Kansas City | 8 goals, 7 assists |
Forward | Nahomi Kawasumi | Seattle Reign FC | 9 goals, 5 assists |
Forward | Amy Rodriguez | FC Kansas City | 13 goals, 3 assists |
Second XI
POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB | NOTE |
---|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Hope Solo | Seattle Reign FC | 5 shutouts |
Defender | Lauren Barnes | Seattle Reign FC | .83 team GAA |
Defender | Stephanie Catley | Portland Thorns FC | 5 assists |
Defender | Stephanie Cox | Seattle Reign FC | .83 team GAA |
Defender | Julie Johnston | Chicago Red Stars | Rookie of the Year |
Midfielder | Carli Lloyd | Western New York Flash | 8 goals, 5 assists |
Midfielder | Allie Long | Portland Thorns FC | 9 goals, 3 assists |
Midfielder | Heather O'Reilly | Boston Breakers | 9 goals, 5 assists |
Forward | Christen Press | Chicago Red Stars | 6 goals |
Forward | Jessica McDonald | Portland Thorns FC | 11 goals, 1 assist |
Forward | Jodie Taylor | Washington Spirit | 11 goals, 2 assists |
2015
Announced September 24, 2015[41]
Best XI
POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB | NOTE |
---|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Michelle Betos | Portland Thorns FC | 45 saves |
Defender | Lauren Barnes | Seattle Reign FC | 1,800 minutes |
Defender | Julie Johnston | Chicago Red Stars | 1.10 team GAA |
Defender | Amy LePeilbet | FC Kansas City | 1,800 minutes |
Defender | Becky Sauerbrunn | FC Kansas City | 1.00 GAA |
Midfielder | Jess Fishlock | Seattle Reign FC | 8 goals, 2 assists |
Midfielder | Kim Little | Seattle Reign FC | 10 goals, 7 assists |
Midfielder | Allie Long | Portland Thorns FC | 10 goals, 4 assists |
Forward | Crystal Dunn | Washington Spirit | 15 goals, 3 assists |
Forward | Christen Press | Chicago Red Stars | 10 goals, 2 assists |
Forward | Beverly Yanez | Seattle Reign FC | 9 goals |
Second XI
POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB | NOTE |
---|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Nicole Barnhart | FC Kansas City | 8 shutouts |
Defender | Stephanie Cox | Seattle Reign FC | 1,800 minutes |
Defender | Kendall Fletcher | Seattle Reign FC | 2 goals, 2 assists |
Defender | Arin Gilliland | Chicago Red Stars | 1.10 team GAA |
Defender | Leigh Ann Robinson | FC Kansas City | 1,800 minutes |
Midfielder | Danielle Colaprico | Chicago Red Stars | 1,776 minutes |
Midfielder | Lauren Holiday | FC Kansas City | 2 goals, 2 assists |
Midfielder | Carli Lloyd | Houston Dash | 4 goals |
Midfielder | Keelin Winters | Seattle Reign FC | 1,654 minutes |
Forward | Sofia Huerta | Chicago Red Stars | 6 goals, 3 assists |
Forward | Megan Rapinoe | Seattle Reign FC | 5 goals, 5 assists |
2016
Announced October 7, 2016[42]
Best XI
POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB | NOTE |
---|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Ashlyn Harris | Orlando Pride | 62 saves |
Defender | Lauren Barnes | Seattle Reign FC | 1,775 minutes |
Defender | Arin Gilliland | Chicago Red Stars | 1.00 team GAA |
Defender | Emily Menges | Portland Thorns FC | 0.95 team GAA |
Defender | Becky Sauerbrunn | FC Kansas City | 1.00 team GAA |
Midfielder | Tobin Heath | Portland Thorns FC | Goal, 10 assists |
Midfielder | Allie Long | Portland Thorns FC | 6 goals, 2 assists |
Forward | Jessica McDonald | Western New York Flash | 10 goals, 7 assists |
Forward | Kealia Ohai | Houston Dash | 11 goals, 4 assists |
Forward | Christen Press | Chicago Red Stars | 8 goals |
Forward | Lynn Williams | Western New York Flash | 11 goals, 5 assists |
Second XI
POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB | NOTE |
---|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Alyssa Naeher | Chicago Red Stars | 1.00 GAA |
Defender | Julie Johnston | Chicago Red Stars | 1.00 team GAA |
Defender | Ali Krieger | Washington Spirit | 1.05 team GAA |
Defender | Christie Rampone | Sky Blue FC | 1,800 minutes |
Defender | Casey Short | Chicago Red Stars | 1,781 minutes |
Midfielder | Danielle Colaprico | Chicago Red Stars | Goal, 2 assists |
Midfielder | Vanessa DiBernardo | Chicago Red Stars | 7 assists |
Midfielder | Jess Fishlock | Seattle Reign FC | Goals, 4 assists |
Midfielder | Kim Little | Seattle Reign FC | 6 goals, 2 assists |
Forward | Crystal Dunn | Washington Spirit | 2 goals, 5 assists |
Forward | Shea Groom | FC Kansas City | 8 goals |
2017
Best XI
Announced October 12, 2017[43]
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[44]
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[45]
Best XI
POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Adrianna Franch | Portland Thorns FC |
Defender | Emily Sonnett | Portland Thorns FC |
Defender | Abby Dahlkemper | North Carolina Courage |
Defender | Becky Sauerbrunn | Utah Royals FC |
Defender | Abby Erceg | North Carolina Courage |
Midfielder | Tobin Heath | Portland Thorns FC |
Midfielder | Lindsey Horan | Portland Thorns FC |
Midfielder | McCall Zerboni | North Carolina Courage |
Forward | Crystal Dunn | North Carolina Courage |
Forward | Sam Kerr | Chicago Red Stars |
Forward | Megan Rapinoe | Seattle Reign |
Second XI
POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Lydia Williams | Seattle Reign |
Defender | Emily Menges | Portland Thorns FC |
Defender | Merritt Mathias | North Carolina Courage |
Defender | Steph Catley | Seattle Reign |
Defender | Julie Ertz | Chicago Red Stars |
Midfielder | Carli Lloyd | Sky Blue FC |
Midfielder | Christine Sinclair | Portland Thorns FC |
Midfielder | Debinha | North Carolina Courage |
Forward | Lynn Williams | North Carolina Courage |
Forward | Sofia Huerta | Houston Dash |
Forward | Rachel Daly | Houston Dash |
2019
Announced October 24, 2019[46]
Best XI
POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Aubrey Bledsoe | Washington Spirit |
Defender | Abby Dahlkemper | North Carolina Courage |
Defender | Ali Krieger | Orlando Pride |
Defender | Becky Sauerbrunn | Utah Royals FC |
Defender | Casey Short | Chicago Red Stars |
Midfielder | Julie Ertz | Chicago Red Stars |
Midfielder | Lindsey Horan | Portland Thorns FC |
Midfielder | Rose Lavelle | Washington Spirit |
Forward | Tobin Heath | Portland Thorns FC |
Forward | Sam Kerr | Chicago Red Stars |
Forward | Christen Press | Utah Royals FC |
Second XI
POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Alyssa Naeher | Chicago Red Stars |
Defender | Lauren Barnes | Reign FC |
Defender | Abby Erceg | North Carolina Courage |
Defender | Kelley O'Hara | Utah Royals FC |
Defender | Emily Sonnett | Portland Thorns FC |
Midfielder | Bethany Balcer | Reign FC |
Midfielder | Crystal Dunn | North Carolina Courage |
Midfielder | Yūki Nagasato | Chicago Red Stars |
Forward | Kristen Hamilton | North Carolina Courage |
Forward | Carli Lloyd | Sky Blue FC |
Forward | Megan Rapinoe | Reign FC |
Most selections
- Only players with multiple total selections are included.
Players still active in the NWSL | |
Nat | Player | Best XI | Second XI | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Becky Sauerbrunn | 7 | 0 | 7 |
![]() | Julie Ertz | 2 | 4 | 6 |
![]() | Jess Fishlock | 4 | 1 | 5 |
![]() | Christen Press | 4 | 1 | 5 |
![]() | Ali Krieger | 3 | 2 | 5 |
![]() | Megan Rapinoe | 1 | 4 | 5 |
![]() | Crystal Dunn | 2 | 2 | 4 |
![]() | Lauren Holiday | 2 | 2 | 4 |
![]() | Carli Lloyd | 0 | 4 | 4 |
![]() | Lauren Barnes | 2 | 1 | 3 |
![]() | Adrianna Franch | 2 | 1 | 3 |
![]() | Kim Little | 2 | 1 | 3 |
![]() | Allie Long | 2 | 1 | 3 |
![]() | Christie Rampone | 2 | 1 | 3 |
![]() | Emily Menges | 1 | 2 | 3 |
![]() | Steph Catley | 0 | 3 | 3 |
![]() | Danielle Colaprico | 0 | 3 | 3 |
![]() | Sofia Huerta | 0 | 3 | 3 |
![]() | Abby Dahlkemper | 3 | 0 | 3 |
![]() | Tobin Heath | 3 | 0 | 3 |
![]() | Sam Kerr | 3 | 0 | 3 |
![]() | Lindsey Horan | 2 | 1 | 3 |
![]() | Alyssa Naeher | 1 | 2 | 3 |
![]() | Abby Erceg | 1 | 2 | 3 |
![]() | Casey Short | 2 | 1 | 3 |
![]() | McCall Zerboni | 2 | 0 | 2 |
![]() | Nicole Barnhart | 1 | 1 | 2 |
![]() | Kendall Fletcher | 1 | 1 | 2 |
![]() | Arin Gilliland | 1 | 1 | 2 |
![]() | Jessica McDonald | 1 | 1 | 2 |
![]() | Leigh Ann Robinson | 1 | 1 | 2 |
![]() | Lynn Williams | 1 | 1 | 2 |
![]() | Stephanie Cox | 0 | 2 | 2 |
![]() | Alex Morgan | 0 | 2 | 2 |
![]() | Christine Sinclair | 0 | 2 | 2 |
![]() | Emily Sonnett | 1 | 1 | 2 |
See also
References
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- "NWSL BEST XI". National Women's Soccer League. Archived from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
- Kassouf, Jeff (August 27, 2013). "Holiday named 2013 NWSL MVP; KC sweeps awards". The Equalizer. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- Oshan, Jeremiah (August 29, 2014). "NWSL names Kim Little MVP". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
- "SPIRIT FORWARD CRYSTAL DUNN VOTED NWSL MVP" (Press release). NWSL. September 24, 2015. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
- "WESTERN NEW YORK FLASH FORWARD LYNN WILLIAMS VOTED NWSL MVP" (Press release). NWSL. October 6, 2016. Archived from the original on October 7, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
- Lara, Cindy (October 21, 2017). "Sam Kerr named Most Valuable Player". Vavel. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
- Balf, Celia (September 21, 2018). "NWSL MVP: Lindsey Horan, Portland Thorns FC". NWSL.
- Levine, Matthew (October 25, 2019). "Chicago Red Stars forward Sam Kerr named 2019 NWSL MVP presented by Budweiser". NWSL. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- "Kim Little Claims 2014 NWSL Golden Boot". NWSL. August 21, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
- "SPIRIT FORWARD CRYSTAL DUNN WINS 2015 GOLDEN BOOT" (Press release). NWSL. September 7, 2015. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015.
- Jackson-Gibson, Adele (September 26, 2016). "WNY Flash forward Lynn Williams wins 2016 NWSL Golden Boot". Excelle Sports. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
- "2017 NWSL Golden Boot: Sam Kerr". www.nwslsoccer.com. October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
- Purdy, Jacqueline (September 10, 2018). "2018 Golden Boot: Sam Kerr". NWSL. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- Levine, Matthew (October 18, 2019). "2019 Golden Boot: Sam Kerr". NWSL. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
- "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.
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- "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.
- "Julie Johnston named 2014 NWSL Rookie of the Year". NWSL. August 22, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
- 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.
- "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.
- "Paul Riley voted NWSL Coach of the Year". NWSL. October 16, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
- Purdy, Jacqueline (September 26, 2018). "Coach of the Year: Paul Riley". Nwslsoccer.com. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
- Levine, Matthew (October 26, 2019). "Reign FC's Vlatko Andonovski named 2019 National Women's Soccer League Coach of the Year". NWSL. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- http://chicagoredstars.com/national-womens-soccer-league-announces-2014-best-xi/
- "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.