NWSL Best XI
NWSL Best XI and Second XI are annual awards presented to the best and second-best eleven players in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
As of 2023,[update] the teams of the season awards are voted on by players (40%), owners/general managers/coaches (25%), media (25%), and fans (10%).[1] Voters for the teams of the season awards are required to name one goalkeeper, four defenders, and a combination of six midfielders and forwards.
2013
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Announced September 24, 2015[3]
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
[edit]Announced October 7, 2016[4]
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
[edit]Announced October 12, 2017[5]
Best XI
| 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[6]
| 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
[edit]Announced September 20, 2018[7]
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
[edit]Announced October 24, 2019[8]
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 |
2021
[edit]Announced November 17, 2021[9]
Best XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Kailen Sheridan |
NJ/NY Gotham FC |
| Defender | Caprice Dydasco |
NJ/NY Gotham FC |
| Alana Cook |
OL Reign | |
| Sarah Gorden |
Chicago Red Stars | |
| Carson Pickett |
North Carolina Courage | |
| Midfielder/Forward | Ashley Hatch |
Washington Spirit |
| Jess Fishlock |
OL Reign | |
 Eugénie Le Sommer |
OL Reign | |
| Margaret Purce |
NJ/NY Gotham FC | |
| Trinity Rodman |
Washington Spirit | |
| Angela Salem |
Portland Thorns FC |
Second XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Bella Bixby |
Portland Thorns FC |
| Defender | Sofia Huerta |
OL Reign |
| Emily Menges |
Portland Thorns FC | |
| Emily Fox |
Racing Louisville FC | |
| Meghan Klingenberg |
Portland Thorns FC | |
| Midfielder/Forward | Bethany Balcer |
OL Reign |
| Lindsey Horan |
Portland Thorns FC | |
| Mallory Pugh |
Chicago Red Stars | |
| Rachel Daly |
Houston Dash | |
| Sydney Leroux |
Orlando Pride | |
 Ifeoma Onumonu |
NJ/NY Gotham FC |
2022
[edit]Announced October 25, 2022[10]
Best XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Kailen Sheridan |
San Diego Wave FC |
| Defender | Alana Cook |
OL Reign |
| Naomi Girma |
San Diego Wave FC | |
| Sofia Huerta |
OL Reign | |
| Carson Pickett |
North Carolina Courage | |
| Midfielder/Forward | Sam Coffey |
Portland Thorns FC |
| Lo'eau LaBonta |
Kansas City Current | |
| Alex Morgan |
San Diego Wave FC | |
| Debinha |
North Carolina Courage | |
| Mallory Pugh |
Chicago Red Stars | |
| Sophia Smith |
Portland Thorns FC |
Second XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Adrianna Franch |
Kansas City Current |
| Defender | Kelli Hubly |
Portland Thorns FC |
| Hailie Mace |
Kansas City Current | |
| Tatumn Milazzo |
Chicago Red Stars | |
| Becky Sauerbrunn |
Portland Thorns FC | |
| Midfielder/Forward | Kerolin |
North Carolina Courage |
| Jess Fishlock |
OL Reign | |
| Rose Lavelle |
OL Reign | |
 Diana Ordóñez |
North Carolina Courage | |
| Megan Rapinoe |
OL Reign | |
| Ebony Salmon |
Houston Dash |
2023
[edit]Announced November 6, 2023[1]
Best XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Jane Campbell |
Houston Dash |
| Defender | Naomi Girma |
San Diego Wave FC |
| Ali Krieger |
NJ/NY Gotham FC | |
| Sarah Gorden |
Angel City FC | |
| Sam Staab |
Washington Spirit | |
| Midfielder/Forward | Sam Coffey |
Portland Thorns FC |
| Debinha |
Kansas City Current | |
| Jaedyn Shaw |
San Diego Wave FC | |
| Kerolin |
North Carolina Courage | |
| Sophia Smith |
Portland Thorns FC | |
| Lynn Williams |
NJ/NY Gotham FC |
Second XI
2024
[edit]Announced November 18, 2024[11]
Best XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper |  Ann-Katrin Berger |
NJ/NY Gotham FC |
| Defender | Emily Sams |
Orlando Pride |
| Casey Krueger |
Washington Spirit | |
| Kaleigh Kurtz |
North Carolina Courage | |
| Jenna Nighswonger |
NJ/NY Gotham FC | |
| Midfielder/Forward |  Temwa Chawinga |
Kansas City Current |
 Barbra Banda |
Orlando Pride | |
| Marta |
Orlando Pride | |
| Croix Bethune |
Washington Spirit | |
| Trinity Rodman |
Washington Spirit | |
| Sophia Smith |
Portland Thorns FC |
Second XI
Most selections
[edit]- As of November 18, 2024. Only players with multiple total selections are included.
| Players still active in the NWSL | |
| Bold* | Players on most recent list |
See also
[edit]
- List of sports awards honoring women
- NWSL Players' Awards
- NWSL records and statistics
- Women's soccer in the United States
References
[edit]- ^ a b "NWSL Announces Winners of 2023 Mastercard Best XI Awards". November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 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 (November 18, 2024). "NWSL Announces Winners of 2024 NWSL Best XI Awards, presented by Amazon Prime | NWSL Announces Winners of 2024 NWSL Best XI Awards, presented by Amazon Prime | National Women's Soccer League Official Site". NWSL. Retrieved November 18, 2024.