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. The awards are voted on by media, coaches/owners, and players.
In addition, NWSL Best XI and NWSL Second XI teams are named and voted on by journalists, club officials and NWSL players. 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

SeasonPlayerClubRef
2013 FC Kansas City
2014 Chicago Red Stars
2015 Chicago Red Stars
2016 Sky Blue FC
2017 North Carolina Courage
2018 Sky Blue FC
2019 Reign FC

Coach of the Year

Teams of the Year

2013

Best XI
POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
GoalkeeperNicole BarnhartFC Kansas City10 shutouts
DefenderChristie RamponeSky Blue FC1.20 GAA
DefenderLeigh Ann RobinsonFC Kansas City5 assists
DefenderBecky SauerbrunnFC Kansas City1.00 GAA
DefenderBrittany TaylorWestern New York Flash3 goals, 4 assists
MidfielderLori ChalupnyChicago Red Stars5 goals, 4 assists
MidfielderJess FishlockSeattle Reign FC4 goals
MidfielderLauren HolidayFC Kansas City12 goals, 9 assists
MidfielderDiana MathesonWashington Spirit8 goals, 3 assists
ForwardSydney LerouxBoston Breakers11 goals, 2 assists
ForwardAbby WambachWestern New York Flash11 goals, 8 assists

Second XI
POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
GoalkeeperAdrianna FranchWestern New York Flash
DefenderRachel BuehlerPortland Thorns
DefenderCaitlin FoordSky Blue FC
DefenderAli KriegerWashington Spirit
DefenderLauren SesselmannFC Kansas City
MidfielderMegan RapinoeSeattle Reign FC
MidfielderDesiree ScottFC Kansas City
MidfielderErika TymrakFC Kansas City
ForwardAlex MorganPortland Thorns
ForwardLianne SandersonBoston Breakers
ForwardChristine SinclairPortland Thorns

2014

Best XI
POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
GoalkeeperBoston Breakers106 saves
DefenderSeattle Reign FC.83 team GAA
DefenderWashington Spirit1 goal
DefenderSky Blue FC1 goal, 2 assists
DefenderFC Kansas City8 shutouts
MidfielderPortland Thorns FC4 goals, 6 assists
MidfielderSeattle Reign FC4 goals, 8 assists
MidfielderSeattle Reign FC16 goals, 7 assists
ForwardFC Kansas City8 goals, 7 assists
ForwardSeattle Reign FC9 goals, 5 assists
ForwardFC Kansas City13 goals, 3 assists

Second XI
POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
GoalkeeperSeattle Reign FC5 shutouts
DefenderSeattle Reign FC.83 team GAA
DefenderPortland Thorns FC5 assists
DefenderSeattle Reign FC.83 team GAA
DefenderChicago Red StarsRookie of the Year
MidfielderWestern New York Flash8 goals, 5 assists
MidfielderPortland Thorns FC9 goals, 3 assists
MidfielderBoston Breakers9 goals, 5 assists
ForwardChicago Red Stars6 goals
ForwardPortland Thorns FC11 goals, 1 assist
ForwardWashington Spirit11 goals, 2 assists

2015

Announced September 24, 2015
Best XI
POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
GoalkeeperMichelle BetosPortland Thorns FC45 saves
DefenderLauren BarnesSeattle Reign FC1,800 minutes
DefenderJulie JohnstonChicago Red Stars1.10 team GAA
DefenderAmy LePeilbetFC Kansas City1,800 minutes
DefenderBecky SauerbrunnFC Kansas City1.00 GAA
MidfielderJess FishlockSeattle Reign FC8 goals, 2 assists
MidfielderKim LittleSeattle Reign FC10 goals, 7 assists
MidfielderAllie LongPortland Thorns FC10 goals, 4 assists
ForwardCrystal DunnWashington Spirit15 goals, 3 assists
ForwardChristen PressChicago Red Stars10 goals, 2 assists
ForwardBeverly YanezSeattle Reign FC9 goals

Second XI
POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
GoalkeeperNicole BarnhartFC Kansas City8 shutouts
DefenderStephanie CoxSeattle Reign FC1,800 minutes
DefenderKendall FletcherSeattle Reign FC2 goals, 2 assists
DefenderArin GillilandChicago Red Stars1.10 team GAA
DefenderLeigh Ann RobinsonFC Kansas City1,800 minutes
MidfielderDanielle ColapricoChicago Red Stars1,776 minutes
MidfielderLauren HolidayFC Kansas City2 goals, 2 assists
MidfielderCarli LloydHouston Dash4 goals
MidfielderKeelin WintersSeattle Reign FC1,654 minutes
ForwardSofia HuertaChicago Red Stars6 goals, 3 assists
ForwardMegan RapinoeSeattle Reign FC5 goals, 5 assists

2016

Announced October 7, 2016
Best XI
POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
GoalkeeperOrlando Pride62 saves
DefenderSeattle Reign FC1,775 minutes
DefenderChicago Red Stars1.00 team GAA
DefenderPortland Thorns FC0.95 team GAA
DefenderFC Kansas City1.00 team GAA
MidfielderPortland Thorns FCGoal, 10 assists
MidfielderPortland Thorns FC6 goals, 2 assists
ForwardWestern New York Flash10 goals, 7 assists
ForwardHouston Dash11 goals, 4 assists
ForwardChicago Red Stars8 goals
ForwardWestern New York Flash11 goals, 5 assists

Second XI
POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
GoalkeeperChicago Red Stars1.00 GAA
DefenderChicago Red Stars1.00 team GAA
DefenderWashington Spirit1.05 team GAA
DefenderSky Blue FC1,800 minutes
DefenderChicago Red Stars1,781 minutes
MidfielderChicago Red StarsGoal, 2 assists
MidfielderChicago Red Stars7 assists
MidfielderSeattle Reign FCGoals, 4 assists
MidfielderSeattle Reign FC6 goals, 2 assists
ForwardWashington Spirit2 goals, 5 assists
ForwardFC Kansas City8 goals

2017

Best XI
Announced October 12, 2017
POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
GoalkeeperPortland Thorns FC11 shutouts, 80 saves,.83 GAA
DefenderChicago Red Stars1 goal, 3rd-best defense in NWSL
DefenderNorth Carolina Courage121 corner kicks taken, 2 assists
DefenderFC Kansas City157 clearances, 24 blocks, 1 goal, 2 assists
DefenderOrlando Pride99 clearances, 49 interceptions, 2 assists
MidfielderSeattle Reign FC7 goals, 2 assists
MidfielderNorth Carolina Courage6 goals, 3 assists
MidfielderNorth Carolina Courage3 goals, 1 assist
ForwardOrlando Pride13 goals, 6 assists, 64 chances created
ForwardSky Blue FC17 goals, 4 assists, 2 hattricks, 1 4-goal game
ForwardChicago Red Stars11 goals, 4 assists

Second XI
Announced October 10, 2017
POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
GoalkeeperNorth Carolina Courage39 saves, 8 shutouts
DefenderOrlando Pride2,032 minutes played
DefenderNorth Carolina Courage1 goal, 2 assists
DefenderPortland Thorns FC6 assists
DefenderPortland Thorns FC2,063 minutes played
MidfielderChicago Red Stars1,903 minutes played
MidfielderChicago Red Stars4 goals, 3 assists
MidfielderPortland Thorns FC4 goals, 2 assists
MidfielderChicago Red Stars6 goals, 4 assists
ForwardOrlando Pride9 goals, 4 assists
ForwardSeattle Reign FC12 goals, 1 assist

2018

Announced September 20, 2018
Best XI
POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
GoalkeeperPortland Thorns FC
DefenderPortland Thorns FC
DefenderNorth Carolina Courage
DefenderUtah Royals FC
DefenderNorth Carolina Courage
MidfielderPortland Thorns FC
MidfielderPortland Thorns FC
MidfielderNorth Carolina Courage
ForwardNorth Carolina Courage
ForwardChicago Red Stars
ForwardSeattle Reign

Second XI
POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
GoalkeeperSeattle Reign
DefenderPortland Thorns FC
DefenderNorth Carolina Courage
DefenderSeattle Reign
DefenderChicago Red Stars
MidfielderSky Blue FC
MidfielderPortland Thorns FC
MidfielderNorth Carolina Courage
ForwardNorth Carolina Courage
ForwardHouston Dash
ForwardHouston Dash

2019

Announced October 24, 2019
Best XI
POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
GoalkeeperWashington Spirit
DefenderNorth Carolina Courage
DefenderOrlando Pride
DefenderUtah Royals FC
DefenderChicago Red Stars
MidfielderChicago Red Stars
MidfielderPortland Thorns FC
MidfielderWashington Spirit
ForwardPortland Thorns FC
ForwardChicago Red Stars
ForwardUtah Royals FC

Second XI
POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
GoalkeeperChicago Red Stars
DefenderReign FC
DefenderNorth Carolina Courage
DefenderUtah Royals FC
DefenderPortland Thorns FC
MidfielderReign FC
MidfielderNorth Carolina Courage
MidfielderChicago Red Stars
ForwardNorth Carolina Courage
ForwardSky Blue FC
ForwardReign FC

Most selections

Players still active in the NWSL