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 2024, 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
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 | .svg.png) 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 | .svg.png) Caitlin Foord | Sky Blue FC | 
| Defender |  Ali Krieger | Washington Spirit | 
| Defender | .svg.png) Lauren Sesselmann | FC Kansas City | 
| Midfielder |  Megan Rapinoe | Seattle Reign FC | 
| Midfielder | .svg.png) Desiree Scott | FC Kansas City | 
| Midfielder |  Erika Tymrak | FC Kansas City | 
| Forward |  Alex Morgan | Portland Thorns | 
| Forward |  Lianne Sanderson | Boston Breakers | 
| Forward | .svg.png) 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 | .svg.png) 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[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
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
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 | .svg.png) 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 | .svg.png) 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[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 | .svg.png) Sam Kerr | Chicago Red Stars | 
| Forward |  Megan Rapinoe | Seattle Reign | 
Second XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB | 
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | .svg.png) Lydia Williams | Seattle Reign | 
| Defender |  Emily Menges | Portland Thorns FC | 
| Defender |  Merritt Mathias | North Carolina Courage | 
| Defender | .svg.png) Steph Catley | Seattle Reign | 
| Defender |  Julie Ertz | Chicago Red Stars | 
| Midfielder |  Carli Lloyd | Sky Blue FC | 
| Midfielder | .svg.png) 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[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 | .svg.png) 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 | 
2020
The 2020 NWSL regular season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]
2021
Announced November 17, 2021[10]
Best XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB | 
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | .svg.png) 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
Announced October 25, 2022[11]
Best XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB | 
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | .svg.png) 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
Announced November 6, 2023[12]
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
Announced November 18, 2024[1]
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
- 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
- List of sports awards honoring women
- NWSL Players' Awards
- NWSL awards
- NWSL records and statistics
- Women's soccer in the United States
References
- ^ a b "NWSL Announces Winners of 2024 NWSL Best XI Awards, presented by Amazon Prime". November 18, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
- ^ "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. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
- ^ "2020 Champions Cup Presented by P&G and Secret Roster Rules" (PDF). NWSL. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ "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.



