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.
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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
Players still active in the NWSL | |
Bold* | Players on most recent list |
Nat | Player | Best XI | Second XI | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Becky Sauerbrunn | 7 | 1 | 8 | |
Jess Fishlock | 5 | 2 | 7 | |
Ali Krieger * | 4 | 2 | 6 | |
Julie Ertz | 2 | 4 | 6 | |
Megan Rapinoe | 1 | 5 | 6 | |
Christen Press | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
Sofia Huerta | 1 | 4 | 5 | |
Crystal Dunn | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
Adrianna Franch | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
Lauren Holiday | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
Lindsey Horan | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
Emily Menges | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
Alex Morgan * | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
Carli Lloyd | 0 | 4 | 4 | |
Abby Dahlkemper | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
Tobin Heath | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
Sam Kerr | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
Lauren Barnes | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Debinha* | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Casey Krueger | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Kim Little | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Allie Long | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Christie Pearce | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Kailen Sheridan * | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Lynn Williams * | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
Abby Erceg | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
Alyssa Naeher | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
Danielle Colaprico | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
Steph Catley | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
Sam Coffey * | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
Alana Cook | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
Naomi Girma * | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
Sarah Gorden * | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
Carson Pickett | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
Sophia Smith * | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
McCall Zerboni | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
Nicole Barnhart | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Leigh Ann Brown | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Kendall Fletcher | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Ashley Hatch * | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Kerolin* | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Rose Lavelle | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Sydney Leroux | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Jessica McDonald | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Mallory Swanson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Trinity Rodman * | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Emily Sonnett | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Arin Wright | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Bethany Balcer | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
Stephanie Cox | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
Rachel Daly | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
Emily Fox * | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
Meghan Klingenberg | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
Christine Sinclair | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
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