The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) presents six annual awards to individual players. The Golden Boot award is presented to the top scorer at the end of the regular season, while the Most Valuable Player, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year awards are voted on by various league constituents. As of 2023, [update] the individual end-of-year awards are voted upon in two rounds: in the first round, players (50%), owners/general managers/coaches (25%), and media (25%) vote to determine the nominees; in the second round, players (50%), owners/general managers/coaches (20%), media (20%), and fans (10%) vote among the nominees to determine the winner. [1]
In addition, the league also presents two teams of the season awards, the NWSL Best XI and the NWSL Second XI, to individual players. As of 2023, [update] the teams of the season awards are voted on by players (50%), owners/general managers/coaches (20%), media (20%), and fans (10%). [2] Voters for the teams of the season awards are required to name one goalkeeper, four defenders, and a combination of six midfielders and forwards.
NJ/NY Gotham FC is a professional women's soccer team based in Harrison, New Jersey. Founded in 2006 as Jersey Sky Blue, the team was known as Sky Blue FC from 2008 until 2020. A founding member of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in 2013, Sky Blue FC also played in the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) from 2009 to 2011.
The Washington Spirit is an American professional soccer club based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area that participates in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). It is a continuation of the D.C. United Women of the W-League and continues to field both an amateur Women's Premier Soccer League team and a youth team, both under the Spirit name.
Seattle Reign FC is an American professional women's soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2012, it was one of eight inaugural members of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and continues to play in the league. Since June 2024, the Reign are owned by the private equity firm Carlyle Group and the Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC.
The 2013 season was FC Kansas City's first season of existence, in which they competed in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top division of women's soccer in the United States.
Michelle Jenny Betos is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She is perhaps best known for being the first NWSL goalkeeper to score a goal in league play.
The 2014 Seattle Reign FC season was the club's second season of play and their second season in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States.
Rachel Ann Daly is an English professional footballer who plays predominantly as a striker for Aston Villa in the FA Women's Super League. Having spent most of her career with Houston Dash in the NWSL, she spent her youth career at Leeds United, for which she also made her senior debut. She represented England and Great Britain.
The 2014 Chicago Red Stars season was the sixth season of the soccer club and its second season in National Women's Soccer League.
The 2015 Chicago Red Stars season was the seventh season of the soccer club and its third season in National Women's Soccer League. For the first time in NWSL the Red Stars advanced to the playoffs by finishing second in regular season. In addition, the team held the first place for ten consecutive weeks, from week 4 to week 13. However, the club could not reach the NWSL championship, as in the playoffs semi-final the Red Stars lost to the reigning Champion FC Kansas City, by a score of 0–3. It was the club's final season playing home games at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex.
Kristen Marie Hamilton is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
The 2018 Seattle Reign FC season was the club's sixth season of play and their sixth season in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. After finishing fifth in the league for two consecutive seasons, the Reign finished third to return to the playoffs, where they lost to Portland Thorns FC in the semi-final.
The 2019 Reign FC season was the club's seventh season of play and their seventh season in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. It was the club's first season playing in Tacoma, Washington, following the relocation from Seattle; the 2019 season was also their first under their new name after they were rebranded from Seattle Reign FC.
The National Women's Soccer League Players Association Awards are annual awards voted on by the players of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) since 2019. These awards are presented by the National Women's Soccer League Players Association (NWSLPA), the trade union representing non-allocated players in the NWSL. They are considered one of the major end-of-season awards for NWSL players alongside the league's own awards. As there are often differences between the league's own awards and the NWSL Players' Awards, many NWSL players consider the NWSL Players' Awards to be more prestigious as they are decided by only players themselves.
The 2023 National Women's Soccer League season was the eleventh season of the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Including the NWSL's two professional predecessors, Women's Professional Soccer (2009–2011) and the Women's United Soccer Association (2001–2003), it was the 17th overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States. Twelve teams compete in the league.
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).
The NWSL Most Valuable Player award is presented annually to the best player in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
The NWSL Defender of the Year award is presented annually to the best defensive player in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
The NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award is presented annually to the best goalkeeper in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
The NWSL Rookie of the Year award is presented annually to the best rookie in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
The NWSL Coach of the Year award is presented annually to the best head coach in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).