NWSL Best XI explained

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 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

POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
Goalkeeper Nicole BarnhartFC Kansas City10 shutouts
Defender Christie RamponeSky Blue FC1.20 GAA
Defender Leigh Ann RobinsonFC Kansas City5 assists
Defender Becky SauerbrunnFC Kansas City1.00 GAA
Defender Brittany TaylorWestern New York Flash3 goals, 4 assists
Midfielder Lori ChalupnyChicago Red Stars5 goals, 4 assists
Midfielder Jess FishlockSeattle Reign FC4 goals
Midfielder Lauren HolidayFC Kansas City12 goals, 9 assists
Midfielder Diana MathesonWashington Spirit8 goals, 3 assists
Forward Sydney LerouxBoston Breakers11 goals, 2 assists
Forward Abby WambachWestern New York Flash11 goals, 8 assists

Second XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
Goalkeeper Adrianna FranchWestern New York Flash
Defender Rachel BuehlerPortland Thorns
Defender Caitlin FoordSky Blue FC
Defender Ali KriegerWashington Spirit
Defender Lauren SesselmannFC Kansas City
Midfielder Megan RapinoeSeattle Reign FC
Midfielder Desiree ScottFC Kansas City
Midfielder Erika TymrakFC Kansas City
Forward Alex MorganPortland Thorns
Forward Lianne SandersonBoston Breakers
Forward Christine SinclairPortland Thorns

2014

Best XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
Goalkeeper Boston Breakers106 saves
Defender Seattle Reign FC.83 team GAA
Defender 1 goal
Defender Sky Blue FC1 goal, 2 assists
Defender FC Kansas City8 shutouts
Midfielder Portland Thorns FC4 goals, 6 assists
Midfielder Seattle Reign FC4 goals, 8 assists
Midfielder Seattle Reign FC16 goals, 7 assists
Forward FC Kansas City8 goals, 7 assists
Forward Seattle Reign FC9 goals, 5 assists
Forward FC Kansas City13 goals, 3 assists

Second XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
Goalkeeper Seattle Reign FC5 shutouts
Defender Seattle Reign FC.83 team GAA
Defender Portland Thorns FC5 assists
Defender Seattle Reign FC.83 team GAA
Defender Chicago Red StarsRookie of the Year
Midfielder Western New York Flash8 goals, 5 assists
Midfielder Portland Thorns FC9 goals, 3 assists
Midfielder Boston Breakers9 goals, 5 assists
Forward Chicago Red Stars6 goals
Forward Portland Thorns FC11 goals, 1 assist
Forward Washington Spirit11 goals, 2 assists
[2]

2015

Announced September 24, 2015[3]

Best XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
Goalkeeper Michelle BetosPortland Thorns FC45 saves
Defender Lauren BarnesSeattle Reign FC1,800 minutes
Defender Julie JohnstonChicago Red Stars1.10 team GAA
Defender Amy LePeilbetFC Kansas City1,800 minutes
Defender Becky SauerbrunnFC Kansas City1.00 GAA
Midfielder Jess FishlockSeattle Reign FC8 goals, 2 assists
Midfielder Kim LittleSeattle Reign FC10 goals, 7 assists
Midfielder Allie LongPortland Thorns FC10 goals, 4 assists
Forward Crystal DunnWashington Spirit15 goals, 3 assists
Forward Christen PressChicago Red Stars10 goals, 2 assists
Forward Beverly YanezSeattle Reign FC9 goals

Second XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
Goalkeeper Nicole BarnhartFC Kansas City8 shutouts
Defender Stephanie CoxSeattle Reign FC1,800 minutes
Defender Kendall FletcherSeattle Reign FC2 goals, 2 assists
Defender Arin GillilandChicago Red Stars1.10 team GAA
Defender Leigh Ann RobinsonFC Kansas City1,800 minutes
Midfielder Danielle ColapricoChicago Red Stars1,776 minutes
Midfielder Lauren HolidayFC Kansas City2 goals, 2 assists
Midfielder Carli LloydHouston Dash4 goals
Midfielder Keelin WintersSeattle Reign FC1,654 minutes
Forward Sofia HuertaChicago Red Stars6 goals, 3 assists
Forward Megan RapinoeSeattle Reign FC5 goals, 5 assists

2016

Announced October 7, 2016[4]

Best XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
Goalkeeper Orlando Pride62 saves
Defender Seattle Reign FC1,775 minutes
Defender Chicago Red Stars1.00 team GAA
Defender Portland Thorns FC0.95 team GAA
Defender FC Kansas City1.00 team GAA
Midfielder Portland Thorns FCGoal, 10 assists
Midfielder Portland Thorns FC6 goals, 2 assists
Forward Western New York Flash10 goals, 7 assists
Forward Houston Dash11 goals, 4 assists
Forward Chicago Red Stars8 goals
Forward Western New York Flash11 goals, 5 assists

Second XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
Goalkeeper Chicago Red Stars1.00 GAA
Defender Chicago Red Stars1.00 team GAA
Defender Washington Spirit1.05 team GAA
Defender Sky Blue FC1,800 minutes
Defender Chicago Red Stars1,781 minutes
Midfielder Chicago Red StarsGoal, 2 assists
Midfielder Chicago Red Stars7 assists
MidfielderSeattle Reign FCGoals, 4 assists
MidfielderSeattle Reign FC6 goals, 2 assists
Forward Washington Spirit2 goals, 5 assists
Forward FC Kansas City8 goals

2017

Announced October 12, 2017[5]

Best XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
Goalkeeper Portland Thorns FC11 shutouts, 80 saves, .83 GAA
Defender Chicago Red Stars1 goal, 3rd-best defense in NWSL
Defender North Carolina Courage121 corner kicks taken, 2 assists
Defender FC Kansas City157 clearances, 24 blocks, 1 goal, 2 assists
Defender Orlando Pride99 clearances, 49 interceptions, 2 assists
MidfielderSeattle Reign FC7 goals, 2 assists
Midfielder North Carolina Courage6 goals, 3 assists
Midfielder North Carolina Courage3 goals, 1 assist
Forward Orlando Pride13 goals, 6 assists, 64 chances created
Forward Sky Blue FC17 goals, 4 assists, 2 hattricks, 1 4-goal game
Forward Chicago Red Stars11 goals, 4 assists

Second XI

Announced October 10, 2017[6]

POSITIONPLAYERCLUBNOTE
Goalkeeper North Carolina Courage39 saves, 8 shutouts
Defender Orlando Pride2,032 minutes played
Defender North Carolina Courage1 goal, 2 assists
Defender Portland Thorns FC6 assists
Defender Portland Thorns FC2,063 minutes played
Midfielder Chicago Red Stars1,903 minutes played
Midfielder Chicago Red Stars4 goals, 3 assists
Midfielder Portland Thorns FC4 goals, 2 assists
Midfielder Chicago Red Stars6 goals, 4 assists
Forward Orlando Pride9 goals, 4 assists
Forward Seattle Reign FC12 goals, 1 assist

2018

Announced September 20, 2018[7]

Best XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
Goalkeeper Portland Thorns FC
Defender Portland Thorns FC
Defender North Carolina Courage
Defender Utah Royals FC
Defender North Carolina Courage
Midfielder Portland Thorns FC
Midfielder Portland Thorns FC
Midfielder North Carolina Courage
Forward North Carolina Courage
Forward Chicago Red Stars
Forward Seattle Reign

Second XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
Goalkeeper Seattle Reign
Defender Portland Thorns FC
Defender North Carolina Courage
Defender Seattle Reign
Defender Chicago Red Stars
Midfielder Sky Blue FC
Midfielder Portland Thorns FC
Midfielder North Carolina Courage
Forward North Carolina Courage
Forward Houston Dash
ForwardHouston Dash

2019

Announced October 24, 2019[8]

Best XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
Goalkeeper Washington Spirit
Defender North Carolina Courage
Defender Orlando Pride
Defender Utah Royals FC
Defender Chicago Red Stars
Midfielder Chicago Red Stars
Midfielder Portland Thorns FC
Midfielder Washington Spirit
Forward Portland Thorns FC
Forward Chicago Red Stars
Forward Utah Royals FC

Second XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
Goalkeeper Chicago Red Stars
Defender Reign FC
Defender North Carolina Courage
Defender Utah Royals FC
Defender Portland Thorns FC
Midfielder Reign FC
Midfielder North Carolina Courage
Midfielder Chicago Red Stars
Forward North Carolina Courage
Forward Sky Blue FC
Forward Reign FC

2021

Announced November 17, 2021[9]

Best XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
Goalkeeper NJ/NY Gotham FC
Defender NJ/NY Gotham FC
OL Reign
Chicago Red Stars
North Carolina Courage
Midfielder/Forward Washington Spirit
OL Reign
OL Reign
NJ/NY Gotham FC
Washington Spirit
Portland Thorns FC

Second XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
Goalkeeper Portland Thorns FC
Defender OL Reign
Portland Thorns FC
Racing Louisville FC
Portland Thorns FC
Midfielder/Forward OL Reign
Portland Thorns FC
Chicago Red Stars
Houston Dash
Orlando Pride
NJ/NY Gotham FC

2022

Announced October 25, 2022[10]

Best XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
Goalkeeper San Diego Wave FC
Defender OL Reign
San Diego Wave FC
OL Reign
North Carolina Courage
Midfielder/Forward Portland Thorns FC
Kansas City Current
San Diego Wave FC
North Carolina Courage
Chicago Red Stars
Portland Thorns FC

Second XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
Goalkeeper Kansas City Current
Defender Portland Thorns FC
Kansas City Current
Chicago Red Stars
Portland Thorns FC
Midfielder/Forward North Carolina Courage
OL Reign
OL Reign
North Carolina Courage
OL Reign
Houston Dash

2023

Announced November 6, 2023[11]

Best XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
Goalkeeper Houston Dash
Defender
NJ/NY Gotham FC
Angel City FC
Washington Spirit
Midfielder/Forward Portland Thorns FC
Kansas City Current
San Diego Wave FC
North Carolina Courage
Portland Thorns FC
NJ/NY Gotham FC

Second XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
Goalkeeper San Diego Wave FC
Defender North Carolina Courage
North Carolina Courage
NJ/NY Gotham FC
Angel City FC
Midfielder/Forward Racing Louisville FC
Angel City FC
North Carolina Courage
Washington Spirit
San Diego Wave FC
Washington Spirit

2024

Announced November 18, 2024[1]

Best XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
GoalkeeperNJ/NY Gotham FC
Defender
Washington Spirit
North Carolina Courage
NJ/NY Gotham FC
Midfielder/Forward Kansas City Current
Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride
Washington Spirit
Washington Spirit
Portland Thorns FC

Second XI

POSITIONPLAYERCLUB
GoalkeeperOrlando Pride
Defender San Diego Wave FC
Washington Spirit
Orlando Pride
North Carolina Courage
Midfielder/Forward Kansas City Current
Kansas City Current
Washington Spirit
NJ/NY Gotham FC
NJ/NY Gotham FC
NJ/NY Gotham FC

Most selections

Only players with multiple total selections are included.

Players still active in the NWSL
Bold*Players on most recent list
scope=col Nat.scope=col Playerscope=col Best XIscope=col Second XIscope=col Total
7 1 8
5 2 7
4 2 6
2 4 6
1 5 6
4 1 5
1 4 5
3 1 4
2 2 4
2 2 4
2 2 4
2 2 4
1 3 4
1 3 4
0 4 4
3 0 3
3 0 3
3 0 3
3 0 3
2 1 3
Debinha2 1 3
2 1 3
2 1 3
2 1 3
2 1 3
2 1 3
2 1 3
2 1 3
1 2 3
1 2 3
1 2 3
0 3 3
0 3 3
2 0 2
2 0 2
2 0 2
2 0 2
2 0 2
2 0 2
1 1 2
1 1 2
1 1 2
1 1 2
Kerolin1 1 2
1 1 2
1 1 2
1 1 2
1 1 2
1 1 2
1 1 2
1 1 2
0 2 2
0 2 2
0 2 2
0 2 2
0 2 2
0 2 2
0 2 2

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: NWSL Announces Winners of 2024 NWSL Best XI Awards, presented by Amazon Prime. 2024-11-18. 2024-11-19.
  2. Web site: National Women's Soccer League Announces 2014 Best XI – Chicago Red Stars . chicagoredstars.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140907080327/http://chicagoredstars.com/national-womens-soccer-league-announces-2014-best-xi/ . 2014-09-07.
  3. News: NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE ANNOUNCES 2015 BEST XI. September 24, 2015. NWSL. September 25, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161019001640/http://nwslsoccer.com/news-2/jul---sep-2015/national-women-s-soccer-league-announces-2015-best-xi. October 19, 2016.
  4. News: NATIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE ANNOUNCES 2016 BEST XI. October 14, 2016. NWSL. October 7, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161007202908/http://www.nwslsoccer.com/national-women-s-soccer-league-announces-2016-best-xi. October 7, 2016. dead.
  5. News: 2017 Best XI announced. October 12, 2017. NWSL. October 12, 2017.
  6. News: NWSL announces Second XI selections. October 10, 2017. NWSL. October 10, 2017.
  7. News: 2018 NWSL Best XI and Second XI announced. September 20, 2018. September 20, 2018.
  8. News: 2019 NWSL Best XI and Second XI announced. October 24, 2019. October 24, 2019.
  9. News: NWSL Announces the Winners of Mastercard Inaugural 2021 Best XI Awards. November 17, 2021. October 17, 2021.
  10. News: NWSL Announces Winners of Mastercard Best XI Awards. October 25, 2022. October 25, 2022.
  11. News: NWSL Announces Winners of 2023 Mastercard Best XI Awards. November 6, 2023. November 6, 2023.

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