NWSL Best XI andSecond XI are annual awards presented to the best and second-best eleven players in theNational Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
As of 2024,[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
Second XI
Announced October 25, 2022[10]
Best XI
Second XI
Announced November 6, 2023[11]
Best XI
Second XI
Announced November 18, 2024[1]
Best XI
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 |
| Casey Krueger* | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 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 |
| Sophia Smith* | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Lauren Barnes | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Debinha | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Naomi Girma* | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Kim Little | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Allie Long | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Christie Pearce | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Trinity Rodman* | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Kailen Sheridan | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Lynn Williams | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Abby Erceg | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Rose Lavelle* | 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 |
| Sarah Gorden | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Marta* | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Carson Pickett | 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 |
| Kaleigh Kurtz* | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Sydney Leroux | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Jessica McDonald | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Jenna Nighswonger* | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Mallory Swanson | 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 |
| Vanessa DiBernardo* | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Emily Fox | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Meghan Klingenberg | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Christine Sinclair | 0 | 2 | 2 |
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