# 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%). 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 | 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 |

## 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 | 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
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
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
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
| 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 |

## 2018

Announced September 20, 2018
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 |

## 2019

Announced October 24, 2019
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 |

## 2021

Announced November 17, 2021
Best XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
| Goalkeeper | Kailen Sheridan | NJ/NY Gotham FC |
| Defender | Caprice Dydasco | NJ/NY Gotham FC |
| Defender | Alana Cook | OL Reign |
| Defender | Sarah Gorden | Chicago Red Stars |
| Defender | Carson Pickett | North Carolina Courage |
| Midfielder/Forward | Ashley Hatch | Washington Spirit |
| Midfielder/Forward | Jess Fishlock | OL Reign |
| Midfielder/Forward | Eugénie Le Sommer | OL Reign |
| Midfielder/Forward | Margaret Purce | NJ/NY Gotham FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Trinity Rodman | Washington Spirit |
| Midfielder/Forward | Angela Salem | Portland Thorns FC |
Second XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
| Goalkeeper | Bella Bixby | Portland Thorns FC |
| Defender | Sofia Huerta | OL Reign |
| Defender | Emily Menges | Portland Thorns FC |
| Defender | Emily Fox | Racing Louisville FC |
| Defender | Meghan Klingenberg | Portland Thorns FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Bethany Balcer | OL Reign |
| Midfielder/Forward | Lindsey Horan | Portland Thorns FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Mallory Pugh | Chicago Red Stars |
| Midfielder/Forward | Rachel Daly | Houston Dash |
| Midfielder/Forward | Sydney Leroux | Orlando Pride |
| Midfielder/Forward | Ifeoma Onumonu | NJ/NY Gotham FC |

## 2022

Announced October 25, 2022
Best XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
| Goalkeeper | Kailen Sheridan | San Diego Wave FC |
| Defender | Alana Cook | OL Reign |
| Defender | Naomi Girma | San Diego Wave FC |
| Defender | Sofia Huerta | OL Reign |
| Defender | Carson Pickett | North Carolina Courage |
| Midfielder/Forward | Sam Coffey | Portland Thorns FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Lo'eau LaBonta | Kansas City Current |
| Midfielder/Forward | Alex Morgan | San Diego Wave FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Debinha | North Carolina Courage |
| Midfielder/Forward | Mallory Pugh | Chicago Red Stars |
| Midfielder/Forward | Sophia Smith | Portland Thorns FC |
Second XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
| Goalkeeper | Adrianna Franch | Kansas City Current |
| Defender | Kelli Hubly | Portland Thorns FC |
| Defender | Hailie Mace | Kansas City Current |
| Defender | Tatumn Milazzo | Chicago Red Stars |
| Defender | Becky Sauerbrunn | Portland Thorns FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Kerolin | North Carolina Courage |
| Midfielder/Forward | Jess Fishlock | OL Reign |
| Midfielder/Forward | Rose Lavelle | OL Reign |
| Midfielder/Forward | Diana Ordóñez | North Carolina Courage |
| Midfielder/Forward | Megan Rapinoe | OL Reign |
| Midfielder/Forward | Ebony Salmon | Houston Dash |

## 2023

Announced November 6, 2023
Best XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
| Goalkeeper | Jane Campbell | Houston Dash |
| Defender | Naomi Girma | San Diego Wave FC |
| Defender | Ali Krieger | NJ/NY Gotham FC |
| Defender | Sarah Gorden | Angel City FC |
| Defender | Sam Staab | Washington Spirit |
| Midfielder/Forward | Sam Coffey | Portland Thorns FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Debinha | Kansas City Current |
| Midfielder/Forward | Jaedyn Shaw | San Diego Wave FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Kerolin | North Carolina Courage |
| Midfielder/Forward | Sophia Smith | Portland Thorns FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Lynn Williams | NJ/NY Gotham FC |
Second XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
| Goalkeeper | Kailen Sheridan | San Diego Wave FC |
| Defender | Emily Fox | North Carolina Courage |
| Defender | Kaleigh Kurtz | North Carolina Courage |
| Defender | Jenna Nighswonger | NJ/NY Gotham FC |
| Defender | M.A. Vignola | Angel City FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Savannah DeMelo | Racing Louisville FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Savannah McCaskill | Angel City FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Denise O'Sullivan | North Carolina Courage |
| Midfielder/Forward | Ashley Hatch | Washington Spirit |
| Midfielder/Forward | Alex Morgan | San Diego Wave FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Trinity Rodman | Washington Spirit |

## 2024

Announced November 18, 2024
Best XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
| Goalkeeper | Ann-Katrin Berger | NJ/NY Gotham FC |
| Defender | Emily Sams | Orlando Pride |
| Defender | Casey Krueger | Washington Spirit |
| Defender | Kaleigh Kurtz | North Carolina Courage |
| Defender | Jenna Nighswonger | NJ/NY Gotham FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Temwa Chawinga | Kansas City Current |
| Midfielder/Forward | Barbra Banda | Orlando Pride |
| Midfielder/Forward | Marta | Orlando Pride |
| Midfielder/Forward | Croix Bethune | Washington Spirit |
| Midfielder/Forward | Trinity Rodman | Washington Spirit |
| Midfielder/Forward | Sophia Smith | Portland Thorns FC |
Second XI
| POSITION | PLAYER | CLUB |
| Goalkeeper | Anna Moorhouse | Orlando Pride |
| Defender | Naomi Girma | San Diego Wave FC |
| Defender | Tara McKeown | Washington Spirit |
| Defender | Kerry Abello | Orlando Pride |
| Defender | Ryan Williams | North Carolina Courage |
| Midfielder/Forward | Vanessa DiBernardo | Kansas City Current |
| Midfielder/Forward | Lo'eau LaBonta | Kansas City Current |
| Midfielder/Forward | Hal Hershfelt | Washington Spirit |
| Midfielder/Forward | Esther González | NJ/NY Gotham FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Rose Lavelle | NJ/NY Gotham FC |
| Midfielder/Forward | Yazmeen Ryan | NJ/NY Gotham FC |

## 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 |
| 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 |