# NWSL Team of the Month

The National Women's Soccer League Team of the Month, also called the Best XI of the Month since 2022, is a monthly women's soccer award given to individual players in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

## Selection

This award began in 2017. From 2017 to 2021 it was named the "Team of the Month", and since 2022 it has been named the "Best XI of the Month".
From 2017 to 2022, the NWSL Media Association, composed of journalists who regularly cover the league, select eleven players deemed to have put in the best performances over the past month. Since 2023, the NWSL Media Association and the league's broadcast talent select the players.

## Winners
### 2017

| Month | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
| April | Stephanie Labbé, WAS | Estelle Johnson, WAS Becky Sauerbrunn, KC Emily Sonnett, POR | Julie Ertz, CHI Debinha, NC Rose Lavelle, BOS Jess Fishlock, SEA Sam Mewis, NC | Kealia Ohai, HOU Lynn Williams, NC |
| May | Kailen Sheridan, NJ | Samantha Johnson, CHI Becky Sauerbrunn, KC (2) Casey Short, CHI | Danielle Colaprico, CHI Amandine Henry, POR Rose Lavelle, BOS (2) Sarah Killion, NJ | Nahomi Kawasumi, SEA Christen Press, CHI Sam Kerr, NJ |
| June | Stephanie Labbé, WAS (2) | Casey Short, CHI (2) Abby Dahlkemper, NC Ali Krieger, ORL Estelle Johnson, WAS (2) | Marta, ORL Sam Mewis, NC (2) Jess Fishlock, SEA (2) | Megan Rapinoe, SEA Sam Kerr, NJ (2) Ashley Hatch, NC |
| July | Jane Campbell, HOU | Taylor Smith, NC Abby Dahlkemper, NC (2) Amber Brooks, HOU Casey Short, CHI (3) | Marta, ORL (2) McCall Zerboni, NC Julie Ertz, CHI (2) Andressinha, HOU | Megan Rapinoe, SEA (2) Sam Kerr, NJ (3) |
| August | Katelyn Rowland, NC | Emily Sonnett, POR (2) Steph Catley, ORL Ali Krieger, ORL (2) Taylor Smith, NC (2) | Marta, ORL (3) Sam Mewis, NC (3) Lindsey Horan, POR | Hayley Raso, POR Alex Morgan, ORL Sam Kerr, NJ (4) |
| September | Adrianna Franch, POR | Emily Menges, POR Kelley O'Hara, NJ Becky Sauerbrunn, KC (3) Casey Short, CHI (4) | Alanna Kennedy, ORL Marta, ORL (4) Sam Mewis, NC (4) | Shea Groom, KC Christine Sinclair, POR Lynn Williams, NC (2) |

### 2018

| Month | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
| March | Jane Campbell, HOU | Jaelene Hinkle, NC Becky Sauerbrunn, UTA Emily Sonnett, POR Rachel Daly, HOU | Lindsey Horan, POR Debinha, NC Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir, UTA | Megan Rapinoe, SEA Mallory Pugh, WAS Crystal Dunn, NC |
| April | Aubrey Bledsoe, WAS | Jaelene Hinkle, NC (2) Estelle Johnson, WAS Becky Sauerbrunn, UTA (2) Emily Sonnett, POR (2) | Sofia Huerta, CHI Crystal Dunn, NC (2) McCall Zerboni, NC | Francisca Ordega, WAS Jessica McDonald, NC Mallory Pugh, WAS (2) |
| May | Abby Smith, UTA | Steph Catley, SEA Abby Erceg, NC Becky Sauerbrunn, UTA (3) Ali Krieger, ORL | Kristie Mewis, HOU Lindsey Horan, POR (2) McCall Zerboni, NC (2) | Rachel Daly, HOU (2) Christine Sinclair, POR Crystal Dunn, NC (3) |
| June | Alyssa Naeher, CHI | Becca Moros, UTA Abby Erceg, NC (2) Becky Sauerbrunn, UTA (4) Merritt Mathias, NC | Lindsey Horan, POR (3) Yuki Nagasato, CHI McCall Zerboni, NC (3) | Kealia Ohai, HOU Christine Sinclair, POR (2) Crystal Dunn, NC (4) |
| July | Adrianna Franch, POR | Katie Naughton, CHI Abby Erceg, NC (3) Rachel Corsie, UTA Theresa Nielsen, SEA | Lindsey Horan, POR (4) Yuki Nagasato, CHI (2) McCall Zerboni, NC (4) | Megan Rapinoe, SEA (2) Rachel Daly, HOU (3) Sam Kerr, CHI |
| August | Lydia Williams, SEA | Megan Oyster, SEA Abby Erceg, NC (4) Taylor Comeau, HOU Theresa Nielsen, SEA (2) | Lindsey Horan, POR (5) Sofia Huerta, HOU (2) Vanessa DiBernardo, CHI | Lynn Williams, NC Tobin Heath, POR Sam Kerr, CHI (2) |

### 2019

| Month | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
| April | Kailen Sheridan, NJ | Casey Short, CHI Becky Sauerbrunn, UTA Abby Erceg, NC Meghan Klingenberg, POR | Christine Sinclair, POR Yuki Nagasato, CHI Crystal Dunn, NC | Christen Press, UTA Sam Kerr, CHI Tobin Heath, POR |
| May | Aubrey Bledsoe, WAS | Casey Short, CHI (2) Rachel Corsie, UTA Sam Staab, WAS Merritt Mathias, NC | Yuki Nagasato, CHI (2) Jordan DiBiasi, WAS Verónica Boquete, UTA | Sam Kerr, CHI (2) Amy Rodriguez, UTA Ashley Hatch, WAS |
| June | Aubrey Bledsoe, WAS (2) | Casey Short, CHI (3) Sam Staab, WAS (2) Megan Oyster, RFC Katherine Reynolds, POR | Andi Sullivan, WAS Jess Fishlock, RFC Kristen Hamilton, NC | Margaret Purce, POR Amy Rodriguez, UTA (2) Ifeoma Onumonu, RFC |
| July | Kailen Sheridan, NJ (2) | Casey Short, CHI (4) Sarah Gorden, CHI Abby Erceg, NC (2) Merritt Mathias, NC (2) | Vanessa DiBernardo, CHI Debinha, NC Gabby Seiler, POR | Kristen Hamilton, NC (2) Sam Kerr, CHI (3) Marta, ORL |
| August | Aubrey Bledsoe, WAS (3) | Casey Short, CHI (5) Emily Menges, POR Abby Erceg, NC (3) Jaelene Hinkle, NC | Lo'eau LaBonta, UTA Debinha, NC (2) Christine Sinclair, POR (2) | Christen Press, UTA (2) Margaret Purce, POR (2) Amy Rodriguez, UTA (3) |
| September | Alyssa Naeher, CHI | Casey Short, CHI (6) Julie Ertz, CHI Lauren Barnes, RFC Jaelene Hinkle, NC (2) | Beverly Yanez, RFC Debinha, NC (3) Morgan Brian, CHI | Yuki Nagasato, CHI (3) Sam Kerr, CHI (4) Lynn Williams, NC |

### 2021

| Month | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
| May | Kailen Sheridan, NJY | Caprice Dydasco, NJY Emily Fox, LOU Phoebe McClernon, ORL Carson Pickett, NC | Debinha, NC Crystal Dunn, POR Jess Fishlock, RGN | Sydney Leroux, ORL Alex Morgan, ORL Mallory Pugh, CHI |
| June | Michelle Betos, LOU | Caprice Dydasco, NJY Abby Erceg, NC Courtney Petersen, ORL Becky Sauerbrunn, POR | Tori Huster, WAS Kristie Mewis, HOU Sam Mewis, NC | Marta, ORL Trinity Rodman, WAS Lynn Williams, NC |
| July | Bella Bixby, POR | Caprice Dydasco, NJY Emily Menges, POR Meghan Klingenberg, POR Katie Naughton, HOU | Andi Sullivan, WAS Allie Long, NJY Morgan Gautrat, CHI | Sydney Leroux, ORL (2) Mallory Pugh, CHI (2) Ashley Hatch, WAS |
| August | Casey Murphy, NC | Caprice Dydasco, NJY (4) Emily Menges, POR (2) Ali Krieger, ORL Carson Pickett, NC (2) | Jess Fishlock, RGN (2) Denise O'Sullivan, NC Angela Salem, POR | Nadia Nadim, LOU Ifeoma Onumonu, NJY Megan Rapinoe, RGN |
| September | Kailen Sheridan, NJY (2) | Tierna Davidson, CHI Sofia Huerta, RGN Estelle Johnson, NJY Casey Krueger, CHI | Morgan Gautrat, CHI (2) Dzsenifer Marozsán, RGN Angela Salem, POR (2) | Bethany Balcer, RGN Rachel Daly, HOU Eugénie Le Sommer, RGN |
| October | Aubrey Bledsoe, WAS | Caprice Dydasco, NJY (5) Sofia Huerta, RGN (2) Sarah Gorden, CHI Sam Staab, WAS | Jess Fishlock, RGN (3) Morgan Gautrat, CHI (3) Angela Salem, POR (3) | Ashley Hatch, WAS (2) Margaret Purce, NJY Trinity Rodman, WAS (2) |

### 2022

| Month | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
| May | Phallon Tullis-Joyce, RGN | Naomi Girma, SD Alana Cook, RGN Sofia Huerta, RGN Vanessa Gilles, LA | Taylor Kornieck, SD Rose Lavelle, RGN Savannah DeMelo, LOU | Alex Morgan, SD Rachel Daly, HOU Mallory Pugh, CHI |
| June | Bella Bixby, POR | Carson Pickett, NC Tatumn Milazzo, CHI Naomi Girma, SD (2) Natalia Kuikka, POR | Debinha, NC Sam Coffey, POR Taylor Kornieck, SD (2) | Alex Morgan, SD (2) Sophia Smith, POR Mallory Pugh, CHI (2) |
| July | Adrianna Franch, KC | Carson Pickett, NC (2) Kristen Edmonds, KC Kelli Hubly, POR Hailie Mace, KC | Hina Sugita, POR Jess Fishlock, RGN Lo'eau LaBonta, KC | Morgan Weaver, POR Ebony Salmon, HOU Bethany Balcer, RGN |
| August | Adrianna Franch, KC (2) | Elizabeth Ball, KC Naomi Girma, SD (3) Sofia Huerta, RGN (2) Carson Pickett, NC (3) | Meggie Dougherty Howard, ORL Lo'eau LaBonta, KC (2) Cari Roccaro, LA | Diana Ordoñez, NC Megan Rapinoe, RGN Ebony Salmon, HOU (2) |
| September /October | Katie Lund, LOU | Alana Cook, RGN Naomi Girma, SD (4) Hailie Mace, KC (2) Carson Pickett, NC (4) | Sam Coffey, POR (2) Vanessa DiBernardo, CHI Rose Lavelle, RGN (2) | Debinha, NC Megan Rapinoe, RGN (2) Sophia Smith, POR (2) |

### 2023

| Month | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
| March/April | Phallon Tullis-Joyce, RGN | Emily Fox, NC Naomi Girma, SD Becky Sauerbrunn, POR Sam Staab, WAS | Debinha, KC Crystal Dunn, POR Jess Fishlock, RGN | Bethany Balcer, RGN Sophia Smith, POR Lynn Williams, NJY |
| May | Abby Smith, NJY | Kylie Strom, ORL Naomi Girma, SD (2) Sam Staab, WAS (2) Bruninha, NJNY | Jenna Nighswonger, NJNY Savannah DeMelo, LOU Crystal Dunn, POR (2) | Megan Rapinoe, RGN Lynn Williams, NJNY (2) Veronica Latsko, RGN |
| June | Casey Murphy, NC | Abby Erceg, LOU Sofia Huerta, OL Kaleigh Kurtz, NC M.A. Vignola, LA | Sam Coffey, POR Debinha, KC (2) Savannah DeMelo, LOU (2) | Kerolin, NC Sophia Smith, POR (2) Lynn Williams, NJNY (3) |
| July | Emily Boyd, CHI | Malia Berkely, NCC Abby Erceg, LOU (2) Sarah Gorden, LA Paige Monaghan, LOU | Savannah McCaskill, LA Narumi Miura, NCC Jenna Nighswonger, NJNY (2) | Ashley Hatch, WAS Kristen Hamilton, KC Midge Purce, NJY |
| August | Adrianna Franch, KCC | Abby Dahlkemper, SD Casey Krueger, CHI (2) Jenna Nighswonger, NJNY (3) Kylie Strom, ORL | Kerry Abello, ORL Sam Coffey, POR (2) Lo'eau LaBonta, KC | Messiah Bright, ORL Kristen Hamilton, KC (2) Morgan Weaver, POR |
| September/ October | Jane Campbell, HOU | Caprice Dydasco, HOU Naomi Girma, SD (2) Sarah Gorden, LA (2) M.A. Vignola, LA (2) | Sam Coffey, POR (3) Debinha, KC (3) Savannah McCaskill, LA (3) | Esther González, NJY Kerolin, NCC (2) Jaedyn Shaw, SD |

### 2024

| Month | Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
| March/April | Alyssa Naeher, CHI | Malia Berkely, NC Naomi Girma, SD Casey Krueger, WAS Sam Staab, CHI | Croix Bethune, WAS Vanessa DiBernardo, KC Taylor Flint, LOU | Temwa Chawinga, KC Sophia Smith, POR Bia Zaneratto, KC |
| May | Ann-Katrin Berger, NJY | Jenna Nighswonger, NJY Carson Pickett, LOU Emily Sams, ORL Sam Staab, CHI (2) | Croix Bethune, WAS (2) Sam Coffey, POR Savannah DeMelo, LOU | Barbra Banda, ORL Ouleymata Sarr, WAS Sophia Smith, POR (2) |
| June | Anna Moorhouse, ORL | Elizabeth Ball, KC Casey Krueger, WAS (2) Jenna Nighswonger, NJY (2) Izzy Rodriguez, KC | Croix Bethune, WAS (3) Lo'eau LaBonta, KC Rose Lavelle, NJY | Barbra Banda, ORL (2) Temwa Chawinga, KC (2) Mallory Swanson, CHI |
| July | Cassie Miller, NJY | Kerry Abello, ORL Madison Curry, LA Sarah Gorden, LA Meghan Klingenberg, POR | Debinha, KC Lo'eau LaBonta, KC (2) Meredith Speck, NC | Kristen Hamilton, KC Ashley Sanchez, NC Ally Sentnor, UTA |
| August | DiDi Haračić, LA | Kerry Abello, ORL (2) Abby Dahlkemper, BAY Sarah Gorden, LA (2) Kylie Strom, ORL | Debinha, KC (2) Kayla Fischer, LOU Lo'eau LaBonta, KC (3) | Temwa Chawinga, KC (3) Ella Stevens, NJY Alyssa Thompson, LA |
| September | Anna Moorhouse, ORL (2) | Malia Berkely, NC (2) Abby Dahlkemper, BAY (2) Naomi Girma, SD (2) Emily Sams, ORL (2) | Lo'eau LaBonta, KC (4) Marta, ORL Yazmeen Ryan, NJY | Temwa Chawinga, KC (4) Trinity Rodman, WAS Alyssa Thompson, LA (2) |
| October/ November | Almuth Schult, NJY | Abby Dahlkemper, BAY (3) Kaleigh Kurtz, NC Emily Sams, ORL (3) Kayla Sharples, KC | Rose Lavelle, NJY (2) Yazmeen Ryan, NJY (2) Claudia Zornoza, UTA | Temwa Chawinga, KC (5) Esther González, NJY Makenna Morris, WAS |

## Multiple winners

| Bold | Indicates current NWSL player |
| Rank | Player | Club(s) | Wins |
| 1 | Casey Krueger (née Short) | Chicago Red Stars, Washington Spirit | 14 |
| 2 | Debinha | North Carolina Courage, Kansas City Current | 13 |
| 3 | Abby Erceg | North Carolina Courage, Racing Louisville FC | 10 |
| 3 | Sam Kerr | NJ/NY Gotham FC, Chicago Red Stars | 10 |
| 3 | Becky Sauerbrunn | FC Kansas City, Utah Royals FC, Portland Thorns FC | 10 |
| 3 | Lynn Williams | North Carolina Courage, NJ/NY Gotham FC | 10 |
| 7 | Naomi Girma | San Diego Wave FC | 9 |
| 8 | Crystal Dunn | North Carolina Courage, Portland Thorns FC | 8 |
| 8 | Jess Fishlock | Seattle Reign FC | 8 |
| 8 | Lo'eau LaBonta | Utah Royals FC, Kansas City Current | 8 |
| 8 | Megan Rapinoe | Seattle Reign FC | 8 |
| 12 | Sofia Huerta | Chicago Red Stars, Houston Dash, Seattle Reign FC | 7 |
| 12 | Marta | Orlando Pride | 7 |
| 12 | Carson Pickett | North Carolina Courage, Racing Louisville FC | 7 |
| 12 | Sam Staab | Washington Spirit, Chicago Red Stars | 7 |
| 12 | Mallory Swanson (née Pugh) | Washington Spirit, Chicago Red Stars | 7 |
| 17 | Sam Coffey | Portland Thorns FC | 6 |
| 17 | Abby Dahlkemper | North Carolina Courage, San Diego Wave FC, Bay FC | 6 |
| 17 | Caprice Dydasco | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 6 |
| 17 | Sarah Gorden | Chicago Red Stars, Angel City FC | 6 |
| 17 | Lindsey Horan | Portland Thorns FC | 6 |
| 17 | Rose Lavelle | Washington Spirit, Seattle Reign FC, NJ/NY Gotham FC | 6 |
| 17 | Sophia Smith | Portland Thorns FC | 6 |
| 24 | Temwa Chawinga | Kansas City Current | 5 |
| 24 | Rachel Daly | Houston Dash | 5 |
| 24 | Adrianna Franch | Portland Thorns FC, Kansas City Current | 5 |
| 24 | Kristen Hamilton | North Carolina Courage, Kansas City Current | 5 |
| 24 | Ashley Hatch | North Carolina Courage, Washington Spirit | 5 |
| 24 | Aubrey Kingsbury (née Bledsoe) | Washington Spirit | 5 |
| 24 | Sam Mewis | North Carolina Courage | 5 |
| 24 | Yūki Nagasato | Chicago Red Stars | 5 |
| 24 | Jenna Nighswonger | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 5 |
| 24 | Kailen Sheridan | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 5 |
| 24 | Christine Sinclair | Portland Thorns FC | 5 |
| 24 | McCall Zerboni | North Carolina Courage | 5 |
| 36 | Jaelene Daniels (née Hinkle) | North Carolina Courage | 4 |
| 36 | Savannah DeMelo | Racing Louisville FC | 4 |
| 36 | Vanessa DiBernardo | Chicago Red Stars, Kansas City Current | 4 |
| 36 | Morgan Gautrat (née Brian) | Chicago Red Stars | 4 |
| 36 | Estelle Johnson | Washington Spirit, NJ/NY Gotham FC | 4 |
| 36 | Ali Krieger | Orlando Pride | 4 |
| 36 | Emily Menges | Portland Thorns FC | 4 |
| 36 | Alex Morgan | Orlando Pride, San Diego Wave FC | 4 |
| 36 | Emily Sonnett | Portland Thorns FC | 4 |
| 45 | Kerry Abello | Orlando Pride | 3 |
| 45 | Bethany Balcer | Seattle Reign FC | 3 |
| 45 | Malia Berkely | North Carolina Courage | 3 |
| 45 | Croix Bethune | Washington Spirit | 3 |
| 45 | Jane Campbell | Houston Dash | 3 |
| 45 | Julie Ertz (née Johnston) | Chicago Red Stars | 3 |
| 45 | Taylor Flint (née Kornieck) | San Diego Wave FC, Racing Louisville FC | 3 |
| 45 | Meghan Klingenberg | Portland Thorns FC | 3 |
| 45 | Merritt Mathias | North Carolina Courage | 3 |
| 45 | Alyssa Naeher | Chicago Red Stars | 3 |
| 45 | Christen Press | Chicago Red Stars, Utah Royals FC | 3 |
| 45 | Midge Purce | Portland Thorns FC, NJ/NY Gotham FC | 3 |
| 45 | Trinity Rodman | Washington Spirit | 3 |
| 45 | Amy Rodriguez | Utah Royals FC | 3 |
| 45 | Angela Salem | Portland Thorns FC | 3 |
| 45 | Emily Sams (née Madril) | Orlando Pride | 3 |
| 45 | Kylie Strom | Orlando Pride | 3 |
| 62 | Elizabeth Ball | Kansas City Current | 2 |
| 62 | Barbra Banda | Orlando Pride | 2 |
| 62 | Bella Bixby | Portland Thorns FC | 2 |
| 62 | Steph Catley | Orlando Pride, Seattle Reign FC | 2 |
| 62 | Alana Cook | Seattle Reign FC | 2 |
| 62 | Rachel Corsie | Utah Royals FC | 2 |
| 62 | Theresa Eslund (née Nielsen) | Seattle Reign FC | 2 |
| 62 | Emily Fox | Racing Louisville FC, North Carolina Courage | 2 |
| 62 | Esther González | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 2 |
| 62 | Tobin Heath | Portland Thorns FC | 2 |
| 62 | Kerolin | North Carolina Courage | 2 |
| 62 | Kaleigh Kurtz | North Carolina Courage | 2 |
| 62 | Stephanie Labbé | Washington Spirit | 2 |
| 62 | Sydney Leroux | Orlando Pride | 2 |
| 62 | Katie Lind (née Naughton) | Chicago Red Stars, Houston Dash | 2 |
| 62 | Hailie Mace | Kansas City Current | 2 |
| 62 | Megan Montefusco (née Oyster) | Seattle Reign FC | 2 |
| 62 | Anna Moorhouse | Orlando Pride | 2 |
| 62 | Casey Murphy | North Carolina Courage | 2 |
| 62 | Ifeoma Onumonu | Seattle Reign FC, NJ/NY Gotham FC | 2 |
| 62 | Yazmeen Ryan | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 2 |
| 62 | Ebony Salmon | Houston Dash | 2 |
| 62 | Abby Smith | Utah Royals FC, NJ/NY Gotham FC | 2 |
| 62 | Taylor Smith | North Carolina Courage | 2 |
| 62 | Andi Sullivan | Washington Spirit | 2 |
| 62 | Alyssa Thompson | Angel City FC | 2 |
| 62 | Phallon Tullis-Joyce | Seattle Reign FC | 2 |
| 62 | Kealia Watt (née Ohai) | Houston Dash | 2 |
| 62 | Morgan Weaver | Portland Thorns FC | 2 |