NWSL Championship Most Valuable Player

2024 winner Barbra Banda

The NWSL Championship Most Valuable Player award is presented to the best player in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Championship Game.

Tobin Heath received the first NWSL championship MVP award in 2013; she scored the opening goal of Portland Thorns FC's 2–0 victory in the inaugural championship game.[1] In 2022, Portland's Sophia Smith received the championship MVP award the same season she was named league MVP.[2] The most recent winner is Barbra Banda (2024).

Winners

Year Player Position Nationality Club Ref.
2013 Tobin Heath Midfielder  United States Portland Thorns FC [1]
2014 Lauren Holiday Midfielder  United States FC Kansas City [3]
2015 Amy Rodriguez Forward  United States FC Kansas City [4]
2016 Sabrina D'Angelo Goalkeeper  Canada Western New York Flash [5]
2017 Lindsey Horan Midfielder  United States Portland Thorns FC [6]
2018 Jessica McDonald Forward  United States North Carolina Courage [7]
2019 Debinha Midfielder  Brazil North Carolina Courage [8]
2021 Aubrey Bledsoe Goalkeeper  United States Washington Spirit [9]
2022 Sophia Smith Forward  United States Portland Thorns FC [2]
2023 Midge Purce Forward  United States NJ/NY Gotham FC [10]
2024 Barbra Banda Forward  Zambia Orlando Pride [11]

Teams

Club Won Years won
Portland Thorns FC
3
 2013, 2017, 2022
FC Kansas City
2
 2014, 2015
North Carolina Courage
2
 2018, 2019
Western New York Flash
1
 2016
Washington Spirit
1
 2021
NJ/NY Gotham FC
1
 2023
Orlando Pride
1
 2024

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Gladys, Maura (September 3, 2013). "Heath leads Thorns to NWSL Championship". American Soccer Now. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Laase, Eden (October 30, 2022). "NWSL MVP Sophia Smith shrugs off doubters with golden game". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  3. ^ Lauletta, Dan (August 31, 2014). "Holiday dazzles in MVP performance in NWSL final". The Equalizer. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  4. ^ "FCKC Crowed 2015 NWSL Champions in 1–0 Win Over Seattle". National Women's Soccer League. October 1, 2015. Archived from the original on October 6, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  5. ^ Theivam, Kieran (October 9, 2016). "MVP D'Angelo wins one for her grandfather". The Equalizer. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  6. ^ Goldberg, Jamie (October 14, 2017). "Portland Thorns win 2017 NWSL Championship with 1–0 victory over North Carolina Courage". The Oregonian. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  7. ^ Thievam, Kieran (September 22, 2018). "Jess McDonald's remarkable journey continues with NWSL Championship MVP award". The Equalizer. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  8. ^ Tennery, Amy (October 27, 2019). "NWSL championship MVP Debinha the 'complete player': coach". Reuters. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  9. ^ Brennan, Clare (November 20, 2021). "Goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe wins NWSL Championship game MVP". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  10. ^ Tonelli, Jenna (November 12, 2023). "'We really earned it': Midge Purce shines for Gotham FC in NWSL Championship". The Equalizer. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  11. ^ Osen, Avery (November 24, 2024). "Barbra Banda's goal leads Orlando over Washington 1–0 for NWSL championship. Marta earns title". Associated Press. Retrieved November 26, 2024.