The National Women's Soccer League Rookie of the Month is a monthly women's soccer award given to individual players in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) participating in their first season as a professional.
Selection
editIn 2022, the winner was selected by the NWSL Media Association, an organization of journalists who regularly cover the league.[1] Since 2023, the winner is selected by the NWSL Media Association and the league's broadcast talent.[2]
Winners
edit2022
editMonth | Pos. | Nat. | Player | Club | Statline | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
May | DF |
USA | Naomi Girma | San Diego Wave FC | 85% passing, 27 clearances, 4 blocks, 9 interceptions | [1][3] |
June | MF |
USA | Sam Coffey | Portland Thorns FC | 85% passing led league in June; 6 shots, 1 assist | [4][5] |
July | MF |
USA | Savannah DeMelo | Racing Louisville FC | 2 goals; leads all rookies in minutes played through July 31 | [6] |
August | FW |
MEX | Diana Ordóñez | North Carolina Courage | 5 goals, including 2 braces | [7] |
September/ October |
DF |
USA | Naomi Girma (2) | San Diego Wave FC | Two shutouts, captained team vs. NC | [8] |
2023
editMonth | Pos. | Nat. | Player | Club | Statline | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March/ April |
FW |
USA | Alyssa Thompson | Angel City FC | Scored 11' into debut; 2G in 6 matches | [2] |
May | MF/DF |
USA | Jenna Nighswonger | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 2 goals, 1 assist, 16 duels won | [9] |
June | MF |
USA | Paige Metayer | Washington Spirit | 1 goal, 1 assist; tied for league scoring lead among rookies (3) | [10] |
July | MF/DF |
USA | Jenna Nighswonger (2) | NJ/NY Gotham FC | 2 regular season goals; 2 Challenge Cup goals and assists | [11] |
August | FW |
USA | Messiah Bright | Orlando Pride | Brace vs. NCC; 3 goals in 4 matches | [12] |
September/ October |
FW |
USA | Alexa Spaanstra | Kansas City Current | 2 goals vs. NJY | [13] |
2024
editMonth | Pos. | Nat. | Player | Club | Statline | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March/ April |
MF |
USA | Croix Bethune | Washington Spirit | 3 goals, 1 assist | [14] |
May | MF |
USA | Croix Bethune (2) | Washington Spirit | 1 goal, 7 assists | [15] |
June | MF |
USA | Croix Bethune (3) | Washington Spirit | 1 goal, 1 assists | [16] |
July | MF |
USA | Ally Sentnor | Utah Royals | 3 goals, 1 assist | [17] |
August | MF |
USA | Croix Bethune (4) | Washington Spirit | Tied single-season assists record | [18] |
September | DF |
USA | Kennedy Wesley | San Diego Wave FC | 1 goal, 85.66% passing, 20 clearances | [19] |
October/ November |
FW |
USA | Makenna Morris | Washington Spirit | 3 goals, 1 assist; only multi-goal match by a rookie this season | [20] |
Multiple winners
edit- As of November 7, 2024
The below table lists players who have won on more than one occasion.
Bold |
Indicates current NWSL player |
Rank | N. | Player | Team(s) | Wins |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Croix Bethune | Washington Spirit | 4 | |
2 | Naomi Girma | San Diego Wave FC | 2 | |
Jenna Nighswonger | NJ/NY Gotham FC |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "San Diego Wave FC Defender Naomi Girma Named May Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. June 9, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- ^ a b "Angel City FC Forward Alyssa Thompson Named March/April Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ Alicia Rodriguez (June 9, 2022). "San Diego Wave FC's Naomi Girma voted NWSL Rookie of the Month". LAG Confidential. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- ^ "Portland Thorns FC Midfielder Sam Coffey Named June Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. June 23, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- ^ Lamm, Keeley (June 28, 2022). "Penn State Women's Soccer Alum Sam Coffey Named NWSL Rookie Of The Month". Onward State. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- ^ "Racing Louisville FC Midfielder Savannah DeMelo Named July Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ "North Carolina Courage Forward Diana Ordóñez Named August Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- ^ "Wave FC's Girma NWSL Rookie of the Month, on NWSL Team of the Month". LAG Confidential. October 14, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "NJ/NY Gotham FC Defender/Midfielder Jenna Nighswonger Named May Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ "Washington Spirit Midfielder Paige Metayer Named June Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ "NJ/NY Gotham FC's Jenna Nighswonger Named July Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. August 3, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ "Orlando Pride Forward Messiah Bright Named August Player of the Month, Presented by EA Sports and August Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally Financial" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. September 1, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ "Kansas City Current Forward Alexa Spaanstra Named September/October Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. October 19, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named March/April Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally". National Women's Soccer League. May 7, 2024.
- ^ "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named May Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named June's NWSL Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). Washington Spirit. July 11, 2024.
- ^ "Utah Royals Forward Ally Sentnor Named July Player of the Month, Presented by EA SPORTS and July Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally". National Women's Soccer League (Press release). August 9, 2024.
- ^ "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named August Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named August Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
- ^ "Washington Spirit Forward Makenna Morris Named October and November Rookie of the Month, presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.