NWSL Rookie of the Month

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

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In 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

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2022

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Month 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

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Month 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

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Month 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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Alicia Rodriguez (June 9, 2022). "San Diego Wave FC's Naomi Girma voted NWSL Rookie of the Month". LAG Confidential. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "Wave FC's Girma NWSL Rookie of the Month, on NWSL Team of the Month". LAG Confidential. October 14, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named March/April Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally". National Women's Soccer League. May 7, 2024.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named June's NWSL Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). Washington Spirit. July 11, 2024.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "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.