The National Women’s Soccer League is represented strongly with nearly half of the nominee’s coming from the American women’s league. Four of the five played for the USWNT that won the World Cup this summer, and the lone non-American player is the league’s top goalscorer in Sam Kerr with 11 goals this year.
Kerr, along with Julie Ertz, represents the Chigaco Red Stars as one of the two teams with more than one player on the list. The other team is Olympique Lyon of France, with Ada Hegerberg, Wendie Renard, and Amandine Henry nominated for the award.
Joining Kerr and Ertz from the NWSL are Washington Spirit’s Rose Lavelle, Orlando Pride’s Alex Morgan, and Reign FC’s Megan Rapinoe. The four American stars all won the World Cup together this summer, with all of them having outstanding tournaments.
Ertz scored a single goal in the tournament, and was a force in midfield the entire tournament. Lavelle scored in the World Cup Final, and took home the Bronze Ball for her performance in the tournament. Morgan scored five goals in the opening match, and earned the Silver Boot for her six goals in the World Cup. Rapinoe was the star of the show, winning the Golden Boot and Golden Ball for her six crucial goals that lead the USWNT to the title.
Kerr’s World Cup did not go as great as her NWSL counterparts, with Australia getting knocked out in the Round of 16 to Norway 4-1 on penalties. The Chicago Red Star scored five goals in four games, but missed her penalty in the shootout that would eventually see her nation sent home. But the two-time NWSL Golden Boot winner’s remarkable club performances have earned her a spot on this list.
The five players are joined by Hegerberg, Henry, Renard, Caroline Graham Hensen, Vivianne Miedema, and Ellen White as candidates for the award.
