all scores

Mal Pugh, Midge Purce up for NWSL MVP as league announces nominees

img
(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

The 2021 NWSL Award nominees were announced on Friday by the NWSL, with Mal Pugh, Midge Purce, Jessica Fishlock, Ashley Hatch and Angela Salem up for MVP.

Voting takes two rounds, with the final round of voting — which includes the fans — now open. Voting will close on Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. ET.

The preliminary round of voting saw players, owners, general managers, coaches and the media voting on five individual awards to determine the final nominees. Those categories are: Most Valuable Player, presented by Budweiser, Defender of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Rookie of the Year, presented by Ally, and Coach of the Year

The nominees are as follows:

  • Most Valuable Player: Jessica Fishlock (OL Reign), Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Margaret Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Angela Salem (Portland Thorns FC)
  • Defender of the Year: Alana Cook (OL Reign), Caprice Dydasco (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Sarah Gorden (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Menges (Portland Thorns FC), Carson Pickett (North Carolina Courage)
  • Goalkeeper of the Year: Bella Bixby (Portland Thorns FC), Aubrey Bledsoe (Wasghintgon Spirit), Kailen Sheridan (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
  • Rookie of the Year: Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC), Victoria Pickett (Kansas City Current), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit)
  • Coach of the Year: Laura Harvey (OL Reign), Scott Parkinson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Mark Parsons (Portland Thorns FC)

Additionally, fans will be able to vote in the final round on the Best XI, presented by Mastercard. The award will honor a first and second team featuring the top 22 players in the league.

The final round of voting will use a weighted scale and take into account players (50 percent), owners/GMs/coaches (20 percent), media (20 percent) and fans (10 percent).

Award winners will be announced in the days leading up to the NWSL Championship game, set to tip off on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 12 p.m. ET on CBS. At halftime of the game the inaugural Nationwide Community Impact Award will be announced.

Earlier this week, Ashley Hatch was named MVP in JWS’ own end-of-year awards.