On Thursday, JWS released a list of NWSL midseason awards. Today, we complete those awards with a rundown of five frontrunners for league MVP three months into the regular season.

The Best Offensive Player and Best Defensive Player from Thursday have made this list, and are joined by three others — two forwards and one defender. We make our pick for midseason MVP at the end.

These are not predictions for who will be named the 2022 NWSL MVP, because a lot can happen between now and the end of the regular season in October, but rather a nod to the players who have stood out from the rest so far.

Let’s dive in.

Mallory Pugh, F, Chicago Red Stars

Mallory Pugh appears to be in the best form of her career. Getting 86 percent of her shots on target, she’s buried a total of six for the Red Stars to sit third in the Golden Boot race. The 2021 NWSL MVP nominee also has two assists and a dribble success rate of 76 percent. On the other side of the ball, she wins 67 percent of her tackles and has made eight interceptions. On Thursday, she was named the best offensive player in JWS’ midseason awards.

This is just unreal, @MalPugh 😱@chicagoredstars | #MKOT pic.twitter.com/YWEBidBqaf

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 4, 2022

Sophia Smith, F, Portland Thorns FC

On a Thorns team full of stars, Sophia Smith manages to stand out with her quick and precise decision-making in the opponent’s box. Leading the league in both shots and shots on goal, she has eight goals and two assists on the year. The 21-year-old is behind only San Diego forward Alex Morgan (11 goals) in the Golden Boot race. Thanks to Smith’s efforts, the Thorns currently lead the league with 29 goals, nine ahead of the second-best Red Stars, and with 80 shots on goal, 16 ahead of Chicago.

“A PLAYER FOR ALL SEASONS”@ThornFC | #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/LOYFhNIX8h

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 30, 2022

Sofia Huerta, D, OL Reign

Sofia Huerta delivers some of the best crosses in the NWSL, creating two assists and 18 chances so far in 2022. With a 76 percent success on her passes and 67 percent of her shots going on target, Huerta’s accuracy is key to OL Reign’s attack. Defensively, Huerta has a 75 percent tackle success rate to help the Reign’s backline hold opponents to a league-best nine total goals this season.

It's @bethanybalcer who finally puts one in the back of the net for @OLReign!

Watch: https://t.co/vzgSxG3jWg | #BoldTogether pic.twitter.com/LeRlH270Md

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) May 26, 2022

Alex Morgan, F, San Diego Wave FC

Eleven goals is hard to ignore. Alex Morgan has led the league in goals all season, helping push the Wave to the top of the NWSL standings in their first season as a franchise. Creating nine chances, she also has an assist to her name and has won 75 percent of her tackles.

Stop us if you've heard this before: Alex Morgan scores for San Diego

It's her 11th goal of the season #NJNYvSD (🎥 @NWSL)pic.twitter.com/daWb0iDmxi

— AllForXI (@AllForXI) June 19, 2022

Our pick: Naomi Girma, D, San Diego Wave FC

A rookie has never officially won an NWSL MVP award, but if there’s a player to do it, it’s Naomi Girma.

The May Rookie of the Month has arguably been the best defender in the league this year. Making the NWSL’s Team of the Month for both May and June, the center back is smooth in every aspect of her game — from her passing accuracy of 84 percent, to her one-v-one defending, to her ability to read opponents, leading to 18 interceptions. In the absence of the injured Abby Dahlkemper, Girma has emerged as a leader who’s already worn the captain’s armband, just six months into her rookie year.

The No. 1 2022 draft pick has played every minute of the games she’s been available for, leading a San Diego backline that’s conceded just 11 goals to stay atop the league standings.

Naomi Girma put her body on the line to make a great block ❌ pic.twitter.com/nJXU1VRl97

— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) June 5, 2022

Jessa Braun is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports covering the NWSL and USWNT. Follow her on Twitter @jessabraun.

The NWSL is changing up its athlete acquisition process, with the league announcing on Wednesday that it will replace the CBA-eliminated draft with a pair of player combines starting this December.

Dividing prospects into two groups — adults and college-aged (U18-23) and youth (U13-17) — the three-day programs will showcase player talent and allow clubs to sign standouts as free agents.  

To maintain competitive balance across the NWSL and set incoming 2026 expansion teams Boston Legacy FC and Denver Summit FC up for success, the league already revised several roster-building mechanisms, including adopting a new allocation money structure as well as intra-league loans.

Like the abolishment of the draft and the new mechanism requiring athletes to acquiesce to their own trades, the new NWSL combines will give players more freedom over their careers while also better aligning the growing US league with global soccer standards.

"As the women's soccer landscape continues to rapidly evolve, a Combine is a strategic platform that will allow us to support NWSL clubs in early talent evaluation and provide players with exposure to a professional environment," said league director of youth development Karla Thompson in Wednesday's statement.

"This initiative is about widening the lens...and ensuring that talent, wherever it resides, has a continued pathway to our league."

Despite falling from the playoffs on Wednesday night, Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase is still ending her season on a win, with the WNBA naming the first-year expansion team sideline boss the 2025 Coach of the Year this week.

Nakase picked up 53 out of the sports media panel's 72 votes to take the title, with fellow sideline rookie Karl Smesko (Atlanta Dream) trailing with 15 votes while veteran leaders Becky Hammon (Las Vegas Aces) and Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx) tied for third place with two votes apiece.

"What this does, is it reflects on [our] whole organization," said Nakase, sharing credit with her team and staff. "Without [the players], we wouldn't have had a winning season and we wouldn't be where I am today now."

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Golden State made WNBA expansion history under Nakase

In leading Golden State to a 23-21 regular season — a league record for wins by an expansion team in their first campaign — Nakase also minted the Valkyries as the first-ever expansion franchise to make the WNBA Playoffs in their debut season.

That success came from the team's strong defense, as the Valkyries held opponents to a league-wide low in both points per game (76.3) and field goal percentage (40.5%) on the year.

Before joining the Valkyries, Nakase served as an assistant coach in Las Vegas, helping guide the Aces to back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023.

"Natalie has been a fierce leader from the very moment she was announced as head coach," said Golden State GM Ohemaa Nyanin. "Her core philosophy of connectivity and emphasis on high character has created an environment where everyone can thrive. Her unique approach to leadership and ability to hold players accountable with care while staying true to her values has been remarkable."

"I love playing for a fiery coach who always wants to win and believes in her players so much," said Valkyries — and former Aces — guard Kate Martin.

The new WNBA home-away-home first-round format has upped the dramatics in the 2025 Playoffs, as multiple home-court upsets have forced Game 3 deciders this week.

The No. 6 Indiana Fever's Game 2 win over No. 3 Atlanta set up Thursday's elimination game, with the injury-riddled Fever taking down the Dream 77-60 on Tuesday to keep their playoff dreams alive.

The No. 7 Seattle Storm also earned themselves a Game 3, facing No. 2 Las Vegas in Thursday's nightcap after snapping the Aces' 17-game winning streak in Tuesday's 86-83 Game 2 shocker.

Indiana and Seattle remain the series' underdogs, ceding home-court advantage as Atlanta aims to build on their first playoff win since 2016 while Las Vegas shoots for a third title in four years.

"Our backs were definitely against the wall in this, and we know that we've just been through so much this season," Fever center Aliyah Boston said postgame. "Coming out with this win and then giving ourselves another chance in Game 3, emotions are high."

How to watch Game 3 action in the 2025 WNBA Playoffs

The first round's Game 3 finales begin with two winner-take-all matchups on Thursday night, beginning when the No. 6 Indiana Fever tackles the No. 3 Atlanta Dream at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN2.

Shortly afterward, the No. 6 Seattle Storm will take on the No. 2 Las Vegas Aces, also airing live on ESPN2.

The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx became the first WNBA team to punch their ticket to the 2025 semifinals with a dramatic come-from-behind win on Wednesday night, fighting back from a 17-point deficit to sneak past the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries 75-74 and sweep their first-round playoffs series.

Bolstered by a strong crowd traveling down to San Jose for the relocated home matchup, the Valkyries broke out into an early lead, but the 2025 expansion side couldn't hang on in the final seconds as the top-seeded Lynx rallied.

"I am just so proud of our effort," Minnesota forward Napheesa Collier said postgame. "I think it shows the grit and the resilience that this team has and what we've been talking about for two years."

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The Lynx secured the only sweep in this year's best-of-three opening postseason round, with every other series moving to a Game 3 decider.

"The games that we've watched demonstrate that level of desperation for teams in elimination games," Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve reflected.

How to watch the Minnesota Lynx in the 2025 WNBA semifinals

The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx will next face the lowest seed to advance past this week's first round, with Thursday and Friday Game 3 action determining their opponent.

The 2025 WNBA semifinals will then tip off on Sunday, with live coverage airing on ESPN platforms.