US Soccer announces nominees for Player of the Year

U.S. Soccer has announced the nominees for the 2021 Soccer Player of the Year awards, honoring the top performers for club and country.

Alyssa Naeher, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe are in the running for U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, the federation announced Sunday.

Nominees set for 2021 U.S. Soccer Player of the Year awards » https://t.co/z7m0q9Qa5o 🏆 pic.twitter.com/v8N0jzqXry

— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) December 5, 2021

All of the nominees were a part of the U.S. women’s national team’s run to the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics this past summer.

Naeher notably stopped three penalty kicks to keep the USWNT alive in its quarterfinal match against the Netherlands, while Lavelle opened up scoring for the team in Tokyo. Rapinoe capped her Olympic campaign with a brace in the bronze-medal game that included an Olimpico.

Horan had a landmark year, leading the team in minutes played and earning her 100th cap with the national team. Carli Lloyd ended her historic 17-year career with the USWNT in October, retiring with 316 caps, the second-most in international soccer.

U.S. Soccer also announced the finalists for the Young Female Player of the Year, which includes Emily Fox, Jaelin Howell, Catarina Macario, Mia Fishel and Trinity Rodman.

For the first time, fans have a say in the awards, accounting for 15 percent of the tally. The remainder of votes will come from fellow USWNT players, coaches and media. Voting for the awards begins on Monday and concludes on Dec. 12.