After securing spots on the Best XI First Team on Monday, Kansas City's Temwa Chawinga, Washington's Croix Bethune, and Orlando's Emily Sams picked up even more 2024 NWSL awards this week.
On Friday, KC striker Chawinga added 2024 MVP to her stacked resume, one day after Bethune and Sams snagged their respective position awards.
A striking first NWSL season for KC's Chawinga
It's almost impossible to believe that 2024 was Chawinga's first NWSL season, but the newly minted MVP only joined Kansas City in January.
The Malawi international blasted into the league's history books with 20 goals this year, ousting former NWSL star Sam Kerr from atop the single-season scoring record.
That effort earned the Current star the 2024 Golden Boot. She additionally notched league first along the way, becoming the only player to ever score against all teams in a single season.
Proving herself 2024's leader in capitalizing on opportunities, the 26-year-old took the second-most shots in the league but put the most on target. A menace in the box, her subsequent speed and agility helped Chawinga lead the NWSL with 18 of her 20 goals netted from inside the 18.
"We are so proud of Temwa for earning this award," said KC head coach Vlatko Andonovski on Friday. "Temwa has come so far this season in a short amount of time and is so important to our team, she is the clear MVP of both our team and the league."
Bethune's unmatched NWSL rookie debut
Speaking of history-making first-year NWSL players, Washington standout Bethune became a bonafide league star in her professional debut, one that earned her three end-of-season awards. Along with her Best XI First Team nod, Bethune became the 2024 Rookie of the Year on Tuesday, then capped her individual hardware haul by being named the NWSL's first-ever Midfielder of the Year on Thursday.
As the No. 3 overall pick in the last-ever NWSL Draft, the Georgia alum made her presence on the professional pitch immediately known, snagging Rookie of the Month honors for every month she was eligible. She also became the first rookie to ever notch three assists in a single match.
Bethune, who also won Olympic gold with the USWNT in August, notched five goals and an NWSL record-tying 10 assists in her 2024 campaign. Even more impressively, the Spirit star did so in just 17 games, missing the last nine matches after a late-August injury ended her season.
"I'm so grateful," Bethune told JWS at NWSL Championship Media Day in Kansas City after winning Midfielder of the Year. "Being out a lot of the season with injury [and] being able to achieve goals that I set for myself — thank you to the league and everyone who supports me."
Sams named top NWSL defender
After helping Orlando lead the NWSL with 13 shutouts, fewest goals conceded, and most consecutive minutes without giving up a goal, center back Sams was named 2024 Defender of the Year (DOTY) on Thursday, becoming the first Pride player to earn the honor.
Sams now joins an elite club of seven defenders to ever win the award, including four-time DOTY Becky Sauerbrunn and last year's back-to-back winner Naomi Girma.
Shield-winners Orlando led the NWSL this season, but Sams topped the Pride's backline, leading the club in clearances, blocks, and possessions in the defensive third. Plus, the 25-year-old notched the second-most recoveries on the NWSL's stat sheet with 163, and she'll look to continue shutting down opponents when Orlando faces Washington in Saturday's 2024 NWSL Championship.
Individual numbers aside, Sams was quick to share credit with her teammates on Thursday, saying, "this is literally impossible without all of you guys. Shout out to Anna, Kylie, Bells, Corey and everyone else who played on the backline this year — I can't do what I do without you guys. Lets go win the championship."
2024 NWSL end-of-season awards
- Golden Boot: Temwa Chawinga, KC Current
- MVP: Temwa Chawinga, KC Current
- Rookie of the Year: Croix Bethune, Washington Spirit
- Midfielder of the Year: Croix Bethune, Washington Spirit
- Defender of the Year: Emily Sams, Orlando Pride
- Goalkeeper of the Year: Ann-Katrin Berger, Gotham FC
- Coach of the Year: Seb Hines, Orlando Pride
The NWSL is continuing to roll out end-of-year awards this week, with the league's top performers taking home honors in the lead-up to the 2024 Championship.
Joining Rookie of the Year (ROTY) Croix Bethune and Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga in earning 2024 hardware is Gotham's Ann-Katrin Berger. The German international subsequently became the first European player to win Goalkeeper of the Year on Wednesday, snagging the award in her first NWSL season.
In her 22 matches, Berger logged eight clean sheets. She conceded a league-low 16 goals and posted a save percentage above 80%.
Hines wins Coach of the Year
Also earning a trophy is Orlando Pride boss Seb Hines, who became the 2024 Coach of the Year this week.
A former assistant, Hines was elevated to interim coach in June 2022 after Orlando placed former head coach Amanda Cromwell on administrative leave. Now in his second full year as manager, Hines is already Orlando's winningest coach with a career record of 31-30-12.
After steering his team to a record 24-match unbeaten streak and first-ever NWSL Shield win, Hines ended the regular season with an overall record of 18-2-6 en route to the club's first playoff berth since 2017. Adding onto that 2024 campaign, Hines led the Pride to their first-ever postseason wins.
Orlando also set NWSL records with the most single-season points (60), victories (18), and the longest win streak (eight matches) under Hines.
The 36-year-old beat out Kansas City's Vlatko Andonovski and Gotham's 2023 winner Juan Carlos Amorós to take this year's honor.
Three more NWSL end-of-season awards await
Lastly, the final trio of 2024 NWSL awards will drop in the upcoming days, including Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, and MVP. As fans await those announcements, more than a few finalists are gearing up to play in Saturday's Championship.
Pride defenders Emily Sams, Kylie Strom, and Spirit center back Tara McKeown are up for Defender of the Year. Meanwhile, Washington's Rookie of the Year Bethune could double-down as Midfielder of the Year.
On top of that, three of the NWSL's MVP candidates — Spirit winger Trinity Rodman and Orlando attackers Marta and Barbra Banda — will feature on the championship pitch.
In the lead-up to Saturday's 2024 NWSL Championship final, the league is revealing the season's individual award winners, with Washington Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune currently leading the charge.
After earning NWSL Best XI First Team honors on Monday, Bethune was named the 2024 Rookie of the Year (ROTY) on Tuesday.
Record-breaking abbreviated season set Bethune apart
Despite only playing 17 of the NWSL regular season's 26 matches before tearing her meniscus in late August, Bethune's five goals and record-tying, league-leading 10 assists made her the unequivocal ROTY frontrunner.
The 23-year-old Georgia alum also won Rookie of the Month (ROTM) every single month she was eligible. Her season-opening three-month streak made Bethune the first-ever NWSL player to earn the honor in consecutive months. Plus, she returned from the 2024 Olympics with a gold medal just to add a record-setting fourth ROTM title to her debut campaign.
With her 2024 ROTY win, Bethune — who is also nominated for 2024 Midfielder of the Year — joins a star-studded list of past winners that includes Naomi Girma, Jenna Nighswonger, Bethany Balcer, and USWNT legend Julie Ertz.
Washington is also the current home to two previous ROTY winners. Ashley Hatch snagged the award as a North Carolina Courage rookie in 2017, with Trinity Rodman becoming the Spirit's first-ever ROTY in 2021. That same year, Washington, who will battle Orlando for the 2024 NWSL Championship this Saturday, took home it's first-ever league title.
Looking ahead, the ROTY landscape is likely to shift significantly, potentially as soon as next season. The league's latest CBA eliminated drafts, leaving the college-to-pro pipeline that Bethune — the 2024 NWSL Draft's third overall pick — followed in uncharted territory.
2024 NWSL Best XI Teams stacked with playoff standouts
Before Tuesday's ROTY reveal, the NWSL announced 2024's Best XI First and Second Teams on Monday, with a full 10 of the 22 honored players hailing from Saturday's title-contending clubs.
With five players apiece, finalists Orlando and Washington — plus semifinalist Gotham — lead the seven league teams represented across the two squads. NWSL semifinalist Kansas City followed with three athletes, while North Carolina's defense earned a spot on each list.
Additionally, first Team forward Sophia Smith was Portland's sole delegate. Second Team center back Naomi Girma was both San Diego's only selectee and the only non-playoff athlete on either list.
Washington's talented young roster supplied both of the rookies to make the Best XI cut. New ROTY Bethune was the lone debutant on the First Team roster, with the Spirit's star defensive midfielder Hal Hershfelt notching a spot on the Second Team.
While all five MVP nominees unsurprisingly received First Team honors, Monday's lineups did flip the script on Gotham's lack of individual awards. Four omitted NJ/NY field players, including defender Jenna Nighswonger and midfielder Rose Lavelle, joined goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger — Gotham's only position award nominee — in the Best XI.
The 2024 NWSL Best XI First Team
- Goalkeeper: Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC)
- Defenders: Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Kaleigh Kurtz (NC Courage), Jenna Nighswonger (Gotham FC)
- Midfielders and Forwards: Temwa Chawinga (KC Current), Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride), Marta (Orlando Pride), Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)
The 2024 NWSL Best XI Second Team
- Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)
- Defenders: Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit), Kerry Abello (Orlando Pride), Ryan Williams (NC Courage)
- Midfielders and Forwards: Vanessa DiBernardo (KC Current), Lo’eau LaBonta (KC Current), Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit), Esther (Gotham FC), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC), Yazmeen Ryan (Gotham FC)
In today's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins takes a deep dive into the end-of-season NWSL awards, comparing her ballot with the announced finalists to predict this year's winners. Watkins then gives her final picks from the pool of nominees, choosing the best of the best in a year flush with impressive performances.
Later, Watkins previews the blockbuster NWSL semifinal matchups between the league's top four teams, predicting the results and forecasting who will ultimately win a ticket to Kansas City to compete in the 2024 NWSL Championship.
The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.
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The NWSL announced the finalists for the 2024 end-of-year awards on Tuesday, with lists showcasing heavy-hitters around the league.
The 2024 MVP award is an all-attacker affair, as the league's top scorers all earned nominations. The Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda and Marta both snagged nods, with Kansas City's Golden Boot-winner Temwa Chawinga, Washington's Trinity Rodman, and Portland's Sophia Smith rounding out the shortlist.
The Rookie of the Year category is similarly stacked, as injured Washington rookie Croix Bethune and her record-tying 10 assists goes up against Utah standout Ally Sentnor and KC Current star Claire Hutton for top honors.
Position players snag share of NWSL awards spotlight
The NWSL's top position players are also vying for solo hardware this season.
In the league's first-ever Midfielder of the Year category, Kansas City's Vanessa DiBernardo and celly queen Lo LaBonta earned nominations, as did Orlando's Marta and North Carolina's Ashley Sanchez. Washington rookie Croix Bethune's short but impressive season also scored her a nod.
Battling in the backline for Defender of the Year are North Carolina's Kaleigh Kurtz and Washington's forward-turned-center back Tara McKeown. Both Iron Women are in the running alongside San Diego’s Naomi Girma and Orlando’s Emily Sams and Kylie Strom.
As the new NWSL single-season shutout leader, Orlando's Anna Moorhouse headlines the Goalkeeper of the Year race, with Gotham's Ann-Katrin Berger and Utah's Mandy Haught in hot pursuit.
Top sideline leaders earn NWSL Coach of the Year nominations
After flipping Orlando from a non-playoff team into 2024’s Shield-winners with a record-setting 23-match undefeated streak, Pride boss Seb Hines is the frontrunner for Coach of the Year (COTY).
However, Hines faces tough competition from Gotham's Juan Carlos Amorós and Kansas City's Vlatko Andonovski.
Andonovski took the Current from a second-to-last 2023 finish to fourth-place on this season's table, while 2023 COTY winner Amorós is one of just two coaches to defeat Orlando this year.
How to vote for the 2024 NWSL individual awards
Fan ballots account for 10% of the final tally, so weigh in by voting online for this season's individual awards, as well as the Best XI First Team and Best XI Second Team. Ballots are due by 3 PM ET on Friday.