The North Carolina Courage stayed perfect in June with three wins, and three of their own headline the 11 players named to the Team of the Month, selected by the NWSL Media Association for June 2017. Forward Ashley Hatch, midfielder Samantha Mewis and defender Abby Dahlkemper join June Player of the Month Sam Kerr on […]

The North Carolina Courage stayed perfect in June with three wins, and three of their own headline the 11 players named to the Team of the Month, selected by the NWSL Media Association for June 2017. Forward Ashley Hatch, midfielder Samantha Mewis and defender Abby Dahlkemper join June Player of the Month Sam Kerr on the list.Marta also was named to the June Team of the Month, after she led scoring in June, with four goals in four games as the Orlando Pride went 3-1-0. Marta’s not the only new face on the best XI for June. She’s joined by Orlando teammate Ali Krieger, North Carolina’s Dahlkemper and Hatch, as well as NWSL leading scorer Megan Rapinoe. [Youtube oembed has failed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikUmyiQMHqw] Take a look at the full roster, which lines up in a 4-3-3 formation.

GK: Stephanie Labbé, Washington Spirit

Labbé only allowed one goal in June, a penalty kick conceded to Red Stars forward Christen Press during the 1-1 draw on June 17. She led the Spirit to a 2-0-1 record this month, and added 14 saves for her season total so far of 44. * * *

D: Casey Short, Chicago Red Stars

Short and the Red Stars had a disappointing end to the month with Wednesday night’s midweek loss to the Reign, but the defender was a big reason for the 2-1-1 record in June. Short upped her offensive contributions this month, including setting up ****Press on the play that earned the PK against Washington and an assist for Sofia Huerta‘s game winner against Sky Blue FC on June 25. * * *

D: Abby Dahlkemper, North Carolina Courage

North Carolina stayed perfect in June, adding another 3 wins to their league-leading 8-3-0 record. Dahlkemper logged 270 minutes, and plays a key part in the Courage offense with her corner kick contributions. * * *

D: Ali Krieger, Orlando Pride

Krieger played every minute as she captained the Pride to winning nine points in June. Despite the 2-0 loss to Houston on the road, the Pride are in sixth place and only two points back from a playoff spot. She also proved this month she’s still got some serious wheels. * * *

D: Estelle Johnson, Washington Spirit

Johnson is another backline warrior for Team of the Month, logging all 270 minutes during the Washington Spirit’s June campaign. She contributed nine interceptions, nine tackles and two blocks this month. * * *

M: Marta, Orlando Pride

If Marta scores, the Orlando Pride are going to win. Or at least, that’s how it worked in June. She scored four goals and added two assists for the Pride, including the equalizer against Sky Blue on Wednesday night that sparked the late comeback on the road. * * *

M: Samantha Mewis, North Carolina Courage

If the North Carolina Courage have a quarterback calling the players, it’s definitely midfielder Samantha Mewis. 241 touches on the ball in June, 173 passes, and two assists from Mewis equalled a perfect month for the Courage. * * *

M: Jess Fishlock, Seattle Reign FC

Fishlock can always be trusted to patrol the midfield for Seattle, but she was a key part in Seattle’s big midweek victory over the Chicago Red Stars. She led the Reign with six tackles, two interceptions and 14 gained possessions — the kind of contribution the Reign need from Fishlock to stay in playoff contention. * * *

F: Megan Rapinoe, Seattle Reign FC

Megan Rapinoe scored three goals for Seattle this month, including both penalty kicks in the 2-1 win over the Red Stars on Wednesday. But Opta stats show there’s one other reason Rapinoe made Team of the Month: key passes (per the Opta glossary: a pass that is “instrumental in creating a goal-scoring opportunity”). Rapinoe had nine of them this month, including four against the Red Stars on June 4. * * *

F: Sam Kerr, Sky Blue FC

Team of the Month two months in a row, Player of the Month two months in a row. Kerr’s putting on a show out in Piscataway, New Jersey. That bicycle kick was just the cherry on top, and Kerr’s fifth goal this season. * * *

F: Ashley Hatch, North Carolina Courage

With forwards Lynn Williams and Jessica McDonald spending most of June on the injury report, Courage rookie Ashley Hatch has used her opportunity to shine — and score goals. She scored in all three games this month for North Carolina, including the game winner in Boston on June 24. The NWSL Team of the Month is selected each month of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers that cover the league on a consistent basis. For more information on the NWSL Media Association, follow them on Twitter.