NEW YORK (November 18, 2024) - The National Women’s Soccer League today announced the recipients of the 2024 Best XI First Team and Best XI Second Team awards, presented by Amazon Prime. The recognition honors the top 22 players in the league.
The Best XI First Team and Best XI Second Team were determined based on a weighted voting scale comprised of players (40%), owners/GMs/coaches (25%), media (25%) and fans (10%).
2024 NWSL Best XI First Team
Goalkeeper: Ann-Katrin Berger (GFC)
Defenders: Emily Sams (ORL), Casey Krueger (WAS), Kaleigh Kurtz (NC), Jenna Nighswonger (GFC)
Midfielders and Forwards: Temwa Chawinga (KC), Barbra Banda (ORL), Marta (ORL), Croix Bethune (WAS), Trinity Rodman (WAS), Sophia Smith (POR)
2024 NWSL Best XI Second Team
Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse (ORL)
Defenders: Naomi Girma (SD), Tara McKeown (WAS), Kerry Abello (ORL), Ryan Williams (NC)
Midfielders and Forwards: Vanessa DiBernardo (KC), Lo’eau LaBonta (KC), Hal Hershfelt (WAS), Esther (GFC), Rose Lavelle (GFC), Yazmeen Ryan (GFC)
Each athlete will receive a cash bonus in recognition of their selection to the Best XI First Team and Best XI Second Team.
About the 2024 Best XI First Team
GK – Ann-Katrin Berger, GFC: Starting in 22 matches for Gotham FC, Berger logged eight clean sheets and a league-low 16 goals conceded. The German international posted a save percentage of 80.49 percent, making 67 saves and 32 catches.
D – Emily Sams, ORL: Holding down the backline for the Pride, Sams played in all but one game this regular season and started 24, including all 13 of Orlando’s shutouts. The club led the league in that category and set a new league record for consecutive minutes without conceding a goal (554).
D – Casey Krueger, WAS: The NWSL veteran led the Spirit to the No. 2 seed in the NWSL playoffs, presented by Google Pixel, winning 23 tackles and making 25 interceptions. Krueger scored one goal and earned three assists in 22 matches played.
D – Kaleigh Kurtz, NC: The three-time NWSL ironwoman recorded a passing accuracy of 86.02% and recorded 21 interceptions. The South Carolina native boasted 10 total shots, four on target, one goal and 17 tackles won.
D – Jenna Nighswonger, GFC: Playing in all 26 matches for Gotham FC, Nighswonger recorded 41 tackles won and 17 interceptions to help Gotham earn the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. Nighswonger, the 2023 Rookie of the Year, presented by Ally, recorded one goal and three assists out of 19 total shots, eight on target.
M – Croix Bethune, WAS: Three-time Rookie of the Month, presented by Ally, winner, Bethune led the league in assists during the regular season, tying the single-season record for assists set by Tobin Heath with the Portland Thorns in 2016. Bethune’s performance on May 1 in a 4-2 road victory over the Chicago Red Stars marked the first time in league history for a rookie to record 3 assists in one game. She is just the fourth rookie in NWSL history to be named to the year-end Best XI.
M – Marta, ORL: Veteran midfielder Marta secured her spot on the Best XI First Team after recording nine goals and one assist in 2024. The Brazilian international recorded an 82.11 percent passing accuracy with 35 dribbles completed and 17 tackles won.
M/F – Trinity Rodman, WAS: Rodman recorded eight goals (tied for most on the Spirit) and six assists (second most) in 2024. The 2021 NWSL Rookie of the Year led Washington in chances created (37) and earned two Goal of the Week honors. Defensively, Rodman recorded 34 tackles won and 23 interceptions.
F – Sophia Smith, POR: Featuring in 19 matches, Smith tallied 12 goals and six assists along with three braces. Completing 39 dribbles past opponents, the Colorado native took 63 total shots, including 45 on target.
F – Barbra Banda, ORL: Finishing second in the Golden Boot race, Banda scored 13 goals and six assists, including four braces, tying the single-season league record. Her 13 goals for the Pride tied the single-season club record held by Marta (2017). The Zambian international led all players with 86 total shots (48 on target) as well as header goals (6).
F – Temwa Chawinga, KC: The 2024 Golden Boot winner set a new single-season NWSL record with 20 goals, breaking Sam Kerr’s record of 18 goals from 2019. The Malawi international scored in eight straight games – another new league record – tallying 10 goals, including two braces, between June 9 and September 1. She became the first player to score against all opponents in a single NWSL season with 10 or more teams.
About the 2024 Best XI Second Team
GK – Anna Moorhouse, ORL: The first Pride ironwoman since 2017, Moorhouse broke both the league and club records for most shutouts in a season, recording 13 clean sheets. The England international posted the best save percentage in NWSL (81.13%) and the second-best goals-against-average (.769).
D – Naomi Girma, SD: The back-to-back NWSL Defender of the Year in 2022 and 2023 boasted a league-high 91.4 percent passing percentage. In her 20 games for the Wave (all starts), Girma won 17 tackles and recorded 18 interceptions.
D – Tara McKeown, WAS: The Spirit’s only ironwoman of 2024, McKeown helped the club to the No. 2 seed in the NWSL playoffs, winning 29 tackles and making 31 interceptions. The converted centerback recorded an 86.15 passing percentage and earned one assist.
D – Kerry Abello, ORL: The third-year Pride player won 33 tackles and 24 interceptions, helping Orlando to a 23-match unbeaten streak to start the season, the longest in NWSL history. Abello also scored one goal, earned 2 assists and completed 23 dribbles past opponents.
D – Ryan Williams, NC: Williams won 55 tackles and made 53 interceptions for the Courage, ranking second among the club’s field players for minutes played. She recorded an impressive passing rate of 85.65%.
M – Vanessa DiBernardo, KC: The NWSL veteran recorded the best offensive season of her career with five goals and six assists in 23 matches played for the Current. The midfielder also won 25 tackles and made 28 interceptions.
M – Lo’eau LaBonta: KC: Named to the NWSL Best XI of the Month four times this year, LaBonta scored six goals and logged one assist. Three of her goals were from penalty kicks. The Current captain logged 36 tackles won and 35 interceptions in her 24 regular-season appearances.
M – Hal Hershfelt, WAS: The No. 5 overall draft pick led the Spirit in tackles won (43), successful passes in the opponent’s half (401) and fouls (34). She scored two goals and recorded an 82.44% passing rate. The rookie also completed 17 dribbles.
F – Esther, GFC: The Spain international scored nine goals to lead Gotham this season and added four assists. Two of her goals were game-winners, and she logged two braces. Esther completed 13 dribbles and recorded an 82.25% passing rate.
F – Rose Lavelle, GFC: The NWSL veteran recorded seven goals (a single-season personal best) and one assist for Gotham FC. The Cincinnati native completed 13 dribbles, took 28 total shots, 44 on target, and won 23 tackles to help the club to the No. 3 seed in the postseason.
F – Yazmeen Ryan, GFC: The third-year player featured in all but one match for Gotham this season, tallying five goals and five assists for her best offensive season to date, and adding 28 completed dribbles and 34 tackles won.
As the presenting sponsor of the NWSL Best XI, Amazon Prime is bringing fans closer to the players they love by placing the spotlight on the excellence of the athletes selected for this honor. Prime encourages members to explore their passions and interests through the entertainment they watch, the music they listen to, and the things they like to buy. You could say: Whatever you’re into, It’s on Prime.
