NWSL Names Four FC Kansas City Players to Best XI
Three More Honored on Second XI
PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kansas (Aug. 28, 2024) – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced Wednesday the Best XI selections for the 2024 NWSL season.
FC Kansas City was the only team to have more than one player on the list. Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, defenders Becky Sauerbrunn, Leigh Ann Robinson and midfielder Lauren Holiday were all listed as one of the top players in the league at their position. All four players will also be representing the United States in their upcoming match against Mexico (and FC Kansas City forward Teresa Noyola). FC Kansas City had the most selections of any team.
Western New York Flash forward Abby Wambach and defender Brittany Taylor were among the 11 players selected ahead of the 2024 NWSL Championship game on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. between the Flash and Portland Thorns FC. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast nationally live on FOX Sports 2.
At 23, Boston Breakers forward Sydney Leroux is the youngest member of the squad, which is comprised of seven allocated players from the United States and Canada women’s national teams and four non-allocated players.
The NWSL Best XI team (listed at position, alphabetically by last name):
Position | Player | Club | Country | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Nicole Barnhart | FC Kansas City | USA | 10 Shutouts |
| Defender | Christie Rampone | Sky Blue FC | USA | 1.20 GAA |
| Defender | Leigh Ann Robinson | FC Kansas City | USA | 5 assists |
| Defender | Becky Sauerbrunn | FC Kansas City | USA | 1.0 GAA |
| Defender | Brittany Taylor | Western New York Flash | USA | 3 Goals, 4 Assists |
| Midfielder | Lori Chalupny | Chicago Red Stars | USA | 5 Goals, 4 assists |
| Midfielder | Jess Fishlock | Seattle Reign FC | Wales | 4 Goals |
| Midfielder | Lauren Holiday | FC Kansas City | USA | 12 Goals, 9 Assists |
| Midfielder | Diana Matheson | Washington Spirit | Canada | 8 Goals, 3 Assists |
| Forward | Sydney Leroux | Boston Breakers | USA | 11 Goals, 2 Assists |
| Forward | Abby Wambach | Western New York Flash | USA | 11 Goals, 8 Assists |
NWSL Second XI – Goalkeeper: Adrianna Franch, Western New York Flash – Defenders: Rachel Buehler, Portland Thorns FC; Caitlin Foord, Sky Blue FC; Ali Krieger, Washington Spirit; Lauren Sesselmann, FC Kansas City – Midfielders: Megan Rapinoe, Seattle Reign FC; Desiree Scott, FC Kansas City; Erika Tymrak, FC Kansas City – Forwards: Alex Morgan, Portland Thorns FC; Lianne Sanderson, Boston Breakers; Christine Sinclair, Portland Thorns FC
The NWSL awards are voted on by a selection of journalists that cover the league on a consistent basis, club officials and NWSL players.
Voters for the Best XI provided selections for four (4) defenders and a combination of six (6) midfielders or forwards; with the ability to select a minimum of one (1) and a maximum of three (3) forwards. The Goalkeeper of the Year was automatically named to the Best XI.
The Second XI is comprised of the next leading vote getters at each position that did not make the Best XI.
