Meet the 2025 NWSL Best XI presented by Amazon Prime

Meet the 2025 NWSL Best XI presented by Amazon Prime

The 2025 NWSL Best XI presented by Amazon Prime is in, as the league honored the year’s top performers at the first-ever NWSL Awards ceremony in San Jose, California this week — ahead of Saturday’s NWSL Championship.

• One storyline stole the spotlight: Kansas City’s overwhelming dominance, as the 2025 Shield-winners earned five First Team selections — the most in league history — reinforcing the Current’s powerhouse status despite their quarterfinal playoff exit.

• “The season didn’t end the way that we wanted to, and we’re still very hungry for more next year,” KC defender Kayla Sharples told JWS after landing on the the 2025 Best XI. “But the thing is, our last result doesn’t define our whole season.”

Star treatment: The NWSL Awards — a nationally televised event complete with a blue carpet for VIPs — showcased the standouts who ruled the pitch in 2025.

• Below is a full breakdown of the NWSL Best XI First Team, diving deep into how each star claimed their spot at the top this season.

2025 NWSL Best XI First Team: Goalkeeper & Defenders

Lorena (Kansas City Current)

• Kansas City’s Brazilian goalkeeper was the backbone of the league’s best defensive unit this season. Lorena, who came up through Brazil’s national team system, secured 14 clean sheets thanks to quick reactions, vertical command, and pinpoint ball distribution.

• Throughout 2025, she transformed from solid starter to NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in addition to Best XI honors.

Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas City Current)

• Former US youth international and Ohio State star Izzy Rodriguez has evolved into one of the NWSL’s premier two-way fullbacks.

• With her overlapping runs, precise crossing, and ability to defend in transition, the 26-year-old’s end-of-season honor solidifies her transformation from promising draft pick to elite defender.

• “It’s so nice to celebrate your teammates, especially when you know how much work they put in,” Rodriguez said after the ceremony. “It was so cool to have an event like this — it’s elevating women’s sports all around.”

Avery Patterson (Houston Dash)

• In addition to Best XI honors, Dash defender Avery Patterson took home Houston’s team MVP award and a Defender of the Year nomination.

• The UNC alum registered three goals and two assists this season, leading the team defensively with 40 interceptions and 32 won tackles.

• She was instrumental to Houston’s second-half surge, helping the club to a tight 10th-place finish while making her presence known on the USWNT.

Kayla Sharples (Kansas City Current)

• After being drafted in 2019 and persevering through both injuries and trades, Kayla Sharples reemerged as an unshakeable center back for Kansas City.

• Her dominance in the air, calm under pressure, and organizational prowess allowed the Current to set a franchise-best defensive record this season, as her late-career breakout garnered widespread praise — and a spot on the 2025 NWSL Best XI.

• “It’s an incredible honor,” said Sharples. “This season has been very rewarding, and to see a lot of the players get recognition, it’s a testament to this team, the coaching staff, all the time and work that’s been put in.”

Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit)

• Washington Spirit’s 2025 Defender of the Year made headlines after seamlessly transitioning from standout college forward to top-flight pro center back and USWNT regular.

• McKeown’s background as an attacker enhanced her anticipation and footwork, while her ability to shut down strikers and confidently build out of the back made her one of 2025's most important defenders.

• “Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be here when I did switch to defender, so now that I have, I’m really grateful,” McKeown reflected. “I enjoy playing back there, which I didn’t think I would say when I first switched.”

2025 NWSL Best XI First Team: Midfielders

Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current)

• One of the youngest players on the list, 19-year-old Claire Hutton surfaced as a foundational midfielder for the Current this season.

• A product of US national team development, Hutton excelled at ball retention, tempo control, and breaking pressure, while her defensive engine and range fueled Kansas City’s possessive excellence — mirroring the broader shift toward a younger, more technical midfield.

• “I’ve learned that expectations can create disappointment, so that isn’t something I ever put out there,” Hutton told JWS. “The work speaks for itself. It’s consistency — day in, day out, putting the work in and committing to the grind and the love of the game.”

Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns)

• A cornerstone for both Portland and the USWNT, Sam Coffey remains one of the NWSL’s most consistent playmakers, joining the Thorns in 2022 and quickly becoming a midfield leader thanks to her ability to dictate matches.

• With the team navigating roster turnover after an up-and-down season, Coffey’s reliability stood out more than ever in 2025.

Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Courage)

• At just 21, Japanese phenom Manaka Matsukubo delivered one of the best midfield seasons in NWSL history, recording 11 goals and four assists while leading her position in total goal contributions.

• Merging footwork, vision, and creativity, she elevated North Carolina’s attack while becoming one of women’s soccer’s fastest-rising stars.

• “To be a part of the [NWSL] is a really big thing,” Matsukubo said. “I think I was able to demonstrate to my fellow Japanese, younger Japanese, that even if you’re small, you’re still able to demonstrate yourself.”

2025 NWSL Best XI First Team: Forwards

Esther González (Gotham FC)

• The World Cup-winning Spanish striker saw yet another strong NWSL run this year. Known for her intelligent movement and sharp instincts, Esther provided consistency for a Gotham squad often battling availability issues.

• A contender for the 2025 Golden Boot award, her ability to finish half-chances and pressure defenses earned her a well-deserved place in the league’s top attacking trio.

Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current)

• Malawi international Temwa Chawinga won her second straight NWSL MVP and Golden Boot awards this year, taking the NWSL Awards by storm and cementing herself as one the world’s best forwards.

• Her blistering speed, clinical finishes, and ability to break open games propelled Kansas City’s historic season, making Chawinga’s journey from Africa to Europe to NWSL superstardom one of the league’s defining success stories.

• “We fight hard, we push,” said Chawinga, describing her fellow Best XI players. “The way we play the game, we put [in] effort and heart.”

Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns)

• At 20, Olivia Moultrie has blossomed from teen prodigy to NWSL and USWNT mainstay, with her creativity, decision-making, and defensive strength making her a central figure in Portland’s attack.

• For both club and country, this year’s performance confirmed Moultrie as one of US soccer’s most exciting and consistent young stars.

What the 2025 NWSL Best XI says about the league’s future

As the NWSL makes lightening-fast strides in expansion, broadcast deals, and international influence, the 2025 NWSL Best XI serves as a snapshot of a transformative league — competitive, diverse, and teeming with world-class talent.

• International stars Chawinga, Matsukubo, and Esther share the stage with homegrown talents Hutton and Moultrie, while veteran leaders Coffey and Sharples show that experience matters, and positional conversions like McKeown’s demonstrate modern coaching innovations.

• “This event and the ceremony was truly incredible,” added Hutton. “I’m grateful for the league, for women’s sports, giving us this platform to appreciate where we are, and be where our feet are. I love it.”

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