With only one more round of matches left in the regular season, I thought it was time to discuss who should take home the annual awards. I know we have a thread for Rookie of the Year, but there are other awards, but the awards each team gives out. So who are your picks for the NWSL awards?
I'm curious to see who wins Defender of the Year. Will it be Sauerbrunn again? It would be quite the feat, and I cannot see anyone who's better right now in the NWSL. The only question is whether she played enough matches/minutes.
I'm not as impressed with Brunn this year as I have been previously. Short, Gilliland, Sonnett, Barnes, Fletcher, and Oyster should all be in the conversation for DotY. No one is running away with Golden Boot this year, so the voters will actually have to think for once when it comes to MVP. That said, I would certainly put Ohai and Williams in the conversation, and especially McDonald since she's near the top of both goals and assists. Maybe Health or Sinclair? There's just been so much cycling, though, it's hard to really pick someone who's been consistently good for long enough.
I agree that Sauerbrunn has not been as good this year as last. I havent been overwhelmed by the performance of Sonnett or Fletcher -- and Oyster isn't even in the starting lineup for Washington. Maybe she's injured? Short has been better than Gilliland -- but of those you've listed I think I would go with Barnes.
It's very hard, but I'm gonna try: MVP: McDonald Golden Boot: L. Williams Best Goalkeeper: Barnhart Best Defender: Short (Barnes close) Rookie of the Year: Galton Coach of the Year: Gabarra
Tough to pick an MVP until after the last match but my short list would be Nairn Lynn Williams McDonald Nadim Heath Press
Current Golden Boot race Goals 1Kealia Ohai (HOU) 10 1Lynn Williams (WNY) 10 3Jessica McDonald (WNY) 9 3Nadia Nadim (POR) 9 5 Shea Groom (KC) 8 6 Christen Press (CHI) 7 7 4 tied with 6.
Well, she's not starting now, but there are only 3 players on the team with more starts or minutes than Oyster. So I don't know exactly what's up, since she's not on the injury report. Maybe some falling out? I hope not. Agree about Barnes and Short.
Agree. Early in the season, I would have given it to Sermanni after he got an expansion team to 4 wins in their first 6, but then they've only won twice since. Losing Sanderson and the OG players hurt far too much. After Gabarra, I'd also include Parsons (finally got a Portland team to play up to its on-paper strength) and Riley (WNY came outta nowhere this year) in the conversation.
Narin's been phenomenal for the Spirit, but she's more of a workhorse than someone I would really call an MVP. And I don't think she has the stats to sway enough voters. Press and Heath have been good, but not around for long enough, I think, not to mention their teammates have done relatively well with or without them anyway.
I was very skeptical about all the relocations of NWSL coaches, but it worked well for everyone. I'm first to admit I was wrong about Gabarra. He was especially great with managing rookies and it's something that I held against him when he was coaching Sky Blue FC . I can still criticize him for not playing Oyster more in the second part of the season, but he gave Dydasco a chance and I think she was the best defender for the Spirit lately.
When I was trying to make my list, I quickly realized there was at least 3 players that could win their respective categories. In the past years, it wasn't so hard, at least not in all categories. Some awards are still up for grabs and they can play the last game and there still won't be a clear winner. That's why I think this season was the most exciting. And it has nothing to do with Spirit leading right now
I think the Spirit have been getting it from every where. In the beginning Loman was their best player. Dunn has found ways to contribute without scoring. Bannini carried hem for a time. But the constant is Nairn.
Based on the earlier posts, I was going to say I was amazed no one has mentioned Menges. IN terms of being here day in and day out, she's been one of two anchors for the Thorns, outstanding. She definitely should be in the conversation. The other anchor, in my opinion, has been Nadim. She's not only close to the top in goals scored, she's made a huge defensive contribution to the team that often goes unrecognized.
I can definitely see Nadim on the MVP award; not sure sure about Menges for defender, and the thing is that I see those two things being linked. I remember commenting on one of the POR-SEA games that I just hadn't been impressed with any of their defenders (save Morris, who went out with injury later) which is something I've seen in other games too. I think, with Portland, their incredible defensive record is more from the fact that their midfielders+forwards are so good that the defenders aren't needed that much. Portland's defensive players have been good but not great, with a little less organization and a few more lapses per opportunity than I've seen with some other defenses. When you have a forward making noticeable defensive contributions, there's an issue.
MVP: McDonald or Heath Golden Boot: Ohai? (fun that this award is still in question going into the final games) DoTY: Menges, Barnes or Short (tough call here) GotY: Naeher Rookie: Rodriguez (would've said Galton but she was absent at the beginning, and tailed off toward the end; Rocky doesn't have gaudy numbers but has been a steady presence in a high-pressure position for a rookie) Coach: Riley (team not expected to make playoffs, probably will), or Holley (team expected to be last in table, overachieves), or Gabarra (builds a unified team with few superstars but incredible depth) First XI Naeher Menges Barnes Short Colaprico DiBernardo Heath Edmonds Ohai McDonald Williams Second XI Williams Taylor Monica Gilliland Nairn Laddish O'Reilly Andressa S. Mewis Press Groom Third XI Harris Eddy Sauerbrunn Sonnett Winters Nadim O'Sullivan Rodriguez Galton Lloyd Sinclair Honorable mentions: Barnhardt, Rampone, Skroski, Witteman, Killion, Schillgard, Beckie, Daly Washington Spirit is a case study of "team effort" this season. They will probably win the Shield, yet Nairn is the only player I'd rate among the top performers this year. Everyone is solid, but nobody truly spectacular.
My choices for the awards: Golden Boot: No idea who ends up on top, but I give the edge to either Williams or McDonald, only because WNY plays Boston, and those two have carved up the Breakers in all 3 previous games. Rookie: Daly. I thought about Galton, but her lackluster last couple games have put her winning in doubt. Defender: Emily Menges. She might be the less heralded of the two Emilys, but she's been more consistent than Sonnett. Coach: Riley. He turned a WNY team that was picked by most to finish bottom 3 into one that doesn't quit on games no matter what (something that could not be said about the last couple versions under Kiwi) and is in position to get back to the playoffs. Keeper: Barnhart. She is the biggest reason why Kansas City was alive for playoffs as long as they were. MVP: After some serious debate (to the point that I was ready to flip a coin), I went with McDonald. Consistency over an entire season was the tipping point in her favor. Who will win: Golden Boot: Same picks, since it's a statistical award and not subjective. Rookie: Sonnett Defender: Sonnett Coach: Parsons Keeper: Betos MVP: Heath or Sinclair
First XI Naeher Gilliland, Menges Barnes Short DiBernardo, Heath Edmonds Ohai McDonald Williams Second XI Williams Taylor Monica Gilliland Nairn Laddish, O'Reilly Colapricoo Press Groom, Nadim Third XI Harris Reynolds Sauerbrunn Sonnett Loman,O'Sullivan Rodriguez , Killion Galton, Sinclair Melis
I would totally get behind McDonald with that MVP. These are the awards that are weighted like 1/3 each between players/coaches, media and fans right? So there's a chance the fans don't screw this up completely like the meaningless popularly contest that is the goal/save of the week.
Well, there certainly have been big voting blocks in goal/save of the week so I wouldnt expect any less here
If the process is the same as last year, then it'll be So fans have no say in producing the shortlist and relatively little say after that.
With the way the Spirit have collapsed in the last two games, Gabarra may not win it. I don't want another situation where a coach can toss away a shield when they could easily have won it, but still win that award. And clarification on the Golden Boot- if two players are tied, the tiebreaker is assists. If they are still tied, then it is a joint award. Right now Williams has 11 goals and 5 assists, while Ohai has 10 goals and 4 assists. Ohai needs at least 2 goals or a goal and two assists against Seattle to win it outright. Anything less than that and it goes to Williams. Nadim is the only other player within striking distance still to play, but she would need another hat trick or two goals and 4 assists to win it for herself. Basically it's all up to Ohai.
Will be interesting how Harvey uses the match. Does she give her bench players most of the time or is she more concerned with getting a win?