NWSL Awards - MVP Finalists: Sophia Smith & Sam Coffey
Sophia Smith and Sam Coffey of the Portland Thorns are up for NWSL MVP
The 2023 Candidates for NWSL MVP, Defender, Goalkeeper, Rookie, and Coach of the Year were announced today by the league. They were decided through a preliminary round of weighted voting among players (50%), owners, general managers, coaches (25%), and media (25%). The winners will be determined by a final round of voting that includes a fan vote that ends on Oct. 27. The final round of voting uses a weighted scale of players (40%), owners/GMs/coaches (25%), media (25%) and fans (10%).
Here’s a rundown of who is nominated, and who are among the likeliest to win the awards:
Most Valuable Player
Finalists: Sophia Smith (PTFC), Sam Coffey (PTFC), Kerolin (NCC), Debinha (KCC), Naomi Girma (SDW)
Sophia Smith is the reigning, defending, undisputed NWSL MVP. Although she was sidelined with an injury, Smith was running away with the award before it happened. The golden boot winner (11 goals, 5 assists) will be one of the favorites to be the most valuable player again.
Sam Coffey is the best no. 6 in the league and the gap continues to widen with each passing season. She’ll be taking over for the USWNT at defensive midfielder whether the new coach knows it or not. The playmaker of the year led the league with eight assists which is tied for third most in NWSL history.
Kerolin finished second in the golden boot race with ten goals and also recorded three assists. Her accumulated xG of 8.16 was good enough for third in the league. Her soccer IQ, athleticism, and brilliance led North Carolina to a third place finish in the table when expectations were very low on the club.
Debinha was the lone bright spot for 11th place Kansas City Current. She tallied nine goals and two assists on the year. Debinha is a perennial NWSL MVP candidate and one of the best players in the world.
Naomi Girma is the best defender in the NWSL and well on her way to becoming one of the greatest of all time. She helped anchor the second best defense (22 goals allowed) and has been exceptional in every aspect. After witnessing Becky Sauerbrunn’s world class and elite play, the torch is being passed on to Girma.
STF Prediction
Phuoc Nguyen (Fook Win): Sophia Smith
The 2023 Golden Boot winner did so in the least amount of games and minutes. There was no player who was even close to being a NWSL MVP candidate until she went down with injury. You don’t take the award from her unless someone has a compelling case and there isn’t any. The best player wins the MVP, simple enough.
*Key Note - Portland only won one regular season match without Sophia Smith
I mean MVP- most valuable player, when you say that who do you think of? Game changers and players that make a team a winning team. That's exactly what Sophia Smith is for Portland. I immediately think of the game where she was subbed in and her first touch on the ball was a goal. I mean talk about game changing... She deserves so much recognition for what she does and the MVP would be just that. Sure the Thorns did okay without her while she was injured but compared to before her injury they were just okay (minus the LA game, but we don't talk about that one...)
Coach of the Year
Finalists: Juan Carlos Amorós (NJNY), Casey Stoney (SDW), Becki Tweed (ACFC)
Juan Carlos Amorós led the worst team in 2022 - last place, 46 goals against, and -30 goal differential to sixth place (NWSL semi-finals), 24 goals against, and +1 goal differential in 2023. The turnaround has been exceptional and he deserves a ton of credit for that.
Casey Stoney is looking for her second consecutive COTY award after leading the San Diego Wave to the NWSL shield in their second year.
Becki Tweed took over a team late in the season when making the playoffs was a longshot. In her 13 games, she led the team to a 11 game unbeaten run and only lost once in that span (7-5-1). Angel City made the playoffs for the first time in club history and in their second year. If ACFC ownership hasn’t offered her the permanent head coaching role, they should be ASAP!
STF Prediction
Phuoc: Becki Tweed
Wilder: Juan Carlos Amorós
Defender of the Year
Finalists: Naomi Girma (SDW), Sarah Gorden (ACFC), Ali Krieger (NJNY), Kaleigh Kurtz (NCC), Sam Staab (WS)
If Girma was not in the running, it would be wide open.
Shoutout to Sarah Gorden (coming off injury), Kaliegh Kurtz, and Sam Stabb for being Ironwomans!
Ali Krieger has been exceptional this season in leading on of the best defenses in the NWSL.
STF Precition
Phuoc: Naomi Girma
Wilder: Ali Krieger
Goalkeeper of the Year
Finalists: Jane Campbell (HD), Katie Lund (RL), Kailen Sheridan (SDW)
Campbell led the league in saves with 92 and Katie Lund was second with 82. Sheridan is the best goalkeeper in the league and is looking for another GOTY award to add to her long list of accolades.
STF Prediction
Phuoc: Katie Lund
She is one of the most underrated goalkeepers in the league and has starting USWNT written all over her. She led the league in saves in 2022 and nearly did it again in 2023. Lund is severely underrated and that needs to stop.
Wilder: Kailen Sheridan
Rookie of the Year
Finalists: Messiah Bright (OP), Jenna Nighswonger (NJNY), Alyssa Thompson (ACFC)
STF Prediction
Phuoc: Jenna Nighswonger
Converting to an outside back at the professional level is incredibly difficult and Nighswonger made it look like a walk in the park. Scoring three goals from LB is insane, Amorós hit a home run on this decision.
Messiah Bright and Alyssa Thompson are deserving of this award too. They are both gamechangers.
Wilder: Alyssa Thompson
"She’ll be taking over for the USWNT at defensive midfielder whether the new coach knows it or not."
Repeated for emphasis. :-)
Congratulations To all the NWSL-MVP Finalists.