The NWSL currently only has six end of season individual awards that a player can win: Most Valuable Player, Defender of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Midfielder of the Year and non-voting based Golden Boot.
There has been an increase in young players joining the league each year, and a shift over the last few years culminating with almost 10% of all minutes being played by those under 22 years of age so far in the 2025 regular season. The MLS has a Best Young Player award for players under the age of 22, here’s my list on who would be up for the award in the 2025 regular season if it existed.
Contract Remaining: 1 year thru 2026
Position: Midfielder
Minutes Played: 1681
Games Started/Played: 19/21
Manaka signed a two year contract extension with the Courage this January. On the field for the Courage she has scored six goals, assisted an additional four, and leads the NWSL in goal-creating actions with 11. She additionally made the Best XI for May and June as she went (and continues to be) on an amazing run of form.
Contract Remaining: 2 years thru 2027
Position: Defender
Minutes Played: 1458
Games Started/Played: 16/20
In January, the Wave signed a then-17 year old Armstrong to a three year contract via the U18 Mechanism and she’s been able to make an impact for the Wave since the start of the season. The defender earned a spot on the Best XI of the Month for May and scored a goal and earned two assists on the way. She currently is 2nd in the NWSL for successful take-on percentage (81.8%), 9th in the league in passing accuracy (88.4%), and sixth in progressive carrying distance.
3. Claire Hutton, 19, Kansas City Current
Contract Remaining: 1 year thru 2026
Position: Midfielder
Minutes Played: 1479
Games Started/Played: 18/21
Hutton is on year two of a three year U18 contract with Kansas City. Coming off an impressive rookie season, she has shown how instrumental she is to the Current’s very-stacked midfield. She boasts a 78.5% passing accuracy, 27 interceptions, 30 clearances, and 37 tackles won for the NWSL Shield winning side.
Contract Remaining: 1 year thru 2026, with a 2027 club option
Position: Defender
Minutes Played: 1701
Games Started/Played: 19/20
After joining the Reign midway through the 2024 regular season, Bugg has truly excelled in the backline for Seattle this year, and even scored a few goals in the process (one was a banger from way outside the box that won her goal of the week). She also is 8th in the league in clearances with 106, has 40 interceptions, and an additional 28 blocks. Additionally, Bugg made Best XI for the month of June
Contract Remaining: 1 year thru 2026
Position: Midfielder
Minutes Played: 1713
Games Started/Played: 19/21
Moultrie is on year two of a three year extension that was signed in 2024. This year for the Thorns she has found the net four times with an additional assist. In September, she also broke the record previously set by Jaedyn Shaw for the most regular goals by a teenager, when she scored her 14th just three days before her 20th birthday. She additionally holds regular season records for teenagers with the most games played, games started, minutes played, goal contributions, and assists. Moultrie is additionally leading the league in key passes for the 2025 season.
Contract Remaining: 2 years thu 2027
Position: Forward
Minutes Played: 829
Games Started/Played:9/17
Adames is in year two of a four year contract after joining the Wave via the U18 mechanism ahead of the 2024 season, and this season has been playing a super-sub role for the Reign, often coming on in the second half for a jolt of energy. She’s scored six goals this season and is 3rd in the league in Goals per 90 (0.65). Her contributions in the attack led to her earning a spot on the Best XI for the month of June.
Contract Remaining: 4 years thru 2029
Position: Defender
Minutes Played: 1242
Games Started/Played:16/18
In January signed a two year contract extension through 2028, and then earlier this month signed another four year extension through 2029, including re-tooling 2026-29. So far this season the defender has scored one goal and earned five assists. Thompson is tied for 1st in the league in assists with five, is 1st in % of dribblers tackled (92.4%), and 2nd in assists/90 (0.36). She also made the Best XI of the Month for May.
Contract Remaining: 1 year thru 2026, with a 2027 club option
Position: Midfielder
Minutes Played: 1615
Games Started/Played: 19/21
Fuller is currently on year two of a three year contract with the LA-based club, and throughout all of the player movement has been that consistent presence in the Angel City midfield. In the 2025 season she has scored three goals and assisted an additional three, and is 9th in the league for Goals/Shot on Target with 0.60.
9. Riley Jackson, 19, North Carolina Courage
Contract Remaining: 1 year thru 2026
Position: Midfielder
Minutes Played: 1520
Games Started/Played: 18/20
Jackson’s 2026 club option was exercised to keep her at the Courage for one more year, but this season she has become pivotal in the Courage midfield—compared to 2024 where she was 2nd in substitute appearances with 15—and has the added responsibility of taking corner kicks. She’s scored two goals thus far (includes a penalty kick), and is currently third in the league in successful take-on’s.
10. Ally Sentnor, 21, Kansas City Current
Contract Remaining: 1 year thru 2026
Position: Forward
Minutes Played: 1544
Games Started/Played: 17/20
Sentnor started off the year in Utah, but August 1st, traded to Kansas City for $300,000 in 2025 intra-league transfer funds, $200,000 in 2026 intra-league transfer funds, $100,000 in 2027 intra-league transfer funds, and an additional $100,000 in conditional intra-league transfer funds. The Royals were struggling in the front half of the season, but Sentnor scored one and assisted another before the trade. Since joining a very-talented Current side, she has been finding her footing, but we know her potential as she has scored four with the USWNT this year.
Contract Remaining: 2 years thru 2027
Position: Forward
Minutes Played: 1473
Games Started/Played: 17/21
This January Dahlien signed a three year contract with Seattle, and thus far this season has scored three goals and earned three assists. The forward is 3rd in the league in carries into the penalty area (38), 7th in progressive passes (119), and 7th in shots on target (19)
Contract Remaining: 1 year thru 2026
Position: Midfielder
Minutes Played: 1167
Games Started/Played: 13/21
Ascanio is in year two of a three year contract and has seen a dramatic increase in her playing time year-over-year. Over the course of the season Ascanio has scored four goals and assisted in an additional. On top of boasting a 82.1% passing accuracy, the midfielder is also 2nd in the league in Goals/Shot with 0.29, 3rd in Shot on Target percentage with 57.1%, and 6th in Goals-xG with 1.8
Contract Remaining: 1 year thru 2026
Position: Forward
Minutes Played: 1111
Games Started/Played: 11/21
In January was traded from San Diego to North Carolina for $300,000 in allocation money, $150,000 in 2025 intra-league transfer funds, and 2025/2026 international slots. During her time with the Courage she scored three goals and assisted in one. September 11th, Shaw was traded to Gotham FC from North Carolina for $1.25 million in intra-league transfer funds over multiple years. In her first game for Gotham, Shaw scored a goal against the Wave.
Contract Remaining: 1 year thru 2026, with a 2027 player option
Position: Forward
Minutes Played: 750
Games Started/Played: 7/20
Tordin signed a two year contract with the Thorns in January of this year, and due to Portland’s unfortunately impressive list of season-ending injuries (and maternity leaves) has had the opportunity to really take a central role in the attack. Tordin has scored four goals this season and is 2nd in the league in Shots/90 (4.20), 4th in xG/90 (0.57), and 9th in Goals/90 (0.48)
15. Shinomi Koyama, 20, North Carolina Courage
Contract Remaining: 2 years thru 2027
Position: Midfielder
Minutes Played: 1001
Games Started/Played:11/20
Shinomi was acquired by North Carolina in January from Swedish club Djurgårdens IF and signed to a three year contract. She has scored one goal and assisted in another and the defensive midfielder has had a 80.5% passing accuracy.
Caiya Hanks, 21, Portland Thorns
Contract Remaining: 3 years thru 2028 with a 2029 club option
Position: Forward
Minutes Played: 639
Games Started/Played: 7/11
Signed a four year contract with the Thorns only two weeks before the regular season kicked off. Scored two goals and had one assist over that time with 10 chances created before injuring her ACL on June 15th and spending the rest of the season on the season-ending injury list.
Savy King, 20, Angel City FC
Contract Remaining: 3 years thru 2028
Position: Defender
Minutes Played: 709
Games Started/Played: 8/8
Was traded to Angel City from Bay FC, where she spent her rookie season, in return for $200,000 in 2025 intra-league transfer funds and $100,000 in 2026 intra-league transfer funds in early February. Signed a two year contract extension through 2028 in early March. Started all eight of Angel City’s regular season matches and was really finding her groove there before an incident in May led her to be on medical leave for the remainder of the season.
