With the end of the NWSL upon us, 433futbol explores the top five candidates for the 2024 season. From game-changing forwards to defensive stalwarts, these players have left their mark on the league and are in contention for the most prestigious individual award in NWSL. Let’s look at who might take home MPV honors this season.
5. Emily Sams, Defender, Orlando Pride
Emily Sams is having quite the year. She married in February, won a gold medal for the USWNT in Paris, and helped her club team maintain their number one spot in the NWSL table.
The defender has been pivotal to Orlando’s undefeated season, leading a backline conceding the fewest goals. Eleven of the Pride’s 20 matches have been clean sheets. Dare to go 1v1 against Sams? Good luck. She also scores bangers.
4. Sophia Smith, Forward, Portland Thorns
She scores goals, lots of them, and also dishes them out. Sophia Smith is a handful for defenders. The Portland Thorns striker has 11 goals and six assists this season for a hackneyed Thorns side. The team still sits 6th in the table, inching their way into the playoffs, entirely reliant on Smith’s output.
3. Barbra Banda, Forward, Orlando Pride
Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda became the first Zambian woman nominated for the Ballon d’Or earlier this month. She is enjoying an incredibly prolific season with her club, scoring 12 goals in her first 12 games after transferring from Shanghai on a $740k fee this March. And she’s still yet to lose in her first 16 NWSL matches.
Call her latest goal drought a slump, but count your blessings.
2. Trinity Rodman, Forward, Washington Spirit
The newest star of the UWSNT, Trinity Rodman, continues her gold medal excellence from Paris with fine form for the Washington Spirit. This season, she became the youngest player to reach 29 goals and 21 assists (50 goal contributions) in league history. She’s also a blast to watch, with dribbles, strikes, and iconic celebrations like her latest Steph Curry sleep cele.
The Europeans may not rate the 22-year-old American—they say the same thing about Christian Pulisic—but she’s taking the game to a new level. Baller.
1. Temwa Chawinga, Forward, Kansas City Current
Temaw Chawinga continues to raise the bar so high for the NWSL. She’s the league’s leading scorer this season (15) and ranks second with assists (6).
The Malawian forward scored in a record-breaking eight consecutive games between June and July this season. She needs just four more strikes to beat Sam Kerr’s NWSL record.
The league’s leading Golden Boot contender has her team fourth in the league with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Temaw Chawinga is the ultimate cheat code and our pick for NWSL MVP of the 2024 season.
