# The 34 Greatest NWSL Players of All Time

> Only what happened in the NWSL counts here, so MVP seasons, Golden Boot races and championship-final heroics carry the weight. Founding-season stars from 2013 share the page with players who arrived only a couple of years ago.

*By YPB Team · Published November 10, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-34-greatest-nwsl-players-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Sam Kerr** — score 1000/1000
   Australian striker who won three straight NWSL Golden Boots from 2017 to 2019 and was named MVP with Sky Blue FC in 2017 and the Chicago Red Stars in 2019.
2. **Tobin Heath** — score 757/1000
   Attacking midfielder who won NWSL Championships with the Portland Thorns in 2013 and 2017.
3. **Debinha** — score 636/1000
   Brazilian forward who played for the North Carolina Courage from 2017 to 2022 and won NWSL Championships with them in 2018 and 2019.
4. **Adrianna Franch** — score 636/1000
   Goalkeeper named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in 2017 and 2018 with the Portland Thorns, who won the 2017 Championship.
5. **Lauren Holiday** — score 584/1000
   FC Kansas City midfielder who won the league's first MVP award and Golden Boot in 2013 and the NWSL Championship in 2014 and 2015.
6. **Christine Sinclair** — score 524/1000
   Canadian forward who played for the Portland Thorns from 2013 until her retirement in 2024 and won NWSL Championships with them in 2013, 2017 and 2022.
7. **Temwa Chawinga** — score 524/1000
   Malawian forward who set a single-season record with 20 goals for the Kansas City Current in 2024 and won the MVP award and Golden Boot in both 2024 and 2025.
8. **Marta** — score 524/1000
   Brazilian forward who joined the Orlando Pride in 2017 and captained them to the 2024 NWSL Shield and Championship.
9. **Kelley O'Hara** — score 524/1000
   Defender who headed the extra-time winner in the 2021 NWSL Championship for the Washington Spirit and won the 2023 title with Gotham FC.
10. **Jess McDonald** — score 524/1000
   Forward who won the 2016 NWSL Championship with the Western New York Flash and the 2018 and 2019 titles with the North Carolina Courage.
11. **Denise O'Sullivan** — score 524/1000
   Irish midfielder who joined the North Carolina Courage in 2017 and won NWSL Championships with them in 2018 and 2019.
12. **Kerolin** — score 454/1000
   Brazilian forward who was named NWSL MVP in 2023 with the North Carolina Courage.
13. **Crystal Dunn** — score 454/1000
   Won the 2015 NWSL MVP award and Golden Boot with the Washington Spirit, then the 2018 and 2019 titles with the North Carolina Courage.
14. **Aubrey Kingsbury** — score 454/1000
   Washington Spirit goalkeeper named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in 2019 and 2021 who won the 2021 Championship with the club.
15. **Ashley Hatch** — score 454/1000
   Washington Spirit forward who won the 2021 NWSL Golden Boot with 10 goals as the club won its first Championship.
16. **Lynn Biyendolo** — score 454/1000
   Forward, formerly known as Lynn Williams, who won the 2016 MVP award and Golden Boot with the Western New York Flash and became the NWSL's all-time leading scorer in 2024.
17. **Becky Sauerbrunn** — score 454/1000
   Center back named NWSL Defender of the Year four times (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2019) who won the 2014 and 2015 titles with FC Kansas City.
18. **Lauren Barnes** — score 454/1000
   Defender with Seattle Reign since 2013 who was named NWSL Defender of the Year in 2016.
19. **Trinity Rodman** — score 372/1000
   Washington Spirit forward who was the 2021 NWSL Rookie of the Year and won the NWSL Championship that same season.
20. **Abby Erceg** — score 372/1000
   New Zealand center back who was the 2018 NWSL Defender of the Year and captained the North Carolina Courage to the 2018 and 2019 titles.
21. **Abby Dahlkemper** — score 372/1000
   Center back named 2017 NWSL Defender of the Year with the North Carolina Courage, who won the 2018 Championship.
22. **Kim Little** — score 372/1000
   Scottish midfielder who won the 2014 NWSL MVP award and Golden Boot with 16 goals for Seattle Reign FC.
23. **Megan Rapinoe** — score 372/1000
   Winger who played for Seattle Reign / OL Reign from 2013 to 2023, a span that included NWSL Shields in 2014, 2015 and 2022.
24. **Jess Fishlock** — score 372/1000
   Welsh midfielder with Seattle Reign since the league's first season in 2013 who was named NWSL MVP in 2021.
25. **Ali Krieger** — score 372/1000
   Defender who played for the Washington Spirit, Orlando Pride and Gotham FC and won the 2023 NWSL Championship with Gotham in her final professional season.
26. **Alyssa Naeher** — score 272/1000
   Goalkeeper who won the 2014 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award with the Boston Breakers before becoming the Chicago Red Stars' long-time starter.
27. **Lindsey Heaps** — score 272/1000
   Midfielder, known as Lindsey Horan during her Portland Thorns years, who scored the winning goal in the 2017 NWSL Championship and was named league MVP in 2018.
28. **Christen Press** — score 272/1000
   Forward who was named to the NWSL Best XI in 2015, 2016 and 2017 with the Chicago Red Stars.
29. **Alex Morgan** — score 0/1000
   Striker who won the 2013 NWSL Championship with the Portland Thorns and the 2022 Golden Boot with San Diego Wave FC.
30. **Naomi Girma** — score 0/1000
   Center back drafted first overall by San Diego Wave FC in 2022 who won Rookie of the Year that season and Defender of the Year in 2022 and 2023.
31. **Barbra Banda** — score 0/1000
   Zambian forward who scored the only goal of the 2024 NWSL Championship final for the Orlando Pride in her first season in the league.
32. **Emily Sams** — score 0/1000
   Orlando Pride center back named 2024 NWSL Defender of the Year in the season the club won the Shield and the Championship.
33. **Tara Rudd** — score 0/1000
   Washington Spirit defender, formerly known as Tara McKeown, who was named 2025 NWSL Defender of the Year.
34. **Sophia Wilson** — score 0/1000
   Portland Thorns forward, formerly known as Sophia Smith, who was the 2022 NWSL MVP and won the 2023 Golden Boot.

Tags: usa, sports, women, soccer, players, nwsl