The NWSL Awards ceremony for the 2025 season was held on Wednesday night, and here SheKicks runs through all the winners, including the Best XI of the season.
Temwa Chawinga makes history with NWSL MVP win
Kansas City Current star Temwa Chawinga won the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the second season in a row.
The Malawian international scored 15 goals to earn a second-consecutive Golden Boot, becoming the first NWSL player in history to win back-to-back MVPs.
Before Chawinga, only Chelsea striker Sam Kerr won two MVP awards with Sky Blue FC (now Gotham FC) in 2017 and Chicago Red Stars in 2019. She previously matched Kerr’s record of winning multiple Golden Boots earlier this month.
Chawinga saw off competition from KC Current teammate Bia Zaneratto, San Diego Wave’s Delphine Cascarino, Gotham FC’s Esther Gonzalez and North Carolina Courage midfielder Manaka Matsukubo.
Matsukubo did win the Midfielder of the Year prize, while Tara McKeown and Lorena won the Defender and Goalkeeper of the Year awards.
Chawinga, after winning her MVP award, said: “To me, it means a lot. People will say I did this MVP (myself), but to me, it’s not like that.
“I really appreciate teammates like that, who always support me, who force me to do things and push me hard and tell me, ‘Try your best.’”
Although the KC Current finished 19 points clear in the regular season, they were stunned with a quarter-final exit in the playoffs to Gotham FC.
Temwa Chawinga🇲🇼 has become the first player in the 13-year history of the National Women’s Soccer League to win the award in back-to-back seasons. #442Malawi pic.twitter.com/eUBT7UD8AO
— #442Malawi (@442_Malawi) November 20, 2025
NWSL Awards 2025: Full list of winners
- MVP – Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current)
- Midfielder of the Year – Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Courage)
- Defender of the Year – Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit)
- Goalkeeper of the Year – Lorena (Kansas City Current)
- Rookie of the Year – Lily Reale (Gotham FC)
- Coach of the Year – Beverly Yanez (Racing Louisville)
- Lauren Holiday Impact Award – Sam Hiatt (Portland Thorns)
Which players made the Best XI for the 2025 NWSL season?
There were four KC Current players included in the Best XI for the 2025 NWSL season.
Chawinga was joined by teammates Kayla Sharpes, Izzy Rodriguez and Claire Hutton. Bia Zaneratto just missed out and was included in the second team.
Only two players from teams in this weekend’s NWSL final made the Best XI – Tara McKeown of Washington Spirit and Gotham FC’s Esther Gonzalez.
Best XI
- GK – Lorena (Kansas City Current)
- CB – Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit)
- CB – Kayla Sharples (Kansas City Current)
- FB – Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas City Current)
- FB – Avery Patterson (Houston Dash)
- MF/FW – Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current)
- MF/FW – Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Courage)
- MF/FW – Esther Gonzalez (Gotham FC)
- MF/FW – Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns)
- MF/FW – Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current)
- MF/FW – Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns)
Best XI second team
- GK – Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign)
- CB – Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC)
- CB – Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign)
- FB -Lily Reale (Gotham FC)
- FB – Hailee Mace (Kansas City Current)
- MF/FW – Delphine Cascarino (San Diego Wave)
- MF/FW – Bia Zaneratto (Kansas City Current)
- MF/FW – Emma Sears (Racing Louisville)
- MF/FW – Taylor Flint (Racing Louisville)
- MF/FW – Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit)
- MF/FW – Kenza Dali (San Diego Wave)
When is the 2025 NWSL Championship Final?
Washington Spirit and Gotham FC will meet in the NWSL Championship Final at 1am British time on Sunday morning.
Gotham FC last won the title in 2023, while the Spirit are going for their first championship since 2021.
A member of England’s Lionesses squad is guaranteed to win the championship, with Jess Carter playing for Gotham FC and Esme Morgan a member of Washington’s squad.
There will be big speculation after the final, surrounding the future of Trinity Rodman. The Washington Spirit star is out of contact next month and could potentially head to the Women’s Super League.
