USWNT players named to NWSL best XI

NWSL has released its best XI for 2018, and several USWNT players made the grade. Voting was a combination of fans, media, players, and coaches. According to NWSL, the breakdown was fans (20%), owners/GMs/Coaches (20%), media (20%) and players (40%). Emily Sonnett, Becky Sauerbrunn, Abby Dahlkemper, Tobin Heath, Lindsey Horan, McCall Zerboni, Crystal Dunn, and Megan Rapinoe all made the first team starting XI. Julie Ertz and Carli Lloyd were named to the second XI.

Starting XI

Goalkeeper: Adrianna Franch

Defenders: Emily Sonnett, Becky Sauerbrunn, Abby Erceg, Abby Dahlkemper

Midfielders: Tobin Heath, Lindsey Horan, McCall Zerboni

Forwards: Crystal Dunn, Sam Kerr, Megan Rapinoe

Second XI

Goalkeeper: Lydia Williams

Defenders: Merritt Mathias, Julie Ertz, Emily Menges, Steph Catley

Midfielders: Debinha, Carli Lloyd, Christine Sinclair

Forwards: Lynn Williams, Rachel Daly, Sofia Huerta

There are a lot of deserving names in these lineups, but as ever with awards, someone has undoubtedly been snubbed while someone may not necessarily have performed as well as the others receiving the same honor. You have to imagine that the league MVP is somewhere amongst that starting IX as well. Will it be Lindsey Horan? McCall Zerboni or Crystal Dunn? Maybe even Franch as the dark horse candidate?

Who do you think should be here but isn’t? Who got named to the XI in spite of their actual performance in NWSL? Let us know in the comments below.