NWSL Rookie of the Month

The National Women's Soccer League Rookie of the Month is a monthly women's soccer award given to individual players in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) participating in their first season as a professional.

Selection

In 2022, the winner was selected by the NWSL Media Association, an organization of journalists who regularly cover the league.^[1] Since 2023, the winner is selected by the NWSL Media Association and the league's broadcast talent.^[2]

Winners

2022

Month	Pos.	Nat.	Player	Club	Statline	Ref.
May	DF	USA	Naomi Girma	San Diego Wave FC	85% passing, 27 clearances, 4 blocks, 9 interceptions	^[1]^[3]
June	MF	USA	Sam Coffey	Portland Thorns FC	85% passing led league in June; 6 shots, 1 assist	^[4]^[5]
July	MF	USA	Savannah DeMelo	Racing Louisville FC	2 goals; leads all rookies in minutes played through July 31	^[6]
August	FW	MEX	Diana Ordóñez	North Carolina Courage	5 goals, including 2 braces	^[7]
September/ October	DF	USA	Naomi Girma (2)	San Diego Wave FC	Two shutouts, captained team vs. NC	^[8]

2023

Month	Pos.	Nat.	Player	Club	Statline	Ref.
March/ April	FW	USA	Alyssa Thompson	Angel City FC	Scored 11' into debut; 2G in 6 matches	^[2]
May	MF/DF	USA	Jenna Nighswonger	NJ/NY Gotham FC	2 goals, 1 assist, 16 duels won	^[9]
June	MF	USA	Paige Metayer	Washington Spirit	1 goal, 1 assist; tied for league scoring lead among rookies (3)	^[10]
July	MF/DF	USA	Jenna Nighswonger (2)	NJ/NY Gotham FC	2 regular season goals; 2 Challenge Cup goals and assists	^[11]
August	FW	USA	Messiah Bright	Orlando Pride	Brace vs. NCC; 3 goals in 4 matches	^[12]
September/ October	FW	USA	Alexa Spaanstra	Kansas City Current	2 goals vs. NJY	^[13]

2024

Month	Pos.	Nat.	Player	Club	Statline	Ref.
March/ April	MF	USA	Croix Bethune	Washington Spirit	3 goals, 1 assist	^[14]
May	MF	USA	Croix Bethune (2)	Washington Spirit	1 goal, 7 assists	^[15]
June	MF	USA	Croix Bethune (3)	Washington Spirit	1 goal, 1 assists	^[16]
July	MF	USA	Ally Sentnor	Utah Royals	3 goals, 1 assist	^[17]
August	MF	USA	Croix Bethune (4)	Washington Spirit	Tied single-season assists record	^[18]
September	DF	USA	Kennedy Wesley	San Diego Wave FC	1 goal, 85.66% passing, 20 clearances	^[19]
October/ November	FW	USA	Makenna Morris	Washington Spirit	3 goals, 1 assist; only multi-goal match by a rookie this season	^[20]

Multiple winners

As of November 7, 2024

The below table lists players who have won on more than one occasion.

Bold	Indicates current NWSL player

Rank	Player	Team(s)	Wins
1	Croix Bethune	Washington Spirit	4
2	Naomi Girma	San Diego Wave FC	2
2	Jenna Nighswonger	NJ/NY Gotham FC	2

References

^ ^a ^b "San Diego Wave FC Defender Naomi Girma Named May Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. June 9, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Angel City FC Forward Alyssa Thompson Named March/April Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
^ Alicia Rodriguez (June 9, 2022). "San Diego Wave FC's Naomi Girma voted NWSL Rookie of the Month". LAG Confidential. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
^ "Portland Thorns FC Midfielder Sam Coffey Named June Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. June 23, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
^ Lamm, Keeley (June 28, 2022). "Penn State Women's Soccer Alum Sam Coffey Named NWSL Rookie Of The Month". Onward State. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
^ "Racing Louisville FC Midfielder Savannah DeMelo Named July Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
^ "North Carolina Courage Forward Diana Ordóñez Named August Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
^ "Wave FC's Girma NWSL Rookie of the Month, on NWSL Team of the Month". LAG Confidential. October 14, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
^ "NJ/NY Gotham FC Defender/Midfielder Jenna Nighswonger Named May Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
^ "Washington Spirit Midfielder Paige Metayer Named June Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
^ "NJ/NY Gotham FC's Jenna Nighswonger Named July Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. August 3, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
^ "Orlando Pride Forward Messiah Bright Named August Player of the Month, Presented by EA Sports and August Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally Financial" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. September 1, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
^ "Kansas City Current Forward Alexa Spaanstra Named September/October Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. October 19, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
^ "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named March/April Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally". National Women's Soccer League. May 7, 2024.
^ "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named May Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
^ "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named June's NWSL Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). Washington Spirit. July 11, 2024.
^ "Utah Royals Forward Ally Sentnor Named July Player of the Month, Presented by EA SPORTS and July Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally". National Women's Soccer League (Press release). August 9, 2024.
^ "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named August Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
^ "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named August Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
^ "Washington Spirit Forward Makenna Morris Named October and November Rookie of the Month, presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.

[ROTM-1] "San Diego Wave FC Defender Naomi Girma Named May Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. June 9, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.

[rotm-202303-2] "Angel City FC Forward Alyssa Thompson Named March/April Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.

[3] Alicia Rodriguez (June 9, 2022). "San Diego Wave FC's Naomi Girma voted NWSL Rookie of the Month". LAG Confidential. Retrieved July 12, 2022.

[4] "Portland Thorns FC Midfielder Sam Coffey Named June Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. June 23, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.

[5] Lamm, Keeley (June 28, 2022). "Penn State Women's Soccer Alum Sam Coffey Named NWSL Rookie Of The Month". Onward State. Retrieved July 12, 2022.

[6] "Racing Louisville FC Midfielder Savannah DeMelo Named July Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.

[7] "North Carolina Courage Forward Diana Ordóñez Named August Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.

[8] "Wave FC's Girma NWSL Rookie of the Month, on NWSL Team of the Month". LAG Confidential. October 14, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2023.

[9] "NJ/NY Gotham FC Defender/Midfielder Jenna Nighswonger Named May Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.

[10] "Washington Spirit Midfielder Paige Metayer Named June Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.

[11] "NJ/NY Gotham FC's Jenna Nighswonger Named July Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. August 3, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2024.

[12] "Orlando Pride Forward Messiah Bright Named August Player of the Month, Presented by EA Sports and August Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally Financial" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. September 1, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2024.

[13] "Kansas City Current Forward Alexa Spaanstra Named September/October Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. October 19, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2024.

[14] "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named March/April Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally". National Women's Soccer League. May 7, 2024.

[15] "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named May Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.

[16] "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named June's NWSL Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). Washington Spirit. July 11, 2024.

[17] "Utah Royals Forward Ally Sentnor Named July Player of the Month, Presented by EA SPORTS and July Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally". National Women's Soccer League (Press release). August 9, 2024.

[18] "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named August Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.

[19] "Washington Spirit Midfielder Croix Bethune Named August Rookie of the Month, Presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. October 3, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2024.

[20] "Washington Spirit Forward Makenna Morris Named October and November Rookie of the Month, presented by Ally" (Press release). National Women's Soccer League. November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.

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v t e National Women's Soccer League
Records and statistics Players Association U.S. Soccer
Current teams	Angel City FC Bay FC Chicago Red Stars Houston Dash Kansas City Current NJ/NY Gotham FC North Carolina Courage Orlando Pride Portland Thorns FC Racing Louisville FC San Diego Wave FC Seattle Reign FC Utah Royals Washington Spirit
Future team	BOS Nation FC (2026)
Former teams	Western New York Flash (2013–16) Boston Breakers (2013–17) FC Kansas City (2013–17)
Seasons	2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Competition	NWSL Shield Playoffs Challenge Cup Summer Cup Stadiums Attendance Expansion Broadcasters
Personnel	Players Association Draftees Drafts Foreign players Owners Under-18 Entry Mechanism Federation players (2013–21) Jessica Berman
Awards	Most Valuable Player Golden Boot Midfielder of the Year Defender of the Year Goalkeeper of the Year Rookie of the Year Coach of the Year Best XI and Second XI Player of the Month Rookie of the Month Team of the Month Player of the Week Players' awards
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