The National Women’s Soccer League announced today the 11 players named to the Best XI of the Month, presented by Mastercard, for the months of September and October by the NWSL Media Association and the NWSL’s on-air broadcast talent. San Diego Wave defender Naomi Girma and midfielder/forward Jaedyn Shaw both were both named to the Best XI.
Girma played every minute for the Wave in September and October, leading her club to four shutouts and just two goals allowed in five matches. Girma recorded 38 possessions won and was a key playmaker in San Diego’s offense with 284 accurate passes. With the club’s clean sheet on Sunday, the Wave earned a league-best nine clean sheet on the season.
Shaw recorded two goals and an assist in her five matches for the Wave. With her goal in San Diego’s Shield-clinching victory, the 18-year-old forward set a record for most career NWSL regular season goals by a teenager (9).
NWSL Best XI of the Month Team:
GK – Jane Campell (HOU)
D – Caprice Dydasco (HOU)
D – Naomi Girma (SD)
D – Sarah Gorden (LA)
D – M.A. Vignola (LA)
MF – Sam Coffey (POR)
MF – Debinha (KCC)
MF – Savannah McCaskill (LA)
F – Esther González (NJNY)
F – Kerolin (NCC)
F – Jaedyn Shaw (SD)
Mastercard and the NWSL launched the Best XI of the Month awards platform with the First Team and Second Team honors for the 22 top players of the league after the 2021 season. Mastercard believes that our world is full of brilliant possibilities and unlocking the potential in every person across all parts of their life is what Priceless is all about. The development of the Best XI is a further commitment from the company to connect NWSL fans to the league and the athletes they love.
The NWSL Best XI of the Month is selected each month of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers that cover the league on a consistent basis, and the NWSL’s on-air broadcast talent.
