May 3, 2023 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
NEW YORK – 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 March and April by the NWSL Media Association and the NWSL’s on-air broadcast talent. Seven teams are represented in the league’s Top 11, including three selections from OL Reign and Portland Thorns FC, and one player each from the Kansas City Current, NJ/NY Gotham FC, the North Carolina Courage, San Diego Wave FC and the Washington Spirit.
GK – Phallon Tullis-Joyce (RGN): Stopping 15 shots to help her team to a 3-1-1 regular season record through last month, Tullis-Joyce earned her 10th and 11th career shutouts of the regular season. The goalkeeper’s shutout performance against San Diego Wave FC on April 15 also earned her Week 3 Player of the Week honors.
D – Naomi Girma (SD): The reigning Defender of the Year picked up where she left off last season, winning defensive half possession a league high 35 times and garnering an 88 percent passing accuracy rating across six matches on the San Diego back line.
D – Emily Fox (NC): Settling in with her new club, the North Carolina defender won 21 duels, made 10 interceptions and assisted on the lone goal in the Courage’s 1-0 win over the Houston Dash on April 28.
D – Becky Sauerbrunn (POR): A mainstay on the Portland backline, Sauerbrunn appeared in four matches across March and April, recording seven blocks, three interceptions and an 80 percent passing accuracy rating.
D – Sam Staab (WAS): Staab’s solid play in the Washington Spirit’s defensive half helped her team to a spot in the top four of the league’s standings through two months. In addition, the defender etched her name in the NWSL history books last Saturday when she broke the league’s consecutive starts record, appearing in her 73rd straight match as the Spirit drew the Chicago Red Stars, 1-1, at SeatGeek Stadium.
M – Debinha (KC): The goals have come naturally to Brazilian international Debinha, who has scored four times through five matches with Kansas City, a league best among midfielders. Last Sunday, the midfielder recorded her fourth career multi-goal game in a regular season with a brace in the Current’s 2-0 win over NJ/NY Gotham FC.
M – Crystal Dunn (POR): Dunn scored two goals for the Thorns this month, including the opening goal in Portland’s 4-1 rout of Kansas City and the team’s lone goal in a 1-1 draw against Houston….