By OkayGoal 
This year was full of top performances, crucial plays, and excellent leadership on and off the pitch. Some of the players here did not necessarily “break out” this year, but they had impactful and significant moments that caught the attention of the entire world of women’s soccer. Let’s take a look back on the players and moments that made 2025 memorable.
Savy King
Although making headlines due to experiencing a heart attack on the field earlier this year, King displayed resilience and strength through her recuperation process. Her professionalism and determination paved the way for greater urgency when it came to on-field emergencies. The NWSL will now discontinue games where players experience a health emergency, just as King did. As King gradually makes her way back to playing form, she will continue to use this experience to advocate for women’s health in the league and in her community.
Stanford’s Offensive Line
2025 brought many outstanding highlights for Stanford to reflect on. Specifically, Jasmine Aikey, Andrea Kitahata, and Eleanor Klinger established a strong attacking force for Stanford. All three combined for nearly 50 goals and 30 assists this season. Aikey and Kitahata are likely to be productive and impressive additions to professional squads since both completed their senior years. Klinger has a couple more years of college and will likely help Stanford remain a powerhouse in women’s college soccer.
Jess Carter
As this list continues, you will notice a lot of Gotham players being at the center. What should be expected when Gotham lifted the NWSL trophy? Besides that, this year Carter faced a disgusting amount of racism on social media while playing in the EURO tournament for the England national team. Her strong stand against racism in women’s sports demonstrates both bravery and injustice. There’s no doubt her role sparked a much-needed conversation, even in a progressive league such as the NWSL. Yet, with Carter’s voice the conversation now needs to turn to action. Carter, being a champion on and off the field is what remains memorable.
Midge Purce
It is fair to say that Purce’s 2025 season made her a household name, especially in New York. Returning from a major knee injury to being a crucial piece to Gotham’s title run made Purce cement herself as one of Gotham’s key members in both the 2023 and 2025 championship wins. The electricity she brings is outstanding. She is made for the bright lights and will continue to turn heads in 2026 as she has signed a one-year contract with Gotham.
Lilly Reale
Ever since her collegiate days as a Bruin, Reale has been an outstanding player. This year, she took it to the next level. Her defensive presence is elite, and her aggressive mindset keeps opponents at bay. Her role in Gotham’s title run, for both the CONCACAF W Championship Cup and the NWSL, is immeasurable as her playstyle solidified Gotham’s defensive line as nearly impenetrable. And as a rookie? Well, she also took home the 2025 Rookie of the Year award. So yes, numerous players on Gotham had sensational seasons, and Reale was surely one of them.
Temwa Chawinga
Again, Chawinga is no “breakout” star since she has clearly made it known that she is an elite player in the NWSL. Yet, this season, she made history and her excellent performance for the KC Current is not to be ignored. Chawinga secured both the MVP and Golden Boot awards in consecutive seasons! This is the first time this has ever happened in league history. Her significance to KC Current and the NWSL as a whole is immense, and all women’s soccer fans should be excited to see how Chawinga will continue pushing boundaries in the women’s game.
Big Transfers: From NWSL to London
We started off the year with the biggest transfer contract when Naomi Girma moved from San Diego Wave to Chelsea FC in London, England. The record-breaking $1.1 million contract made Girma the first women’s soccer player to be transferred for over $1 million. Her defensive skills are second to none, and Chelsea knew exactly that when offering a staggering $1.1 million.
Could this have been a moment of foreshadowing? I ask that because later on in the year, another top talent found herself playing for the Blues. Long-time Angel City star and Los Angeles native Alyssa Thompson agreed to the transfer for an amount between $1.3-$1.65 million.
Many talent from the NWSL and America as a whole are deciding to play for clubs in Europe. Can these transfers signal a shift in women’s soccer and should the NWSL take action to keep top-tier players in the league? We’ll have to wait to see how 2026 unfolds.
Retirees
Last but not least, soccer fans witnessed the closing of a chapter in the game. Tobin Heath, Christen Press, and Ali Riley are legendary players who have spent the majority of their careers uplifting the women’s game and taking the game to new heights. All three players contributed to their national squads and NWSL teams. Specifically, Press and Riley had a meaningful impact on the Angel City organization as being cornerstone players when the team first came to life. Heath and Press continue to advance the women’s game and women’s sports overall through their RE-inc brand that offers open discussions and insight surrounding women’s sports.
Image via @stanfordwsoc
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