Jess Fishlock named NWSL MVP | OneFootball

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OL Reign’s Wales international Jess Fishlock was named the National Women’s Soccer League’s 2021 Most Valuable Player, presented by Budweiser.

Fishlock played in 24 matches throughout the 2021 season, the midfielder scoring five goals and making four assists as she won the award for the first time.

She made the Team of the Month on three occasions during the campaign, registered a passing accuracy of 76.4 %, won 63 % of tackles and a goal-line clearance against Washington Spirit earned her the Save of the Week honour.

OL Reign head coach Laura Harvey told olreign.com: “If you speak to most people around the league and ask the coaches if they could take one player from our team, it would always be [Jess]. I think that’s just a compliment of what she’s always brought to this team. The journey that she’s been on to get to this point has been phenomenal. I’m glad that she’s getting some recognition that she deserves.”

Fishlock finished ahead of Chicago’s Mallory Pugh in the vote, who was followed by NY Gotham FC’s Margaret Purce, Washington’s Ashley Hatch and Portland Thorns’ Angela Salem in fifth.

England Women’s development teams in action this month