The NWSL Defender of the Year award is presented annually to the best defensive player in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
Becky Sauerbrunn won the first three Defender of the Year awards from 2013 to 2015 and added her fourth in 2019. The most recent winner is Tara McKeown (2025).
Winners Season Player Nationality ClubOther finalists 2013 FC Kansas City Christie Rampone, Leigh Ann Robinson 2014 (2) Ali Krieger, Julie Johnston 2015 (3) Lauren Barnes, Kendall Fletcher, Julie Johnston, Amy LePeilbet 2016 Seattle Reign FC Arin Gilliland, Julie Johnston, Emily Menges, Becky Sauerbrunn 2017 North Carolina Courage Steph Catley, Ali Krieger, Becky Sauerbrunn, Casey Short 2018 Abby Dahlkemper, Julie Ertz, Becky Sauerbrunn, Emily Sonnett 2019 (4) Utah Royals FC Casey Short, Lauren Barnes, Abby Erceg, Jaelene Hinkle 2020 2020 regular season cancelled due COVID-19 pandemic 2021 NJ/NY Gotham FC Sarah Gorden, Emily Menges, Carson Pickett, Alana Cook 2022 San Diego Wave FC Alana Cook, Sofia Huerta, Carson Pickett, Becky Sauerbrunn 2023 (2) Sarah Gorden, Ali Krieger, Kaleigh Kurtz, Sam Staab 2024 Orlando Pride Kaleigh Kurtz, Tara McKeown, Naomi Girma, Kylie Strom 2025 Washington Spirit Jordyn Bugg, Avery Patterson, Izzy Rodriguez, Kayla Sharples
Wins by team ClubWinsFC Kansas City3North Carolina Courage2San Diego Wave FC2NJ/NY Gotham FC1Orlando Pride1Seattle Reign FC1Utah Royals1Washington Spirit1
Wins by nationality NationalityWins111
See also
List of sports awards honoring women NWSL Players' Awards NWSL awards NWSL records and statistics Women's soccer in the United States
References