FootyPop: Thorns Win NWSL Final, Sophia Smith Wins League MVP

October 31, 2022
By Hannah Cantrell

This week, the 2022 NWSL season named its champion, the NCAA is winding up toward playoffs, and much more. Here’s your roundup of this week’s top women’s soccer news.

High of the Weekend

Your 2022 MVP pic.twitter.com/hmq10oB1fq

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 27, 2022

NWSL Awards were given out this past week, and none other than Sophia Smith took home the MVP title. Smith’s been unstoppable this season, and she’s the youngest player ever to be NWSL MVP.

Naomi Girma was awarded Rookie of the Year, which is not surprising considering how ridiculously good she was. She also earned Defender of the Year for her outstanding form.

Low of the Weekend

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kansas City Current (@kccurrent)

The Thorns knocked out Kansas City 2-0 in the NWSL final, taking away the Current’s chance of making history. Even though the Thorns made history in their own way, it would have been epic to see Kansas City’s comeback story reach a championship title. However, Kansas City seems optimistic, and we can’t wait to see them in 2023.

News of the Weekend

One thing about us is…

When it comes to a championship, we're gonna win three of them ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ @NWSL x #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/HCHmjd626O

— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) October 31, 2022

On the flip side, the Portland Thorns took home the NWSL Championship trophy for the third time, making them the only team to have completed a three-peat. Sophia Smith made the game 1-0 within the first five minutes, and then an own goal in the second half sealed it 2-0 for the Thorns.

Win of the Weekend

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FIFA Women’s World Cup (@fifawomensworldcup)

The Spain youth national team are World Cup champions for the second time in a row! They took down Colombia in the final match.

Save of the Weekend

WOW 🤯@alexa_madueno advances the Aztecs to the semifinal round of the @MountainWest tournament after a 𝟐𝟐 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 penalty shootout! #NCAASoccer x 🎥 @AztecWSoccer pic.twitter.com/SrN83iJrhe

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) October 31, 2022

The Aztecs advance to the semifinals of their conference after this save in a 22-round penalty shootout! Alexa Madueno made the stop.

Player of the Weekend

Also in good Monday news: Catarina Macario is on a treadmill running for the first time since her ACL injury.

(Her form looks way better than mine did on my first run post-tib fib but also I am the opposite of a professional athlete.) pic.twitter.com/6eF505Oo2N

— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) October 31, 2022

Catarina Macario looks to be recovering well after tearing her ACL this past summer. The past week she had her first day running! Hopefully, by this summer, we’ll see her on the World Cup roster!

Team of the Weekend

Founding members of the Minnesota Aurora just announced the intent to become a pro team, as @MnNiceFC indicated to me earlier this year.

Aurora raised $1M+ among community members, had better avg attendance than several #NWSL teams this year.

More: https://t.co/6oXZCmx4yn pic.twitter.com/YoKzNIPcak

— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) October 24, 2022

Eyes are on the WPSL’s Minnesota Aurora as they’ve expressed interest in becoming a pro team, NWSL perhaps?

What to Look Forward To

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FIFA Women’s World Cup (@fifawomensworldcup)

The entire match schedule for the Women’s World Cup group stage next summer is OUT! So now we can all set timers for the first game that’s nine months away!

Additionally, NCAA Conference Championships are continuing, so stay tuned to find out who will get a bid to the NCAA College Cup!