3 NWSL Goalkeepers that Deserve More Attention

The goalkeeper talent in the NWSL is extremely deep. With only ten teams in the league currently, the goalkeeper position is the hardest one to break into. The position has evolved throughout the years and is more demanding than ever. However, because goalscorers get all the love, keepers are often underappreciated.

Here’s a look at three NWSL goalkeepers that deserve more attention. 

Didi Haracic 

Haracic has been in the NWSL since 2014, mostly as a backup. She spent time with the Western New York Flash, Washington Spirit, and now with her current team NJ/NY Gotham FC. 

When Kailen Sheridan went down with an injury while she was away with the Canadian National Team, Haracic’s number was called. She started every game for Gotham in the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup and was phenomenal. 

In the five games she started, she had three clean sheets and 20 saves. Haracic also got the start against OL Reign in week four of the NWSL regular season with Sheridan on international duty. Haracic had another superb game, coming away with a clean sheet. She was busy against the Reign facing six shots on goal and five corners. 

Haracic is having the best season of her NWSL career by far and she’ll have to keep up that form. Gotham will turn to her to anchor the defense during the Olympics. 

Michelle Betos

Maybe Michelle Betos isn’t exactly underrated but she doesn’t get the attention that she deserves. She’s continuously been one of the best goalkeepers in the league no matter what team she is on. Betos has been playing professionally since 2009, and has spent time with Seattle Reign, Portland Thorns, back to Seattle now OL Reign, and is currently with Racing Louisville FC. 

Her time with Portland is probably best remembered for her header goal against Kansas City in June of 2015. It was the first goal scored by a goalkeeper in the NWSL and is currently still the only one. 

Betos has had some bad luck with injuries throughout the years that perhaps are why she has fallen off the goalkeeper radar at times, but she is one of the best to play in the NWSL.

Between the 2021 Challenge Cup and the NWSL regular season so far, she has started every game for Louisville earning three clean sheets and making 39 saves. 

Aubrey Bledsoe 

For a while, it felt like Bledsoe was slept on in the league. She broke onto the scene when Ashlyn Harris went down with an injury in 2017 for the Orlando Pride, opening the door for Bledsoe to get a handful of starts. 

In 2018, the Washington Spirit traded for Bledsoe and she’s been their starter ever since. Since joining the Spirit, she has made 242 saves and registered 19 clean sheets. Her 108 saves in 2018 broke the single-season save record. In 2019, she was named the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year. 

She’s earned call-ups to the USWNT but has yet to earn her first cap with them. Bledsoe has been consistently good as a starter so she deserves a chance on the USWNT. 

Featured Image via @WashingtonSpirit on Instagram

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