Messiah Bright: On the Quest for NWSL Rookie of the Year
If you’ve been keeping up with the NWSL, you know that the month of August absolutely, without a doubt, belonged to Messiah Bright. I mean, she really ~owned~ it!
The NWSL’s youngest players have been showing out lately, and Messiah Bright is definitely included in that company. The forward for the Orlando Pride accomplished more awards in one month than other players take a full season or more to earn.
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Bright earned not only Rookie and Player of the Month awards but received a spot on the NWSL Best XI as well. She finished off August by earning Player of the Week after scoring her first career brace.
College Career
The Pride definitely scored big when they drafted the former TCU star forward in the second round of the 2023 NWSL Draft. She ended her collegiate career as the all-time leader in goals and points, collecting 50 goals and 17 assists in 102 games, all of which she started in. The two-time All-American scored 17 of those goals in one season, setting the program record for the most goals scored in a single season.
USYNT Call-up
Her performance earned her a call-up to play with the U-23 USWNT last year. Previously, she had only earned a call-up to a couple of U-18 training camps back in 2018.
Rookie Season with the Orlando Pride
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Truly, it really shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that Bright appears more like a seasoned player rather than one who is in her rookie season. Her professional career was kickstarted with a great preseason, most memorably scoring two goals against the Washington Spirit to win the game.
Her regular season stats speak for themselves. She has started 14 out of 18 games played and scored six goals out of 12 shots on target in roughly 1,200 minutes played. Bright also started in three out of the six Challenge Cup games she played in and scored a goal.
She has certainly become another great power forward that the Pride has begun to rely on. And with a few more regular season matches left, she has the potential to do even more before the season wraps up.
After seeing all that she has accomplished in just one month, there is no doubt that she is a top contender for NWSL Rookie of the Year!
Bright signed on with Orlando through the 2025 season, where she could become one of the best strikers in the league. It will be interesting and entertaining to continue watching her grow as a player.
Featured image via @orlpride on Instagram
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