The Meggy Awards: The First Official NWSL Player Community Awards

This year, we introduced the Meggy Awards, a series of NWSL Player superlatives voted by our very own GSN and Parkside social community (that means you guys!). We wanted to give our communities a voice while highlighting NWSL players’ achievements and personalities. While we included some classic ones, like Best Goal and Favorite Rookie, we also wanted to add some more colorful, trendy, and fun ones, like Best Social Media Content and Best BFFs. The response exceeded our expectations with over 190 responses! It is safe to say that the Meggy Awards are here to stay. This inaugural edition was just the beginning, and we are committed to making the Meggy Awards even more inclusive, interactive, and interesting! Without further ado, we present the winners of our first-ever Meggy Awards!

Best Goal Celly

Winner: Lo’eau Labonta – Faked cramp (47.1 % of votes)

• 2nd place: Sophia Smith (26.2%) – What Like It’s Hard?
• 3rd place: Jess Fishlock (14.5%) – Chicken Dance
• 4th place: Ashley Sanchez (12.2%) – Handshake

With almost 50% of votes, Labonta’s celly was a no-brainer for most. She scored a critical goal against Angel City FC in the 82nd minute to give her team a 1-1 tie. After scoring, she started running and limping while holding her right hamstring, only to break into a twerk seconds later. It has since gone viral, with other professional sports teams copying/taking inspiration. That same night, a player from the Savannah Bananas, an entertaining minor league baseball team, faked a hamstring injury while running across home and then twerked with all of his teammates celebrating around him. Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce and Real Sociedad star Takefusa Kubo are among the many who have gone on to copy Lo’eau LaBonta’s celebration. I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of this iconic celly!

Best Fits

Winner: Midge Purce (28.7% of votes)

• 2nd place: Kristie Mewis (23%)
• 3rd place: Alex Morgan (14.9%)
• 4th place: Sarah Gorden (13.8%)
• 5th place: Sofia Huerta (12.6%)
• 6th place: Mandy Freeman (6.9%)

This was a close one!! Midge Purce ultimately took the win with her sleek, sporty-chic style. Her signature looks often include Jordans, Nike apparel, or ‘all-black-everything.’ In close second was Kristie Mewis, whose athleisure-inspired style exudes chic sophistication with a tailored flair. She often showcases crop tops and adds a touch of glamor with Parisian accents, such as a black blazer paired with a fitted white tee, oversized cat-eyed sunglasses, or an oversized collared shirt matched with thigh-high boots.

Best Social Media Content

Winner: Sydney Leroux (44.6% of votes)

• 2nd place: Ali Riley (32.1%)
• 3rd place: Megan Rapinoe (15.5%)
• 4th place: Bethany Balcer (7.7%)

With 1.2 million followers and a daily stream of hilarious content, it was no surprise that almost 50% of votes went to Sydney Leroux for this one. On the one hand, Leroux makes us feel connected, giving us insight into her daily life with her two kids, Cassius and Roux, and allowing us to get to know them all a bit more. She also often shares hilarious family moments, such as dressing up for Halloween, Cassius singing, or Roux’s first selfie. On the other hand, she also shares the sentimental, loving moments she has with them– like when Cassius cried after his mom scored her first goal back from injury– are you kidding?! We need tissues over here! Her authenticity and openness make her so accessible and lovable– and we thank her for sharing her life and laughs with us!

Best BFFs

Winner: Kristie Mewis, Lynn Williams, & Kelley O’Hara (60.7% of votes)

• 2nd place: Trinity Rodman & Ashley Sanchez (25.3%)
• 3rd place: Ali Riley & Paige Nielsen (11.2%)
• 4th place: Ava Cook & Sam Fisher (2.8%)

The three best friends!! Honestly, we thought our community would choose the Rodman/Sanchez besties, hands down. But the three best friends of Gotham FC won your hearts. With a whopping 60.7%– tied for unanimous voting across all Meggy awards– Kristie Mewis, Lynn Williams, and Kelley O’Hara are this year’s Best BFFs. From Galavanting across Jersey City and NYC to spending USWNT camps together to getting stuck in an airport – the genuine friendship and banter these three share with us is both wholesome and entertaining. The pinnacle of their friendship was captured in their celebration scenes after Gotham won the NWSL Championship – the three of them holding hands and jumping in the air, clicking their feet together. This iconic image is now sold as prints, buttons, stickers, and tee shirts.   

Best Goal

Winner: Sydney Leroux – Bicycle Kick (43.5% of votes)

• 2nd place: Trinity Rodman (22.5%)
• 3rd place: Katie Stengel (13.1%)
• 4th place: Alyssa Thompson (11.5%)
• 5th place: Bella Bixby (9.4%)

Leroux is taking home 2 Meggy Awards tonight! Her bicycle kick in Angel City’s 5-1 win Sunday over the Portland Thorns, where they clinched a spot in the playoffs, was something to marvel at. Not only was it broadcasted across social media and picked up by sports news channels, but it had the fans in disbelief– most notably her son, Cassius. Leroux later reported that she actually practices this move in training, as well as with her son, Cassius, in their backyard, so to see this incredible move come to fruition is truly special. 

Favorite Rookie

Winner: Alyssa Thompson (60.7% of votes)

• 2nd place: Jenna Nighswonger (34%)
• 3rd place: Messiah Bright (10.5%)
• 4th place: Michelle Cooper (4.7%)

Tied for the most unanimous pick across all Meggy awards, Alyssa Thompson sweeps up “Favorite Rookie.” The No.1 overall selection in the 2023 NWSL Draft did not disappoint and made quite the impact during her first year in the league. At the time, she was the youngest draft pick in league history and the first to be drafted straight out of high school. She appeared in 20 regular season matches during her rookie NWSL season with Angel City FC, making 13 starts and scoring four goals and two assists. While she was a finalist for NWSL Rookie of the Year, she is clearly the GSN and Parkside community’s choice! 

_

GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS