**CHICAGO (June 24, 2022) -** The National Women’s Soccer League announced today the 11 players named to the Best XI of the Month, presented by Mastercard, for the month of June by the NWSL Media Association. Headlined by June Player of the Month Sophia Smith, four teams are represented in the league’s top 11, including Portland Thorns FC with four selections, San Diego Wave FC with three picks and two players each from the Chicago Red Stars and the North Carolina Courage.
**GK – Bella Bixby (POR):** Bixby was solid in the net for the Thorns throughout June, notching 10 saves, good for an 80 percent save clip, and recording three clean sheets to help her team to an undefeated month of play.
**D – Naomi Girma (SD):** Last month’s Rookie of the Month, Girma was stellar once again for Wave FC, appearing in all 360 minutes of action for her team this month. The defender was reliable throughout June, registering an 84 percent passing clip and winning 70 percent of duels.
**D – Natalia Kuikka (POR):** Featuring in every minute of play this month, Kuikka was a crucial distributor for Portland, hitting targets with more than 70 percent accuracy on both sides of the pitch. The defender also tallied her first goal of the regular season in the Thorns’ 6-0 win over the Orlando Pride.
**D – Tatumn Milazzo (CHI):** Milazzo successfully contested more than half of duels, aerial duels and tackles, and registered a reliable 83 percent passing accuracy out of Chicago’s defensive half to help the Red Stars to an unbeaten month of play.
**D – Carson Pickett (NCC):** Celebrating 100 regular-season appearances in the NWSL this month, Pickett’s steady presence in the North Carolina lineup was felt offensively and defensively throughout June. The defender registered a solid 70 percent tackle rating and tallied an assist in each of the last two Courage matches.
**M – Sam Coffey (POR):** The June Rookie of the Month, Coffey was instrumental in the attack for Portland, creating plays to help the Thorns reach a whopping 15-2 goal differential in June. The midfielder also notched six shots throughout the month and recorded an assist in the Thorns’ 2-2 tie against San Diego on June 8.
**M – Taylor Kornieck (SD):** Kornieck enjoyed a productive month in the Wave midfield, highlighted by a brace against Portland to help San Diego to a 2-2 comeback draw on June 8. The midfielder also registered an assist in the Wave’s 3-0 rout of NJ/NY Gotham FC on June 19.
**M – Debinha (NCC):** Helping the Courage to a 2-1-0 record in June, Debinha notched two goals and an assist to cement herself comfortably among the top 10 scorers this season.
**F – Alex Morgan (SD):** Leading the league in scoring with a whopping 11 goals, Morgan added five tallies to her ledger this month, which included two braces in San Diego’s 2-2 tie against the Kansas City Current on June 4 and the team’s 3-0 win over Gotham FC on June 19.
**F – Mallory Pugh (CHI):** Currently in third place in the 2022 NWSL Golden Boot race, Pugh doubled her goal tally in June with three goals in three consecutive games, two of which served as game-winners.
**F – Sophia Smith (POR):** The June Player of the Month, Smith was dominant in the final third for the Thorns, leading her team in scoring with five goals to help Portland to an undefeated 3-0-1 record in June.
In 2021, Mastercard and the NWSL unveiled the inaugural Best XI Platform with the First Team and Second Team honors awarded for the 2021 season to the league’s 22 top players. Mastercard’s belief that our world is full of brilliant possibilities and their focus on connecting people to possibilities is fundamental to what Mastercard does. It’s what Priceless is all about – unlocking the potential in every person across all parts of their life. The development of the Best XI Platform is further commitment from Mastercard to connect NWSL fans to the league and athletes they love.
*The NWSL Team of the Month is selected each month of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers that cover the league on a consistent basis.*

Match Highlights

Match Highlights