Darian Jenkins Named NWSL Player of the Week

The National Women’s Soccer League announced today that it has named Reign FC forward Darian Jenkins as the league’s Player of the Week for Week 21. Jenkins scored a brace in the opening 12 minutes of play against the Orlando Pride on September 7 to help Reign FC to a 3-1 win at home.

The NWSL Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers that cover the league on a consistent basis.

Jenkins only needed two shots to record the brace, finishing the first the first past Orlando Pride keeper Ashlyn Harris in the third minute after receiving a through ball from Reign FC forward Bethany Balcer. In the 12th minute, the forward dribbled into the penalty area along the goal line and rocketed a low-angle shot off the crossbar and into the far side net to record the game-winning goal.

Jenkins completed seven of her 10 passes and had three successful dribbles in 58 minutes of play, before making way for Ifeoma Onumonu in the second half.

“I’m delighted for Darian,” Reign FC head coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “All season long we’ve been watching her confidence and ability to threaten goal in our offense increase. I think she’s rounding into a form that will really help us in these last few matches.”

It is the first Player of the Week award of Jenkins’ career and the third of the season for Reign FC. The club earned the award in consecutive weeks back in June, with forward Ifeoma Onumonu and medfielder Jess Fishlock earning the honor for Week 10 and Week 9, respectively.