Jess Fishlock Named to NWSL Team of the Month for May
The National Women’s Soccer League has named OL Reign midfielder Jess Fishlock to the NWSL Team of the Month for May. Fishlock helped OL Reign to a 1-1-1 start in the 2021 season.
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.
Fishlock started all three of the Reign’s regular season matches in May and played all 270 minutes of those matches. She worked to hold down the midfield each game, earning eight shots. The midfielder had a standout performance against OL Reign’s biggest rivals, the Portland Thorns, on May 23. Her intensity helped OL Reign hold on to their early lead and secure their first win of the season. She led the team in passes that match, making two key passes and earning a 74.3 percent passing accuracy.
Started in 2017, the Team of Month award recognizes the 11 players who have performed the best in a given month of the NWSL season. Fishlock has been selected for this honor three times before, in April and June of 2017, and June 2019.
OL Reign play their next match of the regular season on the road against NJ/NY Gotham this Saturday, June 5 at 4:00 p.m. PT.
NWSL Team of the Month in May:
Goalkeeper: Kailen Sheridan (NJNY)
Defenders: Caprice Dydasco (NJNY), Emily Fox (LOU), Phoebe McClernon (ORL), Carson Pickett (NCC)
Midfielders: Debinha (NCC), Crystal Dunn (POR), Jess Fishlock (RGN)
Forwards: Sydney Leroux (ORL), Alex Morgan (ORL), Mallory Pugh (CHI)
GK – Kailen Sheridan (NJNY): Starting all three of NJ/NY Gotham FC’s games in May, Sheridan posted two shutouts and saved 94 percent of the shots she faced across the trio of matches, collecting a 2-0-1 ledger across the month.
D – Caprice Dydasco (NJNY): Dydasco was rock solid in Gotham FC’s back line, appearing in every game and successfully winning over 60 percent of her tackles while garnering an 83 percent pass rating.
D – Emily Fox (LOU): An integral piece of Racing Louisville FC’s defense, Fox made 11 clearances, intercepted five passes and won more than half of her challenges in the air to help the league’s newest team to a 1-1-1 ledger early in the regular season.
D – Phoebe McClernon (ORL): Playing in every minute of the Orlando Pride’s May campaign, McClernon tallied an assist in the team’s first goal of the regular season against Washington and successfully won over 70 percent of her tackles.
D – Carson Pickett (NCC): Pickett notched an assist in North Carolina’s 5-0 rout of Louisville and created scoring chances with 10 key passes and an 80 percent pass rating.
M – Debinha (NCC): The 2021 Challenge Cup MVP has carried her impressive campaign into the regular season, notching a goal and two assists in the Courage’s 5-0 win over Louisville. The forward two assists were also a league high throughout the month.
M – Crystal Dunn (POR): Dunn has been electric since she joined the Thorns last October, amassing 10 shots in four starts that culminated with a stellar goal in Portland’s 1-0 victory over Gotham FC.
M – Jess Fishlock (RGN): A perennial power for OL Reign, Fishlock showcased her playermaker ability in three starts in May, dishing out six key passes and completing 86 percent of tackles to give her team several quality scoring opportunities.
F – Sydney Leroux (ORL): Leroux contributed a pair of key goals for Orlando in May, notching the game-winner in the Pride’s opening match against Portland before scoring the opening goal in a 2-1 win over North Carolina.
F – Alex Morgan (ORL): The Player of the Month in May, Morgan led the league with a goal in each of Orlando’s four contests, including the team’s first goal of the regular season and the game-winner in the Pride’s 2-1 road win over North Carolina.
F – Mallory Pugh (CHI): Leading Chicago in scoring in May, Pugh kickstarted a pair of scoring chances in the Red Stars’ 2-0 win over Kansas City, assisting on each of her team’s goals. The forward also tallied a goal in Chicago’s 2-1 setback against Houston.