Four OL Reign Players Named to NWSL May Team of the Month Presented by Mastercard
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 May by the NWSL Media Association. Headlined by Player of the Month Alex Morgan, seven of the league’s 12 clubs are represented. Led by OL Reign with four selections, San Diego Wave FC earned three roster spots, while Angel City FC, the Chicago Red Stars, the Houston Dash, and Racing Louisville FC each claimed one spot in the month’s best XI.
OL Reign’s four selections include goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, defenders Alana Cook and Sofia Huerta and midfielder Rose Lavelle.
Tullis-Joyce has been a standout player throughout the league this year. In May, she made 24 saves and held four clean sheets through six matches for the Reign. She finished second in saves across all goalkeepers in the league and made several game-changing for the Reign.
Defenders Alana Cook and Sofia Huerta were both important parts of OL Reign’s backline that earned four shutouts throughout the month. Cook’s top notch defending was on full display throughout the month. She completed 73 percent of tackles and made 27 important clearances.
Huerta notched two game-winning assists for OL Reign in the month of May as she nears the all-time assist record in the league. In addition to her reliable services into the box, Huerta completed more than 60% of tackles on defense.
Lavelle showed out for OL Reign on offense in May, acting as a playmaker for the team in every match this season and registering an 80 percent distribution rating to set the team up offensively. She scored the game-winning goal against San Diego, as well as the Reign’s opening goal of the regular season.
NWSL MAY TEAM OF THE MONTH PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD:
GK – Phallon Tullis-Joyce (RGN): Tullis-Joyce notched 24 saves and four clean sheets through six games in goal for OL Reign, good for second among league goalkeepers.
D – Alana Cook (RGN): A solid presence on the OL Reign back line, Cook registered 27 clearances and completed 73 percent of tackles.
D – Vanessa Gilles (LA): Helping Angel City to a stellar record in its inaugural campaign, Gilles recorded an 82 percent tackle rating, and tallied a crucial assist in the team’s 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit.
D – Naomi Girma (SD): The Rookie of the Month for May, Girma enjoyed a solid first month of the NWSL regular season, registering an 85 percent distribution rating, 27 clearances, four blocks and nine interceptions.
D – Sofia Huerta (RGN): Huerta was productive on both sides of the pitch in May, dishing out game-winning assists in two Reign victories and successfully completing more than 60 percent of defensive tackles on the back line.
M – Savannah DeMelo (LOU): In her first season in the NWSL, DeMelo notched her first goal on a highlight-reel free kick, helping Racing Louisville to a 1-0 win over San Diego. The rookie has also appeared in all but two minutes of the regular season.
M – Taylor Kornieck (SD): Helping her team to a top-of-the-table start, Kornieck has appeared in every match for the Wave and recorded an assist in San Diego’s 1-0 win over the North Carolina Courage.
M – Rose Lavelle (RGN): Appearing in every match for the Reign this regular season, Lavelle was a playmaker in the midfield throughout May, registering an 80 percent distribution rating to set her team up offensively. Lavelle also scored the lone goal in the Reign’s 1-0 win over San Diego.
F – Rachel Daly (HOU): Tied for second in scoring this season, Daly has enjoyed an electric start with the Houston Dash, tallying three goals in May to help her team to a 2-1-2 regular season start. The Dash have not lost a game when Daly has scored.
F – Alex Morgan (SD): Earning her first Player of the Month honor of the 2022 season, Morgan led the league in goals scored throughout the month of May with six tallies, including a whopping four goals in San Diego’s 4-0 win over NJ/NY Gotham FC.
F – Mallory Pugh (CHI): With three goals under her belt so far this season, Pugh has helped the Red Stars to a productive start offensively, who lead the league in goals and assists. In just two appearances in the month of May, Pugh notched two goals in a 4-2 win over the Orlando Pride and the opening goal in a 2-2 draw against Portland Thorns FC.
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 Presented by Mastercard 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.