Five OL Reign Players Named to NWSL Best XI First Team and Second Team
The National Women’s Soccer League announced today that five OL Reign players were named to the Best XI First Team and Second Team. Defender Alana Cook, midfielder Jess Fishlock and forward Eugénie Le Sommer were named to the Best XI First Team, presented by Mastercard and defender Sofia Huerta and forward Bethany Balcer were named to the Best XI Second Team.
2021 NWSL Best XI First Team
Goalkeeper: Kailen Sheridan (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
Defenders: Caprice Dydasco (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Alana Cook (OL Reign), Sarah Gorden (Chicago Red Stars), Carson Pickett (North Carolina Courage)
Midfielders and Forwards: Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Jessica Fishlock (OL Reign), Eugénie Le Sommer (OL Reign), Margaret Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Angela Salem (Portland Thorns FC)
2021 NWSL Best XI Second Team
Goalkeeper: Bella Bixby (Portland Thorns FC)
Defenders: Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Meghan Klingenberg (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Menges (Portland Thorns FC)
Midfielders and Forwards: Bethany Balcer (OL Reign), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Ifeoma Onumonu (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Sydney Leroux (Orlando Pride), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars)
The Best XI First Team and Best XI Second Team are based on a weighted voting scale comprised of players (50%), owners/GMs/coaches (20%), media (20%) and fans (10%).
About the OL Reign 2021 Best XI First and Second Team Selections:
Alana Cook: Cook joined OL Reign from Paris Saint-Germain in June and played every minute of every match following her 2021 debut on June 19. She appeared and started in 20 matches for the Reign. The defender registered a dependable 84.3 percent passing rate, made 92 clearances and blocked 23 shots in her team’s defensive end. Cook connected 887 passes, making three key passes and taking three shots throughout the season.
Jessica Fishlock: The 2021 NWSL Most Valuable Player, Fishlock was instrumental in OL Reign’s dominant season. The midfielder tallied five goals, including one game winner, and four assists, while registering an astute passing accuracy of 76.4 percent and providing 47 key passes across 23 games. Fishlock earned Save of the Week once this season and was named to the NWSL Team of the Month three times in the 2021 season. This is the Welsh star’s fifth time being named to the NWSL Best XI First Team.
Eugénie Le Sommer: Scoring three braces this season, Le Sommer ranked third in goal scoring among the NWSL and led the scoring effort for the Reign. In addition to her eight highlight-reel goals, the forward also provided three assists to her teammates. She made 20 key passes in the 18 games she played. Despite joining OL Reign from Lyon in June, Le Sommer earned Player of the Week three times this season and was named to the NWSL Team of the Month once.
Sofia Huerta: Moving to play outside back part way through the season, Huerta excelled up the flank for OL Reign. She led the league in assists, tallying six on the season and adding one goal. She played 2,106 minutes – the most of any OL Reign player this season. Huerta was named to the NWSL Team of the Month twice this season. She completed an impressive 37 key passes through 24 games and had a solid 81.8 percent passing success rate.
Bethany Balcer: The young forward scored nine goals this season, ranking second in the NWSL Golden Boot race. She scored five goals with her head and the other four with her right foot. She earned two braces and made 14 key passes in the 24 games she played. Balcer was named the NWSL Player of the Week twice this season, in addition to being named Player of the Month once. She also was named to the NWSL Team of the Month one time this season.