OL Reign 2021 Team Awards Announced
Following the end of the 2021 NWSL season, OL Reign players voted for the club’s end of season awards. Defender Alana Cook, midfielders Jess Fishlock and Dani Weatherholt, and forward Bethany Balcer were all honored by their teammates for their contributions to the club during the 2021 season.
Cook received the Young Player of the Year award. Only players 24 years old or younger were eligible for this award. The 24-year-old defender joined OL Reign from Paris Saint-Germain in June this season and has become an essential part of the Reign backline. She played 1,800 minutes across 20 games, starting every match and playing every minute. Dependable and fierce, Cook made 92 clearances, 23 blocks and 41 interceptions this season. She had an 84.3 percent passing accuracy rate and made three key passes. The center back even found three shots this season and put one attempt on frame. She nominated for NWSL Defender of Year and was named to the NWSL Best XI First Team.
“She’s incredible,” said OL Reign defender Lu Barnes. “She’s got such a good soccer brain and then has the athleticism to match that. I think she is going to be so good. She is genuinely excited to be here and learn from the older players. You can just tell that she is really passionate about getting the center back position down and she wants to get better every game.”
Balcer received the Golden Boot award for the 2021 season. With nine goals on the season, Balcer was a contender in the NWSL Golden Boot race as well, ranking second overall. Her hard work up top this season directly translated to her scoring streak. She played 1,210 minutes for the Reign in 24 games this season. She was named to the NWSL Best XI Second Team for her efforts and was also named NWSL Player of the Week two times and NWSL Player of the Month once. She earned two braces this season and made 14 key passes. The forward even did work defensively, making 16 clearances for OL Reign.
“I’ve got great confidence in Bethany. She’s very energetic and committed, and a natural goal scorer,” said OL Reign assistant coach Sam Laity.
Fishlock received the Most Valuable Player award. As tenacious and reliable as a player can be, Fishlock controlled the midfield for the Reign this season. A team leader on and off the field, Fishlock not only puts her best foot forward, but is a great example to younger players on the team. She named the 2021 NWSL MVP and named to the NWSL Best XI First Team. Fishlock received Team of the Month honors three times and earned Save of the Week once. She has been with OL Reign since the team’s very first season, but this season was extra special for the Welsh international, as it was her first full season back from her ACL and meniscus injury in 2019. She scored five goals, including one brace and a game winner and added four assists in her 1,880 minutes of playing time this season.
“It’s just a compliment of what she has always brought to this team,” said head coach Laura Harvey. “The journey that she has been on to get to this point has been phenomenal, but that’s just who she is honestly. I don’t expect anything less from her.”
Weatherholt received the Community Champion award. On and off the field, she can be counted on to make a difference. This season, Weatherholt was OL Reign’s community champion for the inaugural Nationwide Community Impact initiative. This initiative helped to earn $25,000 for OL Reign’s community partner, the Black Future Co-op Fund. Weatherholt is routinely involved in community events with local organizations. She recently helped to organize a canned food drive to support Nourish Pierce County at OL Reign’s last home match, along with OL Reign teammate Amber Brooks. Weatherholt was also part of the soccer clinic OL Reign put on for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound.
“Dani is a person that puts all her heart when working for others, truly believing in the connection that we can have with people and the impact an organization like us can have,” said OL Reign Associate General Manager Santiago Gallo. “She reflects the values and principals OL Reign has with its community, but most importantly, she represents the ideas and actions that all her teammates think and act about to make a better and more equitable world through soccer.”