Many of the world's best players have taken their careers to the next level in the NWSL, with teams establishing record-setting fan bases
In just the 11 years of the National Women's Soccer League existence, many of the world's best players have taken their careers to the next level, teams have established record-setting fan bases, and international superstars have chosen the league for its remarkable competitiveness.
So, how can one sort through all the greats to rank the top 25 players in the NWSL, especially given we're looking at players such as Christine Sinclair – with the league since the beginning – and comparing new faces that have shattered current NWSL records? That's the task.
So, as we approach the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, INDIVISA is on hand to rank the top 25.
Getty Images25Amy Rodriguez
Amy Rodriguez wasn’t just fast, she was a blur, a nightmare in cleats. Defenses scrambled, and as the clock ticked, she only got better. She took Kansas City to back-to-back NWSL Championships in 2014 and 2015, earning MVP of the Championship Game in the second title run.
A 2014 First XI selection, she became known for thriving under pressure, a talent that went unmatched for years. Rodriguez left a legacy of resilience, with every goal, assist, and sprint seared into the league’s history.
AdvertisementGetty24Ali Krieger
Ali Krieger’s versatility is unmatched. Outside back, center back, Krieger made both positions look easy. In her last season, she still put up ridiculous defensive stats, showing no signs of slowing down.
But it’s her leadership that truly resonates, inspiring her teammates with respect and pure grit. Gotham FC gave her the sendoff she deserved, celebrating the player who’s kept them in line and lifted them up.
Krieger’s influence? Undeniable. Her legacy? Forever. Krieger joined the newly formed NWSL in 2013, playing for the Washington Spirit. She later played for the Orlando pride and NJ/NY Gotham FC, where she captained the team and led them to an NWSL Championship in 2023.
USA TODAY Sports23Mallory Swanson
Ambition, resilience, and a refusal to quit. That’s Mallory Swanson. From one spring season at UCLA to pro-level stardom, Swanson was never about settling. Even three knee surgeries couldn’t stop her; after a year of rehab, she stormed back, turning the NWSL into her personal playground.
With dangerous set pieces and a killer instinct for scoring from turnovers, she’s a player everyone dreads to face – one touch, and the game could be hers. Swanson joined the NWSL in 2016, playing for the Washington Spirit. She was a finalist in her first season for Rookie of the Year.
She eventually would go on to play for the Chicago Red Stars, and was voted to a second place finish in the NWSL MVP race.
Getty Images Sport22Emily Sams
In 2023, Sams was selected in third overall in the 2023 NWSL Draft by the Orlando Pride. She is another name that is just now making herself known in the league, but there's no stopping her.
She was named to the league's Best XI of the Month for May 2024 following her role in the Pride's unbeaten run that month, including her first professional assist against Racing Louisville and her first professional goal against the Reign.
