NWSL Rookie of the Year

File:Croix Bethune 2024-01 (cropped).jpg]]

The NWSL Rookie of the Year award is presented annually to the best rookie in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Erika Tymrak (2013), an alumna of the Florida Gators, won the first Rookie of the Year award in the NWSL's inaugural season. The most recent winner is Croix Bethune (2024).

Winners

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
Season ! Player ! {{abbr\|Pos.\|Position}} ! Nationality ! Club ! School ! Drafted ! Other finalists ! class=unsortable\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference(s)}}
style="text-align:center"\| 2013 !scope="row"\| {{sortname\|Erika\|Tymrak}} \|style="text-align:center"\| MF \| {{USA}} \| FC Kansas City \| Florida Gators \|style="text-align:center"\| 11th \| Adrianna Franch, Sydney Leroux \|style="text-align:center"\| {{cite news\|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2013/08/21/erika-tymrak-named-2013-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year/\|title=Erika Tymrak named NWSL Rookie of the Year\|date=2013-08-21\|last=Kassouf\|first=Jeff\|website=The Equalizer\|access-date=2024-06-27}}
style="text-align:center"\| 2014 !scope="row"\| {{sortname\|Julie\|Johnston\|Julie Ertz}} \|style="text-align:center"\| D/MF \| {{USA}} \| Chicago Red Stars \| Santa Clara Broncos \|style="text-align:center"\| 3rd \| Crystal Dunn, Kealia Ohai \|style="text-align:center"\| {{cite news\|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2014/08/22/johnston-wins-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year/\|title=Johnston wins NWSL Rookie of the Year\|last=Lauletta\|first=Dan\|date=2014-08-22\|website=The Equalizer\|access-date=2024-06-27}}
style="text-align:center"\| 2015 !scope="row"\| {{sortname\|Danielle\|Colaprico}} \|style="text-align:center"\| MF \| {{USA}} \| Chicago Red Stars \| Virginia Cavaliers \|style="text-align:center"\| 9th \| Sofia Huerta, Sam Mewis \|style="text-align:center"\| {{cite news\|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2015/09/14/danielle-colaprico-nwsl-rookie-of-year/\|title=Red Stars' Colaprico named NWSL Rookie of Year\|date=September 14, 2015\|website=The Equalizer\|access-date=2024-06-27}} {{cite news\|url=https://chicagoredstars.com/news/chicagos-colaprico-voted-2015-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year/\|title=Chicago's Colaprico Voted 2015 NWSL Rookie of the Year\|publisher=Chicago Red Stars\|date=2015-09-14\|access-date=2024-06-27}}
style="text-align:center"\| 2016 !scope="row"\| {{sortname\|Rocky\|Rodríguez}} \|style="text-align:center"\| MF \| {{CRC}} \| Sky Blue FC{{efn\|name=gotham}} \| Penn State Nittany Lions \|style="text-align:center"\| 2nd \| Rachel Daly, Emily Sonnett \|style="text-align:center"\| {{cite news\|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2016/10/03/rocky-rodriguez-named-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year/\|title='Rocky' Rodriguez named NWSL Rookie of the Year\|date=2016-10-03\|website=The Equalizer\|access-date=2024-06-27}}
style="text-align:center"\| 2017 !scope="row"\| {{sortname\|Ashley\|Hatch}} \|style="text-align:center"\| F \| {{USA}} \| North Carolina Courage \| BYU Cougars \|style="text-align:center"\| 2nd \| Meggie Dougherty Howard, Mallory Pugh \|style="text-align:center"\| {{cite news\|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2017/10/17/ashley-hatch-named-2017-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year/\|title=Ashley Hatch named 2017 NWSL Rookie of the Year\|date=2017-10-17\|website=The Equalizer\|access-date=2024-06-27}}
style="text-align:center"\| 2018 !scope="row"\| {{sortname\|Imani\|Dorsey}} \|style="text-align:center"\| F/MF \| {{USA}} \| Sky Blue FC{{efn\|name=gotham}} \| Duke Blue Devils \|style="text-align:center"\| 5th \| Savannah McCaskill, Andi Sullivan \|style="text-align:center"\| {{cite news\|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2018/09/26/sky-blue-fcs-imani-dorsey-named-rookie-of-the-year/\|title=Paul Riley, Imani Dorsey best coach, rookie respectively\|last=Kriger\|first=Rachael\|date=2018-09-26\|website=The Equalizer\|access-date=2024-06-27}}
style="text-align:center"\| 2019 !scope="row"\| {{sortname\|Bethany\|Balcer}} \|style="text-align:center"\| F \| {{USA}} \| Reign FC \| Spring Arbor Cougars \|style="text-align:center"\| Undrafted \| Jordan DiBiasi, Sam Staab \|style="text-align:center"\| {{cite news\|url=https://www.mlive.com/sports/2019/10/bethany-balcer-wins-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year-award.html\|title=Bethany Balcer wins NWSL Rookie of the Year award\|date=2019-10-30\|last=VanDyke\|first=Josh\|access-date=2024-06-27}}
style="text-align:center"\| 2021 !scope="row"\| {{sortname\|Trinity\|Rodman}} \|style="text-align:center"\| F \| {{USA}} \| Washington Spirit \| Washington State Cougars \|style="text-align:center"\| 2nd \| Emily Fox, Victoria Pickett \|style="text-align:center"\| {{cite news\|url=https://justwomenssports.com/reads/spirits-trinity-rodman-wins-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year/\|title=Spirit's Trinity Rodman Wins NWSL Rookie of the Year\|date=2021-11-19\|last=Hruby\|first=Emma\|website=Just Women's Sports\|access-date=2024-06-27}}
style="text-align:center"\| 2022 !scope="row"\| {{sortname\|Naomi\|Girma}} \|style="text-align:center"\| D \| {{USA}} \| San Diego Wave FC \| Stanford Cardinal \|style="text-align:center"\| 1st \| Sam Coffey, Diana Ordóñez \|style="text-align:center"\| {{cite news\|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2022/10/27/naomi-girma-named-2022-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year/\|title=Naomi Girma named 2022 NWSL Rookie of the Year\|last=Lauletta\|first=Dan\|date=2022-10-27\|website=The Equalizer\|access-date=2024-06-27}}
style="text-align:center"\| 2023 !scope="row"\| {{sortname\|Jenna\|Nighswonger}} \|style="text-align:center"\| D \| {{USA}} \| NJ/NY Gotham FC \| Florida State Seminoles \|style="text-align:center"\| 4th \| Messiah Bright, Alyssa Thompson \|style="text-align:center"\| {{cite news\|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2023/11/09/jenna-nighswonger-2023-rookie-of-the-year/\|title='Nothing is going to be what you expect:' Jenna Nighswonger on winning Rookie of the Year\|last=Tonelli\|first=Jenna\|date=November 9, 2023\|website=The Equalizer\|access-date=2024-06-27}}
style="text-align:center"\| 2024 !scope="row"\| {{sortname\|Croix\|Bethune}} \|style="text-align:center"\| MF \| {{USA}} \| Washington Spirit \| Georgia Bulldogs \|style="text-align:center"\| 3rd \| Claire Hutton, Ally Sentnor \|style="text-align:center"\| {{cite news\|url=https://justwomenssports.com/reads/nwsl-reveals-2024-individual-awards-finalists-mvp-rookie-of-the-year/\|title=NWSL Reveals 2024 Individual Awards Finalists\|date=2024-11-14\|website=Just Women's Sports\|access-date=2024-11-19}} {{cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5932234/2024/11/19/croix-bethune-spirit-nwsl-roty/\|title=Spirit's Croix Bethune named NWSL Rookie of the Year after standout season\|date=2024-11-19\|last1=Linehan\|first1=Meg\|last2=Rueter\|first2=Jeff\|website=The Athletic\|access-date=2024-11-19}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

Season

! Player

! {{abbr|Pos.|Position}}

! Nationality

! Club

! School

! Drafted

! Other finalists

! class=unsortable|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

style="text-align:center"| 2013

!scope="row"| {{sortname|Erika|Tymrak}}

|style="text-align:center"| MF

| {{USA}}

| FC Kansas City

| Florida Gators

|style="text-align:center"| 11th

| Adrianna Franch, Sydney Leroux

|style="text-align:center"| {{cite news|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2013/08/21/erika-tymrak-named-2013-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year/|title=Erika Tymrak named NWSL Rookie of the Year|date=2013-08-21|last=Kassouf|first=Jeff|website=The Equalizer|access-date=2024-06-27}}

style="text-align:center"| 2014

!scope="row"| {{sortname|Julie|Johnston|Julie Ertz}}

|style="text-align:center"| D/MF

| {{USA}}

| Chicago Red Stars

| Santa Clara Broncos

|style="text-align:center"| 3rd

| Crystal Dunn, Kealia Ohai

|style="text-align:center"| {{cite news|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2014/08/22/johnston-wins-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year/|title=Johnston wins NWSL Rookie of the Year|last=Lauletta|first=Dan|date=2014-08-22|website=The Equalizer|access-date=2024-06-27}}

style="text-align:center"| 2015

!scope="row"| {{sortname|Danielle|Colaprico}}

|style="text-align:center"| MF

| {{USA}}

| Chicago Red Stars

| Virginia Cavaliers

|style="text-align:center"| 9th

| Sofia Huerta, Sam Mewis

|style="text-align:center"| {{cite news|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2015/09/14/danielle-colaprico-nwsl-rookie-of-year/|title=Red Stars' Colaprico named NWSL Rookie of Year|date=September 14, 2015|website=The Equalizer|access-date=2024-06-27}}
{{cite news|url=https://chicagoredstars.com/news/chicagos-colaprico-voted-2015-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year/|title=Chicago's Colaprico Voted 2015 NWSL Rookie of the Year|publisher=Chicago Red Stars|date=2015-09-14|access-date=2024-06-27}}

style="text-align:center"| 2016

!scope="row"| {{sortname|Rocky|Rodríguez}}

|style="text-align:center"| MF

| {{CRC}}

| Sky Blue FC{{efn|name=gotham}}

| Penn State Nittany Lions

|style="text-align:center"| 2nd

| Rachel Daly, Emily Sonnett

|style="text-align:center"| {{cite news|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2016/10/03/rocky-rodriguez-named-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year/|title='Rocky' Rodriguez named NWSL Rookie of the Year|date=2016-10-03|website=The Equalizer|access-date=2024-06-27}}

style="text-align:center"| 2017

!scope="row"| {{sortname|Ashley|Hatch}}

|style="text-align:center"| F

| {{USA}}

| North Carolina Courage

| BYU Cougars

|style="text-align:center"| 2nd

| Meggie Dougherty Howard, Mallory Pugh

|style="text-align:center"| {{cite news|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2017/10/17/ashley-hatch-named-2017-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year/|title=Ashley Hatch named 2017 NWSL Rookie of the Year|date=2017-10-17|website=The Equalizer|access-date=2024-06-27}}

style="text-align:center"| 2018

!scope="row"| {{sortname|Imani|Dorsey}}

|style="text-align:center"| F/MF

| {{USA}}

| Sky Blue FC{{efn|name=gotham}}

| Duke Blue Devils

|style="text-align:center"| 5th

| Savannah McCaskill, Andi Sullivan

|style="text-align:center"| {{cite news|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2018/09/26/sky-blue-fcs-imani-dorsey-named-rookie-of-the-year/|title=Paul Riley, Imani Dorsey best coach, rookie respectively|last=Kriger|first=Rachael|date=2018-09-26|website=The Equalizer|access-date=2024-06-27}}

style="text-align:center"| 2019

!scope="row"| {{sortname|Bethany|Balcer}}

|style="text-align:center"| F

| {{USA}}

| Reign FC

| Spring Arbor Cougars

|style="text-align:center"| Undrafted

| Jordan DiBiasi, Sam Staab

|style="text-align:center"| {{cite news|url=https://www.mlive.com/sports/2019/10/bethany-balcer-wins-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year-award.html|title=Bethany Balcer wins NWSL Rookie of the Year award|date=2019-10-30|last=VanDyke|first=Josh|access-date=2024-06-27}}

style="text-align:center"| 2021

!scope="row"| {{sortname|Trinity|Rodman}}

|style="text-align:center"| F

| {{USA}}

| Washington Spirit

| Washington State Cougars

|style="text-align:center"| 2nd

| Emily Fox, Victoria Pickett

|style="text-align:center"| {{cite news|url=https://justwomenssports.com/reads/spirits-trinity-rodman-wins-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year/|title=Spirit's Trinity Rodman Wins NWSL Rookie of the Year|date=2021-11-19|last=Hruby|first=Emma|website=Just Women's Sports|access-date=2024-06-27}}

style="text-align:center"| 2022

!scope="row"| {{sortname|Naomi|Girma}}

|style="text-align:center"| D

| {{USA}}

| San Diego Wave FC

| Stanford Cardinal

|style="text-align:center"| 1st

| Sam Coffey, Diana Ordóñez

|style="text-align:center"| {{cite news|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2022/10/27/naomi-girma-named-2022-nwsl-rookie-of-the-year/|title=Naomi Girma named 2022 NWSL Rookie of the Year|last=Lauletta|first=Dan|date=2022-10-27|website=The Equalizer|access-date=2024-06-27}}

style="text-align:center"| 2023

!scope="row"| {{sortname|Jenna|Nighswonger}}

|style="text-align:center"| D

| {{USA}}

| NJ/NY Gotham FC

| Florida State Seminoles

|style="text-align:center"| 4th

| Messiah Bright, Alyssa Thompson

|style="text-align:center"| {{cite news|url=https://equalizersoccer.com/2023/11/09/jenna-nighswonger-2023-rookie-of-the-year/|title='Nothing is going to be what you expect:' Jenna Nighswonger on winning Rookie of the Year|last=Tonelli|first=Jenna|date=November 9, 2023|website=The Equalizer|access-date=2024-06-27}}

style="text-align:center"| 2024

!scope="row"| {{sortname|Croix|Bethune}}

|style="text-align:center"| MF

| {{USA}}

| Washington Spirit

| Georgia Bulldogs

|style="text-align:center"| 3rd

| Claire Hutton, Ally Sentnor

|style="text-align:center"| {{cite news|url=https://justwomenssports.com/reads/nwsl-reveals-2024-individual-awards-finalists-mvp-rookie-of-the-year/|title=NWSL Reveals 2024 Individual Awards Finalists|date=2024-11-14|website=Just Women's Sports|access-date=2024-11-19}}
{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5932234/2024/11/19/croix-bethune-spirit-nwsl-roty/|title=Spirit's Croix Bethune named NWSL Rookie of the Year after standout season|date=2024-11-19|last1=Linehan|first1=Meg|last2=Rueter|first2=Jeff|website=The Athletic|access-date=2024-11-19}}