Four NWSL Standouts Emerge as Top Contenders for Most Improved Player Award
The National Women’s Soccer League spotlighted four players who delivered standout performances in 2026, elevating their games to new heights. Janine Sonis transformed from a winger to a dominant attacking fullback, recording 20 goal contributions for the Denver Summit. Pietra Tordin also flourished, achieving career highs with eight goals and nine assists while earning her first USWNT call-up.
In the 2026 NWSL season, four players emerged as standout performers, delivering career-defining campaigns that have drawn attention to their dramatic improvement despite varying paths to success. Janine Sonis, now a fullback for the Denver Summit, recorded 20 goal contributions (12 goals, 8 assists), transforming from a winger into one of the world’s top attacking defenders after being repositioned by Racing Louisville coach Bev Yanez in 2025. Pietra Tordin, playing for the Portland Thorns, achieved career highs with eight goals and nine assists across 28 starts, earning her first USWNT call-up and the Rose City Riveters’ Supporters’ Player of the Year award. Cloé Lacasse, after a long injury layoff following her 2024 transfer to Utah Royals, returned in 2026 with 18 goal contributions—10 assists, second all-time in NWSL history—and helped lead the Royals to their first playoff berth. Ashley Sanchez, playing as a winger for the NC Courage under coach Mak Lind, tallied 25 goal contributions (20 goals, 5 assists), surpassing her prior career high and emerging as a leading MVP candidate. The background reveals that each player’s breakthrough followed strategic team decisions—position changes, transfers, or recovery from injury—that created conditions for growth. Organizations like the USWNT, NWSL clubs, and fan groups such as the Rose City Riveters are invested in these developments, as they signal talent development, team success, and increased visibility. What remains unresol
The spotlight on these four players highlights how individual growth can reshape team dynamics and fan engagement in professional women’s soccer. Their stories—especially those of Sonis and Lacasse, who overcame positional shifts or injury setbacks—may inspire greater investment in player development programs across leagues. The fact that Tordin earned a USWNT call-up underscores the NWSL’s role as a talent pipeline, potentially increasing national team competitiveness. Comparable to the rise of Megan Rapinoe or Alex Morgan in earlier years, these players could become household names, boosting merchandise sales, broadcast viewership, and sponsorship interest. Their success may also influence transfer strategies, with clubs more likely to prioritize long-term development over immediate results. What’s next could include formal recognition of an improved player award, which might standardize how progress is measured across the league. Additionally, their extended contracts—like Lacasse’s