Lindsey Horan scored the match winner in the 2017 NWSL final. Her 2018 season is shaping up to be even better. On Friday, the day before she leads the Portland Thorns against the North Carolina Courage in a repeat NWSL Championship, Horan was named 2018 NWSL MVP.
The Great Horan rises.@Lindseyhoran11 of @ThornsFC is your 2018 #NWSL MVP. pic.twitter.com/eFa6WqXrEg
— NWSL (@NWSL) September 21, 2018
Horan, a hard-charging attacking midfielder who can power in goals with her head or feet from afar, scored 14 goals with three assists this season. Only Chicago’s Sam Kerr, with 16, scored more goals this year. Kerr also won Golden Boot and NWSL MVP honors last year.
Horan scored the winner in Portland’s 2-1 win over Seattle in the NWSL semifinals on Saturday and will be hoping for a repeat winner against North Carolina in the final. Last year the Thorns beat the Courage 1-0 on Horan's goal in the final.
The moment @Lindseyhoran11 found out that she is the 2018 @NWSL MVP… #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/0j1ag3BajP
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) September 21, 2018
Horan, a former Paris Saint-Germain player, was recently named to the USWNT’s World Cup qualifying roster. The 24-year-old has made 56 appearances for the U.S., scoring six goals.
Clutch all year long. Such a deserved honor for @Lindseyhoran11! https://t.co/ue8uYmILfd
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) September 21, 2018
Horan winning the 2018 NWSL MVP award means Portland currently has the MLS and NWSL MVPs.
From one MVP to another, @DiegoDv8 congratulates @Lindseyhoran11, the 2018 @NWSL MVP. #OneClub pic.twitter.com/j0ZbImmElY
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) September 21, 2018
Also on Friday, NWSL announced its Best XI and Second XI teams. Horan, a second-team selection last year, made it to the first team this year.
The NWSL B XI and Second XI are as follows:
2018 NWSL Best XI
- Goalkeeper: Adrianna Franch
- Defenders: Emily Sonnett, Becky Sauerbrunn, Abby Erceg, Abby Dahlkemper
- Midfielders: Tobin Heath, Lindsey Horan, McCall Zerboni
- Forwards: Crystal Dunn, Sam Kerr, Megan Rapinoe
2018 NWSL Second XI
- Goalkeeper: Lydia Williams
- Defenders: Merritt Mathias, Julie Ertz, Emily Menges, Steph Catley
- Midfielders: Debinha, Carli Lloyd, Christine Sinclair
- Forwards: Lynn Williams, Rachel Daly, Sofia Huerta
There’s only one Lindsey Horan. #BAONPDX #MVP pic.twitter.com/BESu8wTvCG
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) September 21, 2018
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