The trophy truck just made another delivery to New Jersey—and this time, it brought individual hardware to match the championship rings.
In a historic announcement, U.S. Soccer confirmed that Gotham FC’s Rose Lavelle is the 2025 Female Player of the Year, while teammate Lilly Reale secured the Young Female Player of the Year honor. This first-ever teammate sweep is more than an accolade; it’s a definitive signal that the center of power in American soccer now runs through the home locker room at Sports Illustrated Stadium.same year.
Rose Lavelle: The Midfield Engine Recalibrated
Watching from the press box at Sports Illustrated Stadium, Rose Lavelle’s 2025 campaign wasn’t a return from injury—it was a tactical recalibration. The narrative of a “rebuilding year” after ankle surgery was shattered the moment she stepped onto the pitch against Ireland on June 26. Her impact was immediate and systemic.
The Milestones:
The raw numbers—27 goals and 27 assists, vaulting her into the USWNT’s “50-Plus Club”—only tell half the story. The deeper insight, visible live at Barclays Center during the title run, was howshe compiled them. Under Emma Hayes, Lavelle’s role evolved. She operated with more positional freedom, often dropping deeper to initiate buildup before making late, punishing runs into the box. This wasn’t just Lavelle returning to form; it was Lavelle being weaponized within a new tactical framework.
Her 80th-minute championship winner was the perfect case study: receiving the ball between the lines, turning under pressure, and driving forward before the finish. It was a sequence of technical skill and game understanding that stats can’t capture. She didn’t just win the NWSL Championship MVP; she showcased the complete, modern midfield toolkit.
“I think we all know that Rose is not only one of the best players in the world, but also one of the most fun to watch, and to coach,”
said USWNT coach Emma Hayes.
Lilly Reale: A Rookie’s Defensive Masterclass
If Lavelle’s year was about brilliant reinvention, Lilly Reale’s was about an unprecedentedly seamless transition. The rookie didn’t just adapt to the NWSL; she imposed her will on it. Converted from a college center-back to Gotham’s starting left back, Reale’s 2025 was a 2,217-minute lesson in defensive fundamentals and relentless consistency.
The Lockdown Observed
The stat sheet shows she didn’t miss a playoff minute. What it doesn’t show is the quiet authority she displayed at Sports Illustrated Stadium and on the road, consistently shutting down her flank. Her first senior cap against Ireland wasn’t just a debut; it was a full-90-minute announcement, complete with a shutout and an assist. Reale didn’t just play—she solved a critical positional puzzle for her club and country, dominating her award category with a staggering 48% of the vote.
- Iron Woman Stats: She logged 2,217 minutes across 29 total matches for the Bats.
- The Debut: She earned her first senior cap on June 26, playing a full 90 minutes and recording a shutout and an assist in her very first outing.
- Reale dominated her category with a massive 48% of the weighted vote, nearly doubling the runner-up, Jordyn Bugg.
“This year in particular has been one marked by major growth moments,” Reale noted. For the attackers she faced, that “growth” felt more like a shadow they couldn’t escape.
The Henkel Impact: As part of the award, sponsor Henkel is donating $10,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston—a nod to Reale’s hometown of Hingham, Mass. Reale dominated the voting with 48% of the weighted total.
By The Numbers: The Historic 2025 Sweep
| Achievement | Rose Lavelle (POTY) | Lilly Reale (Young POTY) |
| Club Team | Gotham FC | Gotham FC |
| Key 2025 Stat | NWSL Championship-Winning Goal | 100% Minutes Played in Playoffs |
| Major Award | NWSL Championship MVP | NWSL Rookie of the Year |
| Historical Feat | Only player to score in WC & NWSL Finals | First teammate sweep in U.S. Soccer history |
Breaking the Cycle
History was made in more ways than one today. Beyond the teammate sweep, Rose Lavelle is the 22nd different player to win the top honor. The fact that we have now seen six consecutive years of first-time winners shows just how much the “succession planning” Emma Hayes talks about is already taking root.
The rest of the NWSL was already chasing a Gotham FC dynasty. Now, they’re chasing an institution that produces the best players in the country. One trophy represents a superstar at her peak; the other represents a legend in the making.
This historic sweep confirms what we’ve watched unfold at Sports Illustrated Stadium all season: Gotham FC isn’t just collecting trophies; it’s building the definitive blueprint. Lavelle’s award validates a new peak for a veteran, while Reale’s signals a core piece for the next decade. The rest of the NWSL isn’t just chasing a champion; it’s chasing a system that now produces the nation’s best.