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NWSL Most Improved Player: Four players with career years in 2026
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- NWSL Most Improved Player: Four players with career years in 2026
Photo by Andrew Wevers/NWSL via Getty Images | NWSL via Getty Images
There's an award that the National Women's Soccer League has forgotten to add to their slate and it's an obvious one: Most Improved Player.
Though it is not an award that is recognized by the NWSL, having a career season requires a player being in a place to succeed and putting it all together. There are three players who come to mind and have raised the ceilings of their teams in 2026 and future years to come.
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Four frontrunners for NWSL Most Improved Player
Janine Sonis (Denver Summit, DF)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 11: Janine Sonis #6 of Denver Summit FC scores the third goal of the team during the NWSL match between Angel City FC and Denver Summit FC at BMO Stadium on September 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sun/NWSL via Getty Images) | NWSL via Getty Images
A fair amount of credit needs to go to Racing Louisville head coach Bev Yanez for unlocking Janine Sonis's maximum potential in 2025 when she moved the winger to fullback. She produced a career-best eight goal contributions (three goals and five assists) and the team ended up qualifying for the playoffs for the very first time.
In 2026, the CANWNT star has shattered the ceiling and taken her game to a whole new level with Nick Cushing and Denver Summit FC.
The now full-time defender has reached 20 goal contributions (12 goals and eight assists) for the NWSL expansion side.
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Not only has she reignited her career with an MVP-caliber season, she's also become one of the premier attacking fullbacks in the world.
Pietra Tordin (Portland Thorns, ATK)
PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 23: Pietra Tordin #19 of Portland Thorns with her Supporters Player of the Year award from the Rose City Riveters after the game at Providence Park on October 23, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Dantey Buitureida/NWSL via Getty Images) | NWSL via Getty Images
After a rookie season which included 26 appearances (nine starts) and just four goals, Pietra Tordin's sophomore season has been simply magical.
In 28 starts this season where she has lined up in all four attacking positions, she's hit career highs with eight goals and nine assists.
Not only that, Tordin received her first-ever call-up with Emma Hayes and the USWNT, a club extension through 2029, and was most recently named the Rose City Riveters Supporters' Player of the Year.
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The sky is the limit for the attacker.
Cloé Lacasse (Utah Royals, FW)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - AUGUST 29: Cloe Lacasse #24 of Utah Royals celebrates scoring the team's first goal during the NWSL match between Orlando Pride and Utah Royals at Inter&Co Stadium on August 29, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Dustin Markland/NWSL via Getty Images) | NWSL via Getty Images
The CANWNT star had success with ÍBV (Iceland) and Portuguese powerhouse Benfica before joining Arsenal in the WSL where she received limited opportunities. After being transferred to Utah Royals in August 2024, she suffered an injury later in October that set her back 10 months.
Fully healthy for the 2026 NWSL season, Cloé Lacasse took advantage with 18 goal contributions. Her 10 assists is second all-time in league history, only behind Croix Bethune who broke the record last weekend.
At 33-years old, the MVP candidate is having a career year, helping lead URFC to their first-ever NWSL playoffs berth.
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The scary part? The forward signed an extension through the 2028 season.
Ashley Sanchez (NC Courage, FW)
BRIDGEVIEW, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 22: Ashley Sanchez #2 of NC Courage warms up prior to the NWSL match between Chicago Stars and NC Courage at SeatGeek Stadium on August 22, 2025 in Bridgeview, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/NWSL via Getty Images) | NWSL via Getty Images
NC Courage head coach Mak Lind was able to help unlock Ashley Sanchez to her full potential, but this time at winger.
What else is there to say about the MVP frontrunner? With 25 goal contributions (20 goals and five assists), she has already surpassed her previous career high of nine (five goals and nine assists). As the MVP race comes to a finish, there's no doubt about her talent.
