Temwa Chawinga Leads NWSL Best XI for May
The National Women’s Soccer League’s Best XI of the Month for May has the look of a playoff bracket preview: stars in form, heavyweights flexing, and one unbeaten side muscling three names onto the list.
Player of the Month Temwa Chawinga sits at the heart of it. The two-time reigning MVP didn’t just maintain her standard for Kansas City Current – she raised it again, ripping through defenses for seven goals in six games. When Kansas City needed a finisher, she was there, again and again, turning half-chances into statements.
Around her, eight different clubs earned representation, but Utah Royals FC stole a sizeable share of the spotlight. Undefeated through May, the expansion-era Royals delivered three players to the Best XI and helped push head coach Jimmy Coenraets to Coach of the Month honors. Utah didn’t just survive the schedule. They controlled it.
Utah’s spine sets the tone
At the back, goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn anchored a Royals defense that refused to crack. Three clean sheets in six matches tell the story of a unit that handled pressure and protected narrow leads with composure.
In front of her, center back Kate Del Fava turned May into a personal masterclass in consistency and grit. Sixteen tackles, six interceptions, six matches – and her 63rd consecutive start for Utah since the club’s 2024 relaunch. She’s become the ever-present heartbeat of a back line that opponents can’t easily dislodge.
Higher up the pitch, Mina Tanaka gave Utah’s attack its edge. Two goals, three assists, and constant involvement in a front line that boasts eight different goalscorers this season. She didn’t just finish moves; she linked them, stitched them together, and made sure Utah’s unbeaten run had teeth.
Defenders who do it all
The back line of this Best XI isn’t just about clearances and blocks; it’s about defenders driving games forward.
For Denver, Canadian fullback Janine Sonis produced the kind of month most strikers would envy. Braces in back-to-back games in the middle of May turned her into a surprise scoring threat from deep, a fullback who punished any lapse in marking.
In Portland, Sam Hiatt remained a key cog in a Thorns defense that matched Utah’s standard with three clean sheets in May. Her positioning and timing helped steady a side that still expects to measure itself against the league’s elite.
Gotham FC captain Tierna Davidson rounded out the defensive unit with a quietly dominant month. Three clean sheets in four matches and, just as notable, her first goal since 2019. For a leader whose game is built on poise and control, that long-awaited strike added a sharp attacking note to her usual defensive command.
Midfield engines and creators
In midfield, the selections reflect both end product and industry.
North Carolina’s Manaka Matsukubo lit up May with three goals and two assists across six matches, a constant creative spark who turned possession into danger. Every time she picked up the ball between the lines, something felt possible.
Kimmi Ascanio brought a different kind of energy for San Diego. At just 18, she threw herself into duels, racking up 13 tackles in six games and capping her month with her first goal of the season. It was the kind of all-action stretch that hints at a long-term cornerstone in the making.
For Kansas City, Croix Bethune continued to look every bit the 2024 Midfielder of the Year. One goal, three assists in May, and the steady orchestration that allows Chawinga to thrive ahead of her. When the Current shifted gears, Bethune usually had a foot on the pedal.
Relentless firepower up front
Chawinga’s numbers speak loudest – seven goals in six games is MVP form in any league – but she wasn’t the only forward terrorizing defenses.
In Orlando, Barbra Banda delivered a ruthless one-to-one return: six games, six goals. Clinical, direct, and relentless, she turned every outing into a test of how long a back line could hold its nerve.
Tanaka’s inclusion alongside them underscores Utah’s attacking balance. While Chawinga and Banda piled up goals, Tanaka blended finishing with service, helping drive a Royals attack that refuses to rely on a single star.
A showcase of form, not reputation
The NWSL Media Association, a group of writers who track the league week after week, pulled together this Best XI based on what unfolded in May, not what happened last year. The result is a lineup that mirrors the league’s current pulse: Utah’s surge, Kansas City’s firepower, Orlando’s cutting edge, and Gotham’s defensive steel.
Prime, presenting sponsor of the NWSL Best XI, continues to lean into that spotlight, pushing these performances to the front of fans’ screens. With Prime Video’s NWSL coverage rolling on every Friday night through the regular season, the question now is simple:
Who’s ready to knock this May Best XI out of the spotlight when June’s form takes over?
