CHICAGO (Aug. 29, 2014) – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced today the Best XI selections for the 2014 NWSL Season.

The team of the league’s elite features seven players who are set to take the field in the 2014 NWSL Championship Game between Seattle Reign FC and FC Kansas City on Sunday, Aug. 31 at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Wash. Seattle Reign FC had four players on the Best 11 and three more on the second team.

The match kicks off at 3 p.m. ET and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

Four players – Sky Blue FC defender Christie Rampone, FC Kansas City defender Becky Sauerbrunn, Seattle Reign FC midfielder Jess Fishlock and FC Kansas City forward Lauren Holiday – were voted to the Best XI for the second consecutive season.

The NWSL Best XI team (listed alphabetically, by position):

NWSL Best XI

Position Player Club Country Note Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher Boston Breakers USA 106 saves Defender Kendall Fletcher Seattle Reign FC USA .83 team GAA Defender Ali Krieger Washington Spirit USA 1 goal Defender Christie Rampone Sky Blue FC USA 1 goal, 2 assists Defender Becky Sauerbrunn FC Kansas City USA 8 shutouts Midfielder Verónica Boquete Portland Thorns FC Spain 4 goals, 6 assists Midfielder Jess Fishlock Seattle Reign FC Wales 4 goals, 8 assists Midfielder Kim Little Seattle Reign FC Scotland 16 goals, 7 assists Forward Lauren Holiday FC Kansas City USA 8 goals, 7 assists Forward Nahomi Kawasumi Seattle Reign FC Japan 9 goals, 5 assists Forward Amy Rodriguez FC Kansas City USA 13 goals, 3 assists

Voters for the Best XI provided selections for four (4) defenders and a combination of six (6) midfielders or forwards; with the ability to select a minimum of one (1) and a maximum of three (3) forwards. The Goalkeeper of the Year was automatically named to the Best XI.

The NWSL Second XI is comprised of the next leading vote getters at each position that did not make the Best XI (listed alphabetically, by position):

NWSL Second XI

Position Player Club Country Note Goalkeeper Hope Solo Seattle Reign FC USA 5 shutouts Defender Lauren Barnes Seattle Reign FC USA .83 team GAA Defender Stephanie Catley Portland Thorns FC Australia 5 assists Defender Stephanie Cox Seattle Reign FC USA .83 team GAA Defender Julie Johnston Chicago Red Stars USA Rookie of the Year Midfielder Carli Lloyd Western New York Flash USA 8 goals, 5 assists Midfielder Allie Long Portland Thorns FC USA 9 goals, 3 assists Midfielder Heather O’Reilly Boston Breakers USA 9 goals, 5 assists Forward Jessica McDonald Portland Thorns FC USA 11 goals, 1 assist Forward Christen Press Chicago Red Stars USA 6 goals Forward Jodie Taylor Washington Spirit England 11 goals, 2 assist

The NWSL awards are voted on by a selection of journalists that cover the league on a consistent basis, club officials and NWSL players.

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