CHICAGO (Dec. 10, 2015) – U.S. Soccer has announced the five nominees for 2015 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. This year’s field features midfielders Lauren Holiday, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, defender Becky Sauerbrunn, and goalkeeper Hope Solo.
All five played major roles in the USA winning the 2015 Women's World Cup with Carli Lloyd winning the Golden Ball as the best player in the tournament while Solo won the Golden Glove as the top goalkeeper. Lloyd, Solo and Sauerbrunn played every minute of the tournament.
The winner will be announced on Wednesday, Dec., 16, during the pre-game coverage of the USA vs. China PR match from New Orleans on FOX Sports 1.
A new voting process was put in place starting last year. Votes will be collected from National Team coaches and staff, WNT players who have earned a cap in 2015, members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer’s Athlete Council, National Women’s Soccer League coaches, select college head coaches and select media members.
Three of the nominees have won the award once before. Holiday, who played her final game for the USA on Oct. 25 in Orlando, Fla., was the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year in 2014, while Solo won in 2009 and Lloyd in 2008.
Abby Wambach holds the record for most Female Player of the Year awards with six honors (2003, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2013). Her win in 2013 broke the previous record of five held by Mia Hamm.
The U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year has been awarded since 1985, when midfielder Sharon Remer (known then as Sharon McMurtry) earned the inaugural honor.