ATLANTA (Jan. 16, 2026) -- Long-time U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder Rose Lavelle has been voted U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year while defender Lilly Reale has been voted the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, presented by Henkel.
Lavelle is heading into her 10th year as a part of the USWNT and this is the first time she has won this award. Both Lavelle and Reale played key roles in leading Gotham FC to the 2025 NWSL Championship.
“I’m really happy for Rose, who is thriving. She’s an extremely selfless person who has been through a lot of adversity,” said Hayes. “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, so it’s very satisfying to see her recognized in this way. As far as Lilly, it was a heck of a start to her pro career, but it wasn’t without adversity as well. She’s a mentally and physically strong young player and a great teammate, so we are looking forward to watching her continue grow into her roles for club and country.”
Lavelle has been a fixture on the international scene since the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup when the United States won its fourth World Cup. In France, Lavelle scored what will go down as one of the most memorable and dramatic goals in U.S. history to clinch the USA’s 2-0 victory against the Netherlands in the World Cup Final, becoming one of eight Americans to have scored in a World Cup Final at the senior level.
In 2025, Lavelle got a late start to her campaign after getting back on the field following a long recovery from ankle surgery. She returned to international play on June 26 against the Republic of Ireland, starting the match, scoring one goal and setting up another. She appeared in six international matches, starting five of them, while showing her world class qualities in each, much to the delight of U.S. head coach Emma Hayes and USWNT fans across the country and the world. In each match that she started, Lavelle contributed to the scoresheet. She scored 34 seconds into the Oct. 26 match vs. Portugal and buried a half-volley against New Zealand on Oct. 29, a match for which she captained the United States.
Her two assists came in the 3-0 shutout wins over Canada and Italy. Each of these contributions helped Lavelle become the newest addition to the exclusive USWNT 50-plus club, which includes players with over 50 combined international goals and assists. She currently has 27 of each.
"When I look at the past year, it feels like a testament to the support system I had, with my family, the medical staff at Gotham and with the National Team, all my teammates, coaches and friends,” said Lavelle. "I wouldn’t have been in the position to even be up for the award without all of the support I received throughout the year just to get back on the field. So, this award is definitely shared with all the people I was lucky enough to have in my corner along the way.”
Lavelle shone even brighter at the club level. The midfielder took the pitch for Gotham FC 16 times in the regular season, starting 13 of those games and reaching peak form just in time for the NWSL playoffs. In the last nine regular season matches, Lavelle had seven scoring contributions, five of them goals, helping the Bats finish the season with a 4W-2L-3D record and earn the final playoff spot.
In postseason play, Lavelle started all three matches and when it mattered most, she stepped up to score the lone goal of the 2025 NWSL Championship, a 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit that gave her club its second NWSL title. Lavelle's 80th minute score helped her earn NWSL Championship MVP honors and with it, she became the only person to score in two NWSL Championships and a FIFA Women’s World Cup Final.
Reale had an exciting rookie year in the NWSL where her performances at left back earned her a first senior team call-up in June. A natural left-footer, she contributed on both sides of the ball, using her size and strength to make an impact for both club and country. Reale – who signed a multi-year contract with Gotham FC to start the year – ultimately helped the Bats win the NWSL Championship while playing in all 26 regular season matches and starting all three postseason games. She was named the NWSL Rookie of the Year and logged 2,217 minutes over 29 total matches in 2025.
“I am constantly reminded of how special this National Team program is when I reflect on all of the relationships, knowledge, laughs and opportunities that U.S. Soccer has given me over the years," said Reale. “It was this environment where I first learned what it truly took to reach the next level and just how different each person’s journey will look. This year in particular has been one marked by major growth moments, joy and lots of lessons. Through it all, I feel so lucky to have been surrounded by such charismatic teammates, coaches and fans. Being able to play alongside many of my role models and represent my country at the highest level is something that I’ll never take for granted.
“Looking back on all the incredible players that have won this award in past years only serves as added motivation for me to strive to follow in their footsteps. Thank you to everyone who has guided me on this journey, your support really means the world!”
A long-time contributor to the U.S. Youth National Teams, Reale played in the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. She started the year attending the USWNT Futures Camp in January and then was called up to the U-23 WNT training camp in April. Her first international match during 2025 came during the U-23 WNT’s June trip to Germany. Reale scored the first of two goals in that match to help the USA to a 2-1 win over the hosts.
After that early June trip with the U-23s, Reale began her senior WNT career. She made her USWNT debut with a start on June 26 vs. Ireland and not only helped the team to a shutout but also played a pass down the left wing for Alyssa Thompson who scored to give Reale her first career international assist. While she didn’t play in the second match against Ireland in that window, Reale played another full 90 in a high-pressure clash against Canada on July 2 in the Allstate Continental Classico. Again, she helped the U.S. to a shutout win and would contribute to three more before the year was out – a 6-0 win over New Zealand on Oct. 29 and two shutouts against Italy (3-0 and 2-0 in late November).
As part of the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year Award, Henkel will donate $10,000 to a community organization of the winner’s choosing. Reale, who hails from Hingham, Mass., chose the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston.
“Congratulations to Lilly on earning this prestigious award and for being an inspiration to young athletes across the country," said Jennifer Schiavone, Henkel Vice President, Corporate Communications, Americas. "Henkel is honored to be the presenting sponsor of this year’s awards and the first to provide charitable donations in the names of these young players.”
Votes for U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year are collected from respective U.S. National Team coaches, U.S. National Team players who earned a cap in 2025, members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer Athletes’ Council, National Women’s Soccer League head coaches and select media members and administrators.
Lavelle carried 29.2 percent of the weighted vote, followed by Sam Coffey (23.9 percent) and Catarina Macario (22.3 percent). Reale earned 48 percent of the weighted vote, followed by Jordyn Bugg (29.6 percent) and Micayla Johnson (16.1 percent).
The U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year has been awarded since 1985 when midfielder Sharon Remer earned the first Female Player of the Year honor. Abby Wambach won the award six times, the most of any player. Mia Hamm won it five times.
For the first time, a different player has won the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year for six consecutive years. Prior to this streak, the longest streak for players winning the award for the first time was four consecutive years, done twice, and the first time was the first four years the award was given out. Lavelle is the 22nd different player to win the award.
Reale marks the 28th player to be named the U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, an award a player can only win once. The first time it was awarded, back in 1998, was to current U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone. Of the previous 27 players to win the award, 19 have played in a FIFA World Cup at the senior level for the USA. The four most recent winners – Jadeyn Shaw (2022), Olivia Moultrie (2023), Ally Sentnor (2024) and Reale (2025) -- will all be working to make their first senior level World Cup Team in 2027.
