The 10 best players in NWSL history ranked

The NWSL is only early into its 13th season, but there have been star players throughout the league since its inception. Here are the top 10 NWSL players of all time.
NY/NJ Gotham FC v Orlando Pride
NY/NJ Gotham FC v Orlando Pride | Ira L. Black - Corbis/GettyImages
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6) Becky Sauerbrunn

Becky Sauerbrunn
Kansas City Current v Portland Thorns FC - 2022 NWSL Championship | Brad Smith/ISI Photos/GettyImages

Sauerbrunn was a proven leader in the NWSL. She played for FC Kansas City and the Utah Royals, before finishing out her career with the Portland Thorns. She became captain of the Thorns and USWNT.

Sauerbrunn won the NWSL Defender of the Year four times in her career and was a three-time NWSL Champion. She ended her great career in 2024 after 189 regular season NWSL matches and 10 playoff appearances. Sauerburnn was known for her defensive presence, which earned her 44 clean sheets throughout her career.

5) Debinha

Debinha
2020 NWSL Challenge Cup - Quarterfinal - North Carolina Courage v Portland Thorns FC | Maddie Meyer/GettyImages

Debinha has starred on the pitch for both the North Carolina Courage and Kansas City Current. The Brazilian played for the Courage from 2017 to 2022, before transferring to the Current. Fans around the NWSL have been taken with the midfielder, who is known for her sensational footwork and vision on the field.

With the Courage, Debinha scored 38 regular season goals and had 17 assists. Now with the Current in three seasons, Debinha has already scored 16 goals and had nine assists. Her debut season with Current couldn't have gone better as she secured nine goals for the team, which was a club record.