WPS Opens Voting for Year End Awards
Published on August 9, 2011 under Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) News Release
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (August 9, 2010) - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) announced its 2011 WPS Year-End Award nominations Tuesday as voting opened for fans online at womensprosoccer.com. Five separate awards, including the Michelle Akers Player of the Year Award given to the league MVP, will be decided by fan voting (33%), player/coach voting (33%) and media vote (33%). The others include the Defender of the Year, US Coast Guard Goalkeeper of the Year, US Soccer Federation Rookie of the Year and WPS Coach of the Year.
The online voting will close for fans on Sunday, August 14.
Vote now for the 2010 WPS Awards >>
Other honors awarded by WPS are the Citi Sportswoman of the Year Award which is voted on entirely by players and coaches, while the PUMA Golden Boot award is awarded to the top goal scorer during the 2011 WPS Regular Season.
2011 WPS YEAR-END AWARD NOMINATIONS (all nominations in alphabetical order)
MICHELLE AKERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Awarded to the player judged to have had the greatest impact on her team's performance during the WPS regular season.
Veronica Boquete (Philadelphia Independence)
Tasha Kai (Philadelphia Independence)
Marta (Western New York Flash)
Christine Sinclair (Western New York Flash)
Abby Wambach (magicJack)
Vote now for the Michelle Akers Player of the Year >>
WPS DEFENDER OF THE YEAR - Recognizes a player with an outstanding ability to defend WPS's best attacking players during the regular season. The player must play a position that is considered to have key defensive responsibilities (defender or midfielder). Goalkeepers are not eligible.
Anita Asante (Sky Blue FC)
Carrie Dew (Sky Blue FC)
Tina Ellertson (magicJack)
Whitney Engen (Western New York Flash)
Nikki Krzysik (Philadelphia Independence)
Ali Riley (Western New York Flash)
Vote now for the WPS Defender of the Year>>
US COAST GUARD GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR - Recognizes the goalkeeper who regularly makes outstanding saves and consistently controls her penalty area and defensive zone during the regular season. Her team's success is not an overvalued factor in this award.
Jenni Branam (Sky Blue FC)
Ashlyn Harris (Western New York Flash)
Nicole Barnhart (Philadelphia Independence)
Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers)
Allison Whitworth (Atlanta Beat)
Vote now for the 2011 US Coast Guard Goalkeeper of the Year >>
US SOCCER FEDERATION ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Awarded to the rookie - one year removed from playing in college - judged to have had the greatest impact on her team's performance during the WPS regular season.
Sinead Farrelly (Philadelphia Independence)
Meghan Klingenberg (Boston Breakers)
Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash)
Christen Press (magicJack)
Keelin Winters (Boston Breakers)
Vote now for the US Soccer Federation Rookie of the Year >>
WPS COACH OF THE YEAR - Recognizes the head coach who has developed a team that has performed to exceptional levels and demonstrates an attractive and engaging style of play during the regular season.
Tony DiCicco (Boston Breakers)
Jim Gabarra (Sky Blue FC)
James Galanis (Atlatna Beat)
Aaran Lines (Western New York Flash)
Paul Riley (Philadelphia Independence)
Abby Wambach (magicJack)
Vote now for the 2011 WPS Coach of the Year >>
Women's Professional Soccer Stories from August 9, 2011
- WPS Opens Voting for Year End Awards - WPS
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