Sky Blue FC forward Sam Kerr was officially named to the 2017 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Best XI on Thursday, as the NWSL Golden Boot winner earned her first Best XI nod with the selection.
Kerr, 24, had an outstanding 2017 campaign for Sky Blue FC, claiming the Golden Boot after finishing the season with 17 goals over 22 appearances. Her 17 goals eclipsed the previous NWSL record of 16 that was set by former Seattle Reign FC midfielder Kim Little in 2014.
In addition to breaking the NWSL single-season goal record, Kerr also claimed the top spot on the career list when she scored her 35th goal on July 8 against FC Kansas City, a match where she registered a second-half hat trick in just 12 minutes to lead Sky Blue FC to an improbable 3-2 comeback win at Yurcak Field. The 12-minute hat trick was the fastest in league history. On Aug. 19, Kerr became the first player in NWSL history to score two hat tricks in a single season when she led Sky Blue FC to another incredible comeback victory, this time a 5-4 win over Seattle Reign FC at Yurcak Field. She registered a total of four goals in the second half of that match-up, becoming the first player in NWSL history to score four goals in a single match.
Kerr closed out the 2017 season with five game-winning goals, tallying against eight of the nine other clubs in the NWSL. She was particularly devastating in the second half, recording 14 of her 17 goals after the intermission. Sky Blue FC was victorious in all but two of the matches where Kerr registered a goal this year.
After finishing the 2017 campaign with 17 goals and four assists, Kerr became the first player in NWSL history to reach 50 career points, and she now sits on 58 points overall. For her five-year career, she has registered 43 goals and 15 assists.
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The NWSL awards are voted on by club officials, players, fans and media who cover the league on a consistent basis.
