Thorns FC goalkeeper Adrianna Franch has been named the National Women's Soccer League's Player of the Week, it was announced on Tuesday.
The Portland goalkeeper wins the award after a Saturday performance in which she made a crucial penalty-kick shootout save in Thorns FC's Challenge Cup Championship triumph. Franch saved Gotham FC midfielder Nahomi Kawasumi's attempt in the seventh round of kicks, allowing teammate Morgan Weaver to secure the tournament title with the Thorns' next attempt.
Franch also won the Challenge Cup Championship's Player of the Match award.
Though Player of the Week honors last Saturday's performance, Franch wins it after a Challenge Cup in which she allowed only three goals in five games. That performance came after a 2020 knee injury which, following surgery, left an 18-month gap between matches for Portland.
Franch, now in her sixth season with the Thorns, was a member of the United States' champions at the 2019 World Cup and was Portland's starting goalkeeper during their 2017 NWSL title-winning season. She is a two-time NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year and was named the Concacaf region's best goalkeeper in 2017.
Remembering Thorns FC's Challenge Cup crown:
