The league named Portland Thorns FC midfielder Crystal Dunn, defender Becky Sauerbrunn and forward Sophia Smith were named to the NWSL Best XI of the Month, presented by Mastercard, for the months of March and April. The trio helped Thorns FC to an unbeaten record (3-0-2) through the first five games of the season.
Dunn has started each of Portland’s first five matches this season, tallying two goals. The Portland midfielder tallied her first goal of the season in a 4-1 road win at Kansas City on April 1. She scored for a second straight match with her first regular season goal at Providence Park on April 14 against the Houston Dash.
Sauerbrunn helped Portland keep two clean sheets in four starts, while Thorns FC conceded just two goals in her four appearances. The Thorns FC defender started and played 90 minutes in each of her first three starts, while logging 58 minutes in a shutout win against Louisville on April 22.
Smith leads the league in assists (4) and is tied for the NWSL lead with four goals. The Portland forward recorded her first career hat trick in the team’s win April 1 at Kansas City. On April 22, she registered her first career multi-assist game in a 2-0 win over Racing Louisville FC at Providence Park.
The NWSL Best XI of the Month is selected each month of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers that cover the league on a consistent basis, and the NWSL’s on-air broadcast talent.
