Lavelle Shines in Landmark Year for USWNT and Gotham FC

As she enters her 10th year with the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT), Rose Lavelle has successfully navigated a delayed start to the season due to ankle surgery, reestablishing herself as one of the most impactful players globally. Returning to international competition in late June, she made an immediate impression by both scoring and assisting in her first match back against Ireland. Over the course of 2025, Lavelle participated in six matches for the national team, contributing to the scoresheet in every game she started.

At the club level, Lavelle’s influence proved crucial for Gotham FC. After finding her rhythm late in the regular season, she played a pivotal role in securing the final playoff spot for Gotham. In a moment of high stakes, Lavelle scored the only goal in the 2025 NWSL Championship, leading to a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit. This performance not only earned her the Championship MVP title but also secured Gotham’s second league championship.

Lavelle’s championship-winning goal added yet another milestone to her already illustrious career. She now stands out as the only player to have scored in both two NWSL Championship finals and a FIFA Women’s World Cup Final, having previously netted a goal in the 2019 World Cup final against the Netherlands.

In recognition of her outstanding achievements, Lavelle received 29.2 percent of the weighted vote, finishing ahead of notable players such as Sam Coffey and Catarina Macario. With this accolade, she becomes the 22nd player to win the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year award, which was first introduced in 1985.