The NWSL announced its annual end-of-season awards on Wednesday afternoon in San Jose, along with a Best XI, Second XI and the Lauren Holiday Impact Award. Three Seattle Reign players were nominated for individual awards – Claudia Dickey for Goalkeeper of the Year, Jordyn Bugg for Defender of the Year, and Maddie Dahlien for Rookie of the Year. Although none of the three won, Dickey and Bugg were named to the Second XI. This is the first end-of-year league honor for each.
THE Best of the best 💪 Your Best XI First and Second Teams presented by Amazon Prime.
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2025-11-19T23:30:19.788Z
Dickey, despite having by far the best statistical season of any goalkeeper in the league, lost out for Goalkeeper of the Year to Lorena of the Kansas City Current. No Reign goalkeeper has ever won the award, with Hope Solo nominated but losing in 2014, Lydia Williams in 2018, Casey Murphy in 2019 and Phallon Tullis-Joyce in 2022.
Dickey was Lorena's shotstopping equal, but faced more and tougher shots with the Reign. That's why she got our vote!
— Expected Own Goals (@xowngoals.com) 2025-11-19T22:48:16.681Z
Defender of the Year went to Tara McKeown of the Washington Spirit, who converted to the position from forward three seasons ago, while Rookie of the Year was awarded to fullback Lilly Reale, who started 23 games and appeared in every match this year for Gotham.
Two former Reign players won awards. Racing Louisville’s Bev Yanez was named Coach of the Year in an upset over Vlatko Andonovski, and former Reign defender Sam Hiatt, now with Portland, won the Impact Award for her off-the-field work with Candlelighters for Children with Cancer.
Finally, the ceremony also honored the medical teams who rushed to the aid of Angel City FC’s Savy King and Racing Louisville’s Savannah DeMelo during their respective on-the-field medical emergencies this season. The Reign training staff was part of that group for the latter emergency. Both players are now making good recoveries, with King announcing the launch of a new foundation and league-wide initiative to teach all players and staff hands-only CPR.
