Rose Lavelle has been named the 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. This marks the first time the long-time U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) midfielder has received the prestigious honor. The announcement comes after a standout year in which Lavelle played a pivotal role for both her club, Gotham FC, and her country.
Lavelle's 2025 season began with a delayed start as she recovered from ankle surgery. However, she made a significant impact upon her return to the international stage in late June. In her first match back against the Republic of Ireland, she scored a goal and provided an assist. Throughout 2025, Lavelle appeared in six international matches, starting in five, and contributed to the scoresheet in each of those starts. Notably, she scored just 34 seconds into the October 26 match against Portugal and added another goal against New Zealand on October 29, even captaining the United States in that match. She also recorded assists in shutout victories against Canada and Italy. By the end of the year, she had amassed 27 goals and 27 assists for the United States.
At the club level, Lavelle was instrumental in Gotham FC's success. She made 16 regular-season appearances, starting 13 matches, and found peak form towards the end of the year. Over the final nine regular-season matches, Lavelle contributed seven scoring plays, including five goals, helping Gotham secure a playoff spot. She then started all three postseason matches, scoring the decisive goal in the 80th minute of the 2025 NWSL Championship, leading Gotham to a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit and earning NWSL Championship MVP honors. This accomplishment makes her the only player to have scored in two NWSL Championship matches and a FIFA Women's World Cup Final, having also scored in the 2019 World Cup final against the Netherlands.
"When I look at the past year, it feels like a testament to the support system I had, with my family, the medical staff at Gotham and with the National Team, all my teammates, coaches and friends,” said Lavelle. She added, "I wouldn't have been in the position to even be up for the award without all of the support I received throughout the year just to get back on the field. So, this award is definitely shared with all the people I was lucky enough to have in my corner along the way".
Lavelle, who is entering her 10th year with the USWNT, becomes the 22nd different player to receive the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year award. The voting process involved U.S. National Team coaches, U.S. National Team players who earned a cap in 2025, members of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, the U.S. Soccer Athletes' Council, National Women's Soccer League head coaches, and select media members and administrators. Lavelle received 29.2 percent of the weighted vote, followed by Sam Coffey (23.9 percent) and Catarina Macario (22.3 percent).
In addition to Lavelle's award, Gotham FC defender Lilly Reale was named the 2025 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year. Reale, in her rookie season, played a crucial role in Gotham's NWSL Championship run.
