Which players get your vote after a strong opening half of the regular season?
The Winter Break is nearly over and the much anticipated second half of the 2025/26 Gainbridge Super League regular season is on the horizon – but before we return to play, we need your help choosing Mid-Season Awards.
We’ve picked out three nominees for four major end-of-season awards categories, and now you get to decide which player has been in the best form so far.
Goalkeeper of the Year
Hope Hisey, Spokane Zephyr FC – The reigning Goalkeeper of the Year has picked up where she left off a season ago, leading the league with 51 saves and a save percentage of 77.3 percent and sitting tied for the league lead with five shutouts. Hisey’s -2.33 Goals Prevented mark also leads the league, a measure of her importance to Spokane’s postseason chances.
Kat Asman, Lexington SC – Arriving on loan from the Orlando Pride, Asman has been a key figure in Lexington’s turnaround and undefeated first half of the season. She’s tied for the league lead with five shutouts and has posted a -1.63 Goals Prevented mark while sitting second in save percentage among Golden Glove-qualified goalkeepers at 71.7 percent.
Kaitlyn Parks, Sporting JAX – Parks has taken to the professional ranks like a duck to water after her stellar college career at Michigan State, recording four shutouts in 10 appearances while logging 28 saves at a save percentage of 68.3 percent. The first-year pro has also posted a -1 Goals Prevented mark for the current league-leader.
DEFENDER OF THE YEAR
Jenna Butler, Carolina Ascent FC – Building off a strong second half of Ascent’s inaugural campaign, Butler has been an assured presence at the center of the side’s back line. She ranks fourth among defenders with 615 completed passes at a 85.8 percent accuracy rate, fifth with 83 clearances while winning 56 duels at a 63.6 percent success rate to grade out second among center backs at a +2.56 Goals Added mark per American Soccer Analysis.
Allison Pantuso, Lexington SC – Pantuso has been a do-it-all contributor to Lexington’s success this season, with her high work-rate seeing her lead all defenders with 85 duels won at a 66.9 percent success rate and second with 91 recoveries. The veteran center back has also recorded two goals and one assist, serving as a key threat at set piece situations.
Georgia Brown, Sporting JAX – The 2024 USL W League Defender of the Year has stepped into the professional ranks impressively, underlining why Sporting JAX made her one of its first two signings. The Scottish international has posted the highest passing accuracy rate among defenders with at least 100 completed passes (87.1% on 512 completed passes), and ranks second among defenders with 90 clearances.
Young Player of the Year
Ashlyn Puerta, Sporting JAX – The United States youth international has been a phenomenon since coming aboard alongside Georgia Brown as one of Sporting JAX’s first two signings. The 18-year-old not only leads the league with 11 goals at a strike rate of a goal every 96.6 minutes but has also done work defensively, logging 60 recoveries, the most among players with at least four goals in the campaign.
Sealey Strawn, Dallas Trinity FC – After claiming the Young Player of the Year award in the Super League’s inaugural season, Strawn has continued to impress for Trinity with two goals and eight chances created in 583 minutes of action over the first half of the new campaign. The 18-year-old USL Academy signing has also posted a 50 percent shooting accuracy rate and 20 percent shot conversion rate for the postseason contender.
Stella Nyamekye, Fort Lauderdale United FC – The Ghanaian midfielder made a big impact after her arrival on loan in Fort Lauderdale from Gotham FC, recording one goal and two assists while leading Young Player-eligible candidates with 85 recoveries and 18 chances created. The 20-year-old also completed 278 passes at a 77.9 percent accuracy rate while delivering a +1.98 Goals Added mark, good for sixth on the squad.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ashlyn Puerta, Sporting JAX – The 18-year-old standout has produced a remarkable first professional campaign, sitting as the league-leader with 11 goals on a 53.3 percent shooting accuracy rate and 36.7 percent shot conversion rate that has already put her in range of breaking the league’s single-season scoring record. Puerta is averaging 96.6 minutes per goal, and has also logged two assists and 15 chances created for a +3.63 Goals Added mark.
Addie McCain, Lexington SC – One of Lexington’s major offseason additions, McCain has delivered for the league’s highest-scoring attack with seven goals, two assists while sitting tied for the league-lead with 26 chances created. The 27-year-old has averaged a goal every 177.7 minutes while posting a 55 percent shooting accuracy rate and 35 percent shot conversion rate for a +3.62 Goals Added mark.
Gianna Gourley, DC Power FC – After a stellar second half of the 2024/25 season on loan made making her move permanent a no-brainer for DC, Gourley continued to be the brightest light for the Power this fall. The 24-year-old recorded eight goals and two assists, contributing to more than half of DC’s 19 goals in 14 games, and has a strike rate of a goal every 154 minutes while posting a Goals Added mark of +3.66.