CHICAGO The Chicago Red Stars announced the winners of the 2021 season player awards. The winners of each category were decided by votes from fans, players, owners and front office staffers. Multiple players were nominated in eight categories: Rookie of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Most Improved, Chicago Grit, Defender of the Year, Humanitarian of the Year and Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Forward Kealia Watt also won the team's Golden Boot award, which is awarded to the player with the most goals scored in the season. Entering the final game of the season against the Orlando Pride, Watt was tied with Mallory Pugh, but her game-winning goal earned her the Golden Boot.
Here are the winners of each category:
Rookie of the Year: Tatumn Milazzo
Newcomer of the Year: Mallory Pugh
Most Improved: Cassie Miller
Chicago Grit: Arin Wright and Kealia Watt
Best Defender: Sarah Gorden
Humanitarian of the Year: Zoe Morse
MVP: Mallory Pugh
About the Chicago Red Stars
Established in 2007, the Red Stars were a founding member of the former Women's Professional Soccer and would later become one of the original eight teams to form the National Women's Soccer League in 2013. The Red Stars have made the playoffs in six consecutive years from 2015-2020, clinching the team's first appearance in the NWSL Championship in the 2019 season as well as appearing in the NWSL's Challenge Cup Final in 2020.