USWNT's Rose Lavelle and Lilly Reale earn US Soccer honors as best players of 2025

National team midfielder Rose Lavelle has been named the 2025 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year.

Lavelle, who also plays for Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League, returned to the national team in June after recovering from ankle surgery and appeared in six matches with three goals and three assists.

Lavelle, 30, also scored six goals with two assists during the regular season with Gotham. She scored the team's lone goal in a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit for the NWSL championship, winning the game's Most Valuable Player award.

“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,” Lavelle said in a statement Friday. “So, this award is definitely shared with all the people I was lucky enough to have in my corner along the way.”

A 10-year veteran of the national team, Lavelle scored in the 2-0 victory over the Netherlands for the Women's World Cup championship in 2019. Lavelle was also on the squad that won the gold medal at the 2024 Olympics. Over the course of her national team career, she has 27 goals and 27 assists.

Lavelle, the 22nd different player to win player of the year honors, earned 29.2% of the weighted vote, ahead of Sam Coffey with 23.9% and Catarina Macario with 22.3%. Voters include national team coaches and players who earned a cap in 2025, members of U.S. Soccer's board and athletes' council, NWSL coaches and select media members.

U.S. Soccer also announced Friday that Gotham defender Lilly Reale was named the Young Female Player of the Year.

Reale, 22, played in all 26 of Gotham's regular-season matches and started the club's three playoff games. She earned her first senior national team call-up in June after playing for the United States at the youth level. She was part of the squad that played in the under-20 World Cup in 2022.

Reale earned 48% of the weighted vote, followed by Jordyn Bugg with 29.6% and Micayla Johnson with 16.1%.

“I think we all know that Rose is not only one of the best players in the world, but also one of the most fun to watch, and to coach, so it’s very satisfying to see her recognized in this way," U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. "As far as Lilly, it was a heck of a start to her pro career, but it wasn’t without adversity as well. She’s a mentally and physically strong young player and a great teammate, so we are looking forward to watching her continue grow into her roles for club and country.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - United States midfielder Lilly Reale kicks the ball during the first half of a women's international friendly soccer match against New Zealand, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

FILE - United States midfielder Rose Lavelle (16) stops Italy defender Valentina Bergamaschi (2) from advancing the ball during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rookie Beckett Sennecke had two assists and then scored in the shootout, sending the Anaheim Ducks to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night.

Mason McTavish ended it with a third-round shootout goal for the Ducks, who rallied from an early two-goal deficit for their second straight victory after a nine-game skid.

Tim Washe scored his first NHL goal and Ryan Strome got his first goal in a month for the Ducks when Southern California’s two NHL teams opened a back-to-back, home-and-home chapter of the Freeway Faceoff rivalry by going to their second shootout of the season. Lukas Dostal made 26 saves.

Joel Armia had a goal and an assist in his return from a five-game injury absence for the Kings, who have lost five of six.

Darcy Kuemper stopped 26 shots, but the Canadian Olympian couldn't stop the famously deliberate shootout style of McTavish, one of the NHL's most successful shootout scorers.

Quinton Byfield put the Kings ahead on their first shot on goal 98 seconds after the opening faceoff, beating Dostal for his ninth goal off a rush set up by Armia.

Neither team mounted a consistent offensive attack for two periods, but Armia made it 2-0 for the Kings midway through the second with a one-timer off a backhand pass from Andre Lee.

Strome answered 39 seconds later, putting a shot past a screen from Sennecke for his second goal in 22 games.

Less than three minutes after that, Washe alertly located a rebound off the boards and beat Kuemper from a sharp angle for his inaugural goal in his sixth NHL game. The 24-year-old undrafted forward won an NCAA title last spring with Western Michigan.

The Ducks played without their top two scorers due to injury. Leo Carlsson had treatment earlier in the day on a thigh injury that could endanger his participation in the Olympics, while Troy Terry (upper body) went on injured reserve before missing his fourth straight game.

A rematch in Anaheim on Saturday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Los Angeles Kings left wing Jeff Malott, top, knocks Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger to the ice during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings center Alex Turcotte, right, watches the puck fly away during a face off with Anaheim Ducks left wing Alex Killorn, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Anaheim Ducks right wing Beckett Sennecke, left, passes the puck while under pressure from Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Anaheim Ducks center Jansen Harkins, left, is shoved to the ice by Los Angeles Kings center Alex Turcotte during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)