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The awards keep rolling in for Portland players. The CONCACAF best women’s XI has just been announced, and the Thorns are walking away with four of the 11 spots on the team, the most individual spots of any team. Orlando came in second with three.
These players outperformed in 2017 and were crucial for their squad's success! Congratulations to the Female Best XI! #CONCACAFAwards pic.twitter.com/1YmmaTL57j
— CONCACAF (@CONCACAF) December 19, 2017
Adrianna Franch, Emily Menges, Lindsey Horan and Allie Long all made the best XI. Franch also won goalkeeper of the year, meaning she has been recognized as the best goalkeeper in both her league and region in 2017.
All players who participate in CONCACAF competitions are eligible for CONCACAF awards. Unlike the NWSL awards which are mostly voted on mostly by fellow professionals, one-third of the qualifying vote comes from CONCACAF media and one-third comes from an online fan vote. Until there is another established women’s league in the CONCACAF region, it essentially duplicates the NWSL awards, with a different voting base and national team performances included in consideration.
Still, it’s nice to see Thorns continue to be recognized for their title-winning season, and it’s always nice to have an excuse to watch more AD Franch highlights.