By all accounts 2020 has been a bizarre year. One of the most bizarre things? The United States Women’s National Team only played nine matches. The first of those matches came all the way back on January 28th when the USWNT kicked off Concacaf Olympic Qualifying against Haiti.

The USWNT flew through Olympic qualifying with ease. They beat Haiti 4-0, Panama 8-0, Costa Rica 6-0, Mexico 4-0, and Canada 3-0. They also won the She Believes Cup, winning all three matches despite some tougher competition. The USWNT beat England 2-0, Spain 1-0, and Japan 3-1. Their final match was a friendly rematch of the 2019 World Cup Final. The US put in another dominant performance and beat the Netherlands by the same 2-0 scoreline they won by in France.

Now it is time for U.S. Soccer to name the 2020 Female Player of the Year. Five players were honored with a nomination, including two players from Portland Thorns FC: Abby Dahlkemper (North Carolina Courage), Christen Press (Manchester United), Samantha Mewis (Manchester City), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), and Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC).

Let’s take a look at the Thorns players’ 2020 resumes.

Crystal Dunn

Dunn for the USWNT Wrapped

2020 Appearances: 9

2020 Minutes Played: 702

All-Time USWNT Caps: 105

All-Time USWNT Goals: 24

Dunn was the only USWNT player to play and start all nine of the team’s matches this season. She registered 702 minutes for the team, second most behind only Dahlkemper. Dunn was also the only player to start all five of the Concacaf Olympic Qualifying matches. As we all know, Dunn plays out of position for the National Team. But she was as solid as ever at left back. She was a key cog in a defense that only allowed one goal all year. She was also crucial in possession. She attempted the second most passes on the team and completed the second most (Dahlkemper was first in both categories).

Dunn participated in the NWSL Challenge Cup but did not play in the Fall Series. She played five matches for the North Carolina Courage, four of which she started. She was an integral part of Paul Riley’s box midfield that ran over every team in its way… in the group stage. We all fondly remember the Thorns knocking off the high-flying Courage, but that’s not important right now.

Dunn provided solid two-way performances throughout the Challenge Cup. She completed 77.8% of her tackles and 76.9% of her passes. On the surface this isn’t a passing percentage to write home about. But it’s important to take into account the type of penetrative passes that Dunn is attempting.

Dunn completed three successful crosses and seven key passes in the Challenge Cup. She also added a goal against Sky Blue FC in the Courage’s last group stage match.

Lindsey Horan

Horan for the USWNT Wrapped

2020 Appearances: 5

2020 Minutes Played: 503

2020 Goals: 7

All-Time USWNT Caps: 86

All-Time USWNT Goals: 19

Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Horan scored a career high seven goals for the USWNT this season. She is tied for most goals (7) and assists (3) for the USWNT in 2020 with fellow nominee Christen Press. The majority of these goals came in Concacaf Olympic Qualifying, where she scored in four of the five qualifying matches. This led the team in goals in the competition and was good for second overall.

Horan scored two goals against Haiti, her first-ever hat trick against Panama, one against Costa Rica, and one against Canada in the final. She also scored the decisive goal against Japan to secure the title for the USWNT.

The midfielder was a force to be reckoned with for the National Team this season. She took the most shots (25) and was tied with Megan Rapinoe for the most chances created (10).

Horan played in both the Challenge Cup and the Fall Series. She scored two goals and provided three assists. She was integral in the Thorns’ Fall Series win, registering all three of her assists in the competition while also completing seven key passes and setting the tempo of the Portland offense.

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The 2020 US Soccer Female Player of the Year Award will be given to a new recipient this year. None of the five nominees have ever had this honor bestowed upon them. Both Dunn and Horan have very good resumes. Horan’s Olympic Qualifying performances were exceptional. But the favorite for the award has to be Samantha Mewis.

Mewis was a key cog in the National team, scoring four goals and assisting once. She played all five matches for the North Carolina Courage in the Challenge Cup before she moved to Manchester City where she has really found her form.

All of these players are deserving of the award and Stumptown Footy would like to congratulate the players for their nomination.

Who do you think will take home the 2020 US Soccer Female Player of the Year Award? Let us know in the comments.

Stats retrieved from nwslsoccer.com, ussoccer.com, and @NwslAnalitica