Nigeria international Deborah Abiodun has been named the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Rookie of the Month for September following a string of impressive performances for Washington Spirit.
The 20-year-old midfielder, who only made her league debut on August 31 in a home game against Chicago, wasted no time in making her mark. She earned her first start in a 2-0 win over Seattle the following week and went on to feature in three of Washington’s four matches in September.
During that period, Abiodun led the Spirit in both tackles and duels won, while ranking second across the entire league for tackles won. She also maintained an 87.3 per cent passing accuracy in the middle third of the pitch.
Her contributions proved decisive as Washington Spirit recorded three clean sheets, scored multiple goals in each September fixture, and sealed their place in the play-offs. The team, unbeaten since June, currently sit second in the standings.
Abiodun’s award also extends Washington’s dominance in the Rookie of the Month category, with the club now producing six winners since the start of the 2024 season.
The monthly honor, presented by Ally, is determined by the NWSL Media Association—comprising journalists covering the league—and the competition’s broadcast talent.
Washington Spirit, founded in 2012, also boast fellow Nigerian forward Gift Monday, who made headlines last weekend with the fastest hat-trick in league history during a 4-0 victory over Houston Dash, a feat that earned her the NWSL Player of the Week accolade.
