2026 NSL Awards Ballot and Best XI

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The race for the Supporters' Shield isn't the only thing coming down to the wire. With the playoff picture nearly set and just ine regular-season match remaining, it's time to hand out some hardware. From MVP to Goal of the Season, here are my award winners and Best XI picks heading into the final week of the 2026 NSL campaign.

There’s a reason the calls for Jess De Filippo to join the CanWNT have grown louder throughout the NSL season. The 25-year-old forward from Montreal is a major reason the Vancouver Rise remain in a playoff spot. Her league-leading 13 goals and four assists have directly contributed to 14 of the Rise’s 31 points. Clutch.

Among the league’s top 10 scorers, De Filippo required fewer shots per goal than any other forward. If that’s not an MVP-calibre season, I don’t know what is.

Beyond her decisive scoring contributions, she has demonstrated remarkable tactical versatility. Whether leading the line, holding up the ball, occupying defenders, or stretching opposition backlines, she has been a key figure in every role she has been asked to perform. More recently, she has operated as a No. 10 behind Abdu, where her technical quality and ability to influence build-up play have shone through. Her height makes her a constant threat on set pieces, but most of all, she is a fierce competitor determined to win football games.

Beyond the short-term goal of defending a championship, it is clear she has her sights set on a return to the CanWNT. She recently joined Casey Stoney’s squad during a training camp in her hometown of Montreal, and the Canadian manager has publicly acknowledged that De Filippo’s progress is being closely monitored.

The Golden Glove goes to the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets, and despite missing the rest of the season with an ACL injury, I believe Karpenko will finish atop the standings. She currently sits on 7 clean sheets, while Sabrina D’Angelo and Anika Toth trail by one.

Karpenko has grown tremendously during her two seasons in Montreal, particularly in her decision-making when coming off her line. The Roses’ high defensive line often requires her to operate as a sweeper-keeper. While she made a few notable mistakes last season, she has been the picture of consistency in 2026.

Despite a significant tactical shift, Montreal successfully balanced defensive solidity with increased attacking threat, and they could not have done it without Karpenko’s leadership and 63 saves, second only to Melissa Dagenais.

That’s why she is my Goalkeeper of the Year.

The rookie class is relatively small compared to last season, at least by my definition of a rookie (first year as a professional).

My pick is Naya Cardoza, the Brown University graduate and Jamaican international from Ajax, Ontario, who has made an immediate impact in the NSL. The 21-year-old defensive all-rounder has primarily played as a right-sided centre-back in Halifax’s outstanding backline, which has conceded just 21 goals this season, tied for the league lead.

Cardoza stands out because of her anticipation, timing, and recovery speed. She rarely gives away fouls and has yet to receive a yellow card through 16 starts. In a fun twist, she often jumps in at striker when called upon late in games, as she used to play up front in her youth soccer days, only being converted to fullback in College.

My runner-up is Ottawa’s Sadie Waite, who has showcased remarkable versatility across over 1,600 minutes this season. She has appeared at full-back, centre-back, defensive midfielder, and attacking midfielder. Waite scored three goals during the first half of the campaign before shifting into deeper roles to cover the absences of Scott and Jung.

This was the easiest selection on my ballot.

The 21-year-old Rollins has played every minute for AFC Toronto this season and is one of only two players to achieve Ironwoman status (2190 min played). She typically anchors the backline as the central centre-back, though she has also spent time on the right side of a back three in recent matches.

What stands out beyond her durability and defensive excellence is her development in possession. As a rookie, she occasionally struggled with decision-making under pressure while adjusting to professional football. This season, her distribution has taken a major step forward. She is more comfortable playing through pressure and has become a consistently accurate long-range passer.

Her 1,275+ completed passes rank fourth in the league.

Defensively, Rollins can match any striker in the NSL for pace, and her anticipation and positioning mean she is rarely beaten in one-on-one situations. Her individual battles, in particular with Bennett, have been highly entertaining.

My runner-up is Julianne Vallerand, who should be firmly in the conversation for Tides Player of the Year. The right-back has played nearly every minute, scored five goals, and ranks second in the league in tackles (89). Her aggressive style impacts both sides of the ball as she pins opposing wingers deep with her forward runs while relishing any one-on-one battle defensively.

If Ottawa fans were not already familiar with Melenhorst from her Canadian youth national team and NCAA days, they certainly are now.

There were understandable concerns about how the Rapid midfield would function after last year’s partnership was dismantled, but Melenhorst and Jung quickly erased those doubts.

The 23-year-old box-to-box midfielder was the most consistently excellent midfielder in the NSL this season. Her two-way play, strength, and endurance powered Ottawa’s midfield from opening day onward.

Six goals, seven assists (first in NSL), and 13 goal contributions (=4th in the league) speak for themselves. So do her 57 tackles, the most on her team, and more than 1,655 touches, second among Rapid players.

More than any other player, her ball-winning ability and progression shape Ottawa’s style of play.

My runner-up is Anna Bout. Throughout the season, Bout seamlessly alternated between wing-back and central midfield whenever needed, and Vancouver needed her often because of injuries to key players. The 25-year-old from Cambridge, Ontario combines exceptional athleticism with outstanding game intelligence and has contributed four goals and five assists this year.

Before the season began, I identified Elyse Bennett as the key to Montreal’s success. The Roses already possessed a strong defensive foundation but lacked a consistent finisher after Abdu’s departure. Bennett proved to be exactly the missing piece.

Her quality was evident immediately. She opened the season by scoring game-winning goals in three consecutive matches and has since recorded 11 goals and three assists.

Her movement is intelligent, her runs create space for teammates, she is a constant threat, and her physicality makes life difficult for defenders. Very few NSL backlines have found a reliable way to contain her this season.

What more could you ask for?

Although her form has dipped recently, she will look to rebound in the playoffs, and her class is undeniable regardless. In the Shield-winning game vs Ottawa, she was instrumental in the build-up to Boychuk’s goal.

Runner-up: Jess De Filippo (see above).

This was one of the toughest awards to decide.

Do you choose Katrine Pedersen, whose team went on a remarkable run early in the season but has struggled to recover from poor form in recent months? Or Maryse Bard-Martel, who remains undefeated since taking over as Roses’ interim head coach?

My choice is Marko Milanovic.

Not because he is the last remaining inaugural coach, but because AFC Toronto has once again found a way to consistently produce results. After a slow start, Toronto climbed from fifth place in Week 9 into second in Week 19 and has the chance to re-gain that spot tonight vs Halifax.

The club has also navigated a lengthy list of injuries and absences involving Esther Okoronkwo, Sam Chang, Linda, Kai Novak, Olivia Chisholm, and Kaylee Hunter (latter two due to U20WC). Successfully weathering those challenges speaks to the coaching staff’s ability to communicate a clear tactical identity and maximize contributions from players stepping into larger roles.

While Toronto has not dominated in quite the same way as it did during Year One, it has significantly improved defensively. AFC Toronto currently co-leads the league in fewest goals conceded (21), a statistic that undoubtedly pleases Milanovic and his staff.

Most impressively, they have achieved those results without compromising their identity, maintaining the distinctive playing style that has become synonymous with Toronto.

The Supporters’ Shield has been reluctantly handed to Montreal, but Toronto is locked in to lifting the Championship trophy that eluded them last year, in Ottawa on November 14. They’ll need to get past the Rapid to get there.

The 30-year-old chiropractor from London, Ontario seems to have a special talent for spectacular goals.

The phrase “Benati Banger” has become a familiar call among broadcasters, and my pick for Goal of the Season is her stunning strike from halfway that beat Vancouver at Swanguard.

It was not only audacious and technically brilliant, but it also carried significant consequences, coming during the final stretch of Anja Heiner-Møller’s tenure with the Rise.

If you need a reminder, it is well worth watching again.

If you've made it this far, you've probably disagreed with at least one of my award picks. Good. That's part of the fun. So before we all head to Ottawa for the NSL Final, here's one more thing to argue about: my Best XI after 24 of 25 matches played. Be sure to let me know who I missed!

Before I wrap up, a quick reminder that there is still plenty to look forward to this season. The NSL Final in Ottawa on November 14, and the festivities will also include the Women's Sport Now Conference featuring an outstanding lineup of speakers.

I'll be there for both events and would love to meet some of the people who have been reading, following along, and helping grow this community over the years. If you're making the trip to Ottawa, come say hello!