The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced on Friday that Sky Blue FC and Australia women’s national team forward Sam Kerr had been voted the Most Valuable Player for the 2017 season. She is the first Sky Blue FC player to win the league’s highest honor.
The 24-year-old Perth native’s 2017 season in New Jersey was one for the record books, literally. Her 17 goals this year broke the league’s single-season goals record, set by the Seattle Reign’s Kim Little in 2014, and earned the Aussie the Golden Boot award. Those 17 goals—none of which were from the penalty spot—increased her league career total to 43, which broke the NWSL career goals record set by the North Carolina Courage’s Jessica McDonald earlier in the season.