Reign FC forward Bethany Balcer was named NWSL Rookie of the Year, the league announced on Tuesday. The rookie from Spring Arbor University had a team-high six goals and two assists and was the only Reign FC player to appear in every game this season.
Balcer went undrafted and arrived in Tacoma as a non-roster invitee. She scored two goals in preseason and was signed to a first-team contract just before the start of the regular season, the first player from an NAIA school to sign in NWSL. She made her professional debut as a late substitute in the season opener at Houston and scored in her first start a week later against Orlando.