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Defense is not always the most exciting position on the soccer field but it is arguably the most important component of a team’s success. This is particularly true in a league with a lot of parity like the NWSL where defenders face significant challenges in nearly every game. Defenders often go under-recognized, and even more under-recognized are defenders on poorly performing teams. This next installment of my series looks at the top defenders in 2024 who were on teams that missed out on a playoff spot.

1. Gisele Thompson, Angel City FC

At the tender age of 18 in the 2024 NWSL season, Gisele Thompson displayed impressive prowess as both a defender and an attacker in the fullback position.

Among all defenders in the 2024 NWSL season, Gisele Thompson had the second-highest net goals added (g+) per 90, from a combination of offensive and defensive actions.

Gisele Thompson is absolutely exceptional when it comes to passing, progressing the ball forward, and creating scoring opportunities. She also shines defensively in tackles and interceptions. She has room to improve in keeping control and possession of the ball, but it is important to remember that she is so young playing in a league with people much older and more experienced than her, and I have faith that she will improve in those metrics with more experience. It’ll be exciting to see her contribute and feed the ball to an attack that has an in-form Alyssa Thompson, a healthy Christen Press, and newly added Julie Dufour.

Gisele Thompson has shown that her floor is incredibly high, and I am excited to see her continue to show out this season and grow into a powerhouse fullback who could be the USWNT’s long term solution at the left back position.

2. Kate Del Fava, Utah Royals FC

Kate Del Fava played every minute of the 2024 regular season, and in the first half of the season was maybe the only thing holding the Utah defense together.

She had the second highest net g+ in the league among defenders in 2024, behind Kaleigh Kurtz, meaning overall her actions increased her team’s chances of scoring and decreased her team’s chances of conceding.

Kate Del Fava is a defensively strong center back who is good at keeping the ball out of the net and winning the ball in dangerous situations. Although she has a generally high pass completion percentage, her progressive play leaves a little to be desired, but that can be accounted for with a more progressive passing-minded center back partner and more attacking-minded fullbacks–Kate Del Fava is good at the important stuff for a center back, which is defending. For context, this is her in those same metrics compared to 2024 defender of the year, Emily Sams.

Emily Sams has her beat in a lot of regards, which is expected of the defender of the year, but Kate Del Fava really holds her own in many defensive measures. And she still finds ways to contribute to her team’s offense–only 2 center backs (Elizabeth Ball, Malia Berkely) had more goal contributions in 2024 than Kate Del Fava. A full season with both Kate Del Fava and Claudia Zornoza will make the Utah Royals a much more difficult team to face defensively than they were last season.

3. Lauren Milliet, Racing Louisville FC

Lauren Milliet was statistically one of the league’s top attacking fullbacks in 2024.

Her pass completion percentage was well above average among fullbacks, which is especially impressive considering how many of her passes were progressive passes that had a much higher chance of getting cut off or not reaching their target than other passes that defenders typically do.

Milliet also got herself up the field and sent more crosses and passes into the penalty area than all but three fullbacks (Jenna Nighswonger, Ryan Williams, Izzy Rodriguez).

Milliet is very solid offensively while also being able to keep control of the ball, making her a useful and important component of her team’s attack. She is not the strongest defender, but Racing Louisville can account for that by pairing her with a more defensive-minded left back. Racing Louisville hasn’t made a ton of moves this offseason so far, but if they are able to pull together a stronger defense for her to work alongside, and if Katie Lund is able to get her mojo back, Lauren Milliet can contribute to the Louisville offense in very exciting ways without compromising her team’s overall defensive stability.

4. Phoebe McClernon, Seattle Reign FC

Seattle Reign had a bit of a transition year in 2024, which was really unfortunate for Phoebe McClernon who was one of the best defensive center backs in the league last year.

McClernon (outlined in gray above) tied for the most tackles won among center backs in the 2024 season, and was second to only Paige Nielsen in tackles and interceptions (88 vs. 89). It is important to recognize here that players like her and Nielsen got more tackles largely because they had more to defend than a high-pressing team like Gotham or a possession-oriented team like the Courage, but they still got (and won) more tackles than the other center backs who were on teams with similar defensive predicaments.

McClernon also tied for fourth most blocks in the league among center backs, and had more clearances than the vast majority of players in that position.

McClernon is very strong defensively, and is also a prolific progressive passer. She has some room for improvement in terms of getting the ball forward herself through carries, but I feel confident that her team has a midfield and attack that can do that for her. Seattle Reign is set to look scary this year, and Phoebe McClernon will be a player to watch in a season where her team is anticipated to do well.

5. Madison Curry, Angel City FC (now Seattle Reign FC)

Madison Curry was a standout player on an overall messy Angel City team in 2024, and has since left the team in search of greener and rainier pastures at Seattle Reign. As a fullback, she is exceptional as both an attacking and a defensive player, and her attacking capabilities will serve as a nice complement to Phoebe McClernon’s more defensive tendencies described above.

Madison Curry tied for second in tackles won and was third in total tackles and interceptions among fullbacks in 2024. Defense wins championships, and having a defensively strong fullback on a team makes its defense tougher to break down.

Curry is also prolific offensively. She is among the top fullbacks in goal creating actions and take-ons while keeping control of the ball, and is decent at shot-creation and progressive carries. She will be playing with a team that looks like it will be more put-together than her previous team, and I feel that she will contribute significantly to both their attack and their defense.

   

The NWSL has seen an influx of new attacking talent this offseason, and I am looking forward to seeing how these five defenders slot into their team’s defensive systems to try and limit these attackers to as few goals as possible.

     

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