49. Abby Dahlkemper
While other bigger names and goal scorers took the plaudits for the USA during their summer World Cup success, Dahlkemper was undoubtedly one of the team’s unsung heroes and key performers. At 26, the centre-back is now entering the peak years of her career but the silverware she already holds for both club and country is no mere coincidence. Whether it be her North Carolina Courage partnership with Abby Erceg or her USA partnership with Becky Sauerbrunn, there is a common theme that a defence with Dahlkemper in it has every chance of success. She played all but eight minutes of her nation’s World Cup triumph and picked up a second consecutive NWSL Championship medal, helping the team keep a clean sheet in the final against Sam Kerr’s Chicago Red Stars.
Paul Riley, North Carolina Courage manager:
“Abby is a massive play builder for the Courage. Brilliant distributer with uncanny positional ability and a huge influencer in our style of play. She has developed the defensive side of her game and her tactical acumen makes her a perfect fit for the Courage.”
| ⇐ 50. Sherida Spitse | 48. Irene Paredes ⇒ |
The Offside Rule 