Nahomi Kawasumi Named NWSL Player of the Week
Nahomi Kawasumi has been named NWSL Player of the Week for her performance during Week 5 in which she recorded four assists and one goal. Kawasumi has been awarded the honor for the fourth time as she set new records for the NWSL during the match.
NWSL Soccer News: Seattle Reign FC forward Nahomi Kawasumi has received National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Week honors for Week 5 of the 2017 season.
Kawasumi, 31, broke a pair of NWSL records with a performance that saw her record one goal and four assists to lead the Reign to a 6-2 home victory over the Washington Spirit. Seattle notched a new single-game club record with six goals.
A native of Yamato, Japan, Kawasumi provded assists for midfielder Christine Nairn in the 20th minute, forward Beverly Yanez in the 35th minute, forward Megan Rapinoe in the 71st minute and substitute Lindsay Elston in the 79th minute. She also netted a goal of her own in the 68th minute as the Reign extended their NWSL record home scoring streak to 20 matches.
The four assists tallied by the Japan international are a new NWSL single-game record, breaking the previous mark of three assists set by Lianne Sanderson (Boston Breakers) on May 25, 2013.
It is the fourth time Kawasumi has received NWSL Player of the Week honors and the 16th time a Reign player has won the award. She previously earned the accolade twice in 2014 as well as in Week 11 of the 2016 campaign. The only player to win the award on more occasions is former Washington Spirit forward and U.S. international Crystal Dunn, who accomplished the feat six times — all of which came during her 2015 MVP season.
The Reign will return to action Sunday, May 21, at 9:30 p.m. ET against the Orlando Pride at Memorial Stadium in Seattle.
