The Golden Boot race in the NWSL is the closest it’s been in years. Last season, Barbara Banda and Temwa Chawinga were going head to head for most of the season before Chawinga ran away with the title, scoring 20 goals. This season, every single player in the top 5 of goals scored is within one goal of each other. Here’s a closer look at the Golden Boot race in the NWSL.
5. Riley Tiernan – 6 goals (21 shots, 52% shot on target rate)
Riley Tiernan has to be the biggest surprise on this list, but she has earned it without a doubt. Tiernan was invited into Angel City camp and had to win her spot to make the team. Since then, Tiernan has emerged as the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year. The former Rutgers star has the best shot-on-target rate among the top 5, demonstrating her accuracy and ability to test goalkeepers more effectively than others. With teams aware of who Tiernan is, it’ll be tougher for her to stay in the top 5, but her aggressive and opportunistic style of play should help her get to double-digit goals this season at least.
4. Ashley Hatch- 6 goals (23 shots, 35% shot on target rate)
Ashley Hatch has been a key contributor for Washington since she joined the Spirit in 2018. Hatch has scored 42 goals for the club,…
