NWSL Awards Presented By AT&T Celebrate Rising Stars And League Growth

For the first time in league history, the 2025 NWSL Awards presented by AT&T transformed into a full-scale production, bringing the glitz, glamour, and fanfare to San Jose, CA. Airing on ESPN2, the NWSL Awards showcased the league’s standout players and the impressive momentum the NWSL has built in recent years.

Kansas City Current forward and Malawi international Temwa Chawinga was a standout of the night, winning the Golden Boot for the second consecutive year with 15 goals and 3 assists in 23 regular-season appearances and becoming the first player in NWSL history to claim back-to-back MVP awards. She also set multiple league records this season, including becoming the fastest player to reach 25 career regular-season goals and tying her own record for most consecutive games with a goal (8).

Beyond individual achievements, the awards reflected the league’s broader vision. The landmark event showcased the NWSL’s dedication to empowerment, forward-thinking partnerships, and cutting-edge innovation. Central to this momentum is the league’s collaboration with AT&T, a partnership that has not only amplified fan engagement but also elevated the league’s visibility and influence in the broader sports landscape.

NWSL Awards Driving Connection

Matt Soloff, Senior Vice President of Partnerships & Business Development at NWSL, described the first season of this partnership as “foundational.” He emphasized the league’s focus on connecting with fans in new ways, leveraging AT&T’s technological expertise and innovative storytelling capabilities.

“First and foremost, it’s super important for us to meet our fans where they are, and AT&T is helping us do that by building this new platform and new award show,” Soloff said. “We’ve been seeing just insane engagement from our fans because of this new offering. It’s amazing.”

Soloff highlighted AT&T’s involvement throughout the season, including sponsoring Player of the Week and MVP awards, culminating in the inaugural awards show. “We built the award show platform to include Player of the Week and the MVP, and that’s how AT&T showed up with us all throughout the season. But the pinnacle is sitting right here in San Jose in this amazing venue and looking at the impact AT&T has made on bringing this event to life.”

Beyond the spectacle, AT&T’s technological and operational support has opened new avenues for fan engagement. “Really, it’s the way AT&T shows up and helps us engage with our fans through the way they tell stories,” Soloff said. “From a technological aspect, we plan on doing a lot more next year… The fact that we’re here in year one putting an event on like this shows how much more we’re capable of doing together.”

NWSL Awards Leading Through Technology and Innovation

For AT&T, the NWSL partnership represents a strategic extension of nearly two decades of engagement in women’s sports. Sabina Ahmed, AVP of Sponsorships & Experiential at AT&T, noted that aligning with the NWSL allowed the company to innovate in fan experiences while supporting athletes on and off the field.

“The NWSL Awards were a significant moment and an opportunity for AT&T to lead through technology and innovation, create an exceptional experience for fans, and support the league’s athletes,” Ahmed said. “Our first moment from an activation standpoint was rooted in fandom: supporting fans and athletes alike through the AT&T blue carpet, title sponsorship of the NWSL Awards, and the She’s Connected Lounge.”

The She’s Connected program, which highlights women in sports and entrepreneurship, further exemplifies AT&T’s commitment to storytelling and empowerment. Ahmed emphasized that the partnership helps bring fans closer to athletes, showcasing not just their on-field accomplishments but their personal stories, side projects, and community contributions.

“Fans crave who they are beyond the field,” Ahmed explained. “The NWSL has given us access to athletes, like Dana Castellanos and Michelle Alozie, and we want to continue that. We’ve doubled our investment in women’s sports since 2022 and will continue to do that because it makes business sense. Women have incredible buying power, and there are strong male audiences in women’s sports as well.”

Players Reflect On NWSL Awards

The NWSL Awards signaled a tangible demonstration of the league’s growth and the increasing visibility of women’s soccer. Recently retired Angel City defender and Captain Ali Riley reflected on the progress she has witnessed throughout her career:

“To be here, to have this blue carpet with AT&T, to see the investment, the sponsors, the partners, it’s surreal. I never could have imagined this, not when I was growing up and not even when I first got drafted. The opportunities, the investment, the support, it’s completely different now. We still want more: higher salaries, better resources. But if you look back at where we started, the trajectory is straight up. I’m so happy for the players coming in now, that this is all they know. They don’t have the same struggles we had, and that’s the point. We pushed so they could have a better experience. Tonight really puts that on display, and I’m so happy.”

For Temwa Chawinga, the awards were both a personal achievement and a chance to honor the team and support system behind her success. “It means a lot. I came here just to see if I could make it or not. I came from China, and playing in the United States is so tough. This season, the Kansas City Current won the NWSL Shield, but we fell short of reaching the championship game. Even so, they pushed me, the team pushed me, the staff pushed me. Even when I got injured, they supported me so I could come back, work hard, and keep going. I really appreciate winning these trophies, both of them.”

Chawinga also reflected on the larger significance of the awards for fans and aspiring players. “I’m performing the way I do on the field because of my teammates. Off the field, they show me love every day. That makes me happy, and that’s why I play the way I do. To see the fans, the blue carpet, the energy, it inspires me and reminds me why I play. It’s a celebration for all of us, not just me.”

She credited her sister, Tabitha Chawinga, for her ongoing encouragement. Tabitha is also a professional footballer, playing as a forward for Première Ligue club Lyon and the Malawi national team. “She called me and told me to do it for myself and to go after this. She just texted me congratulations. I appreciate her, she supports me like a big sister always does.”

Veteran Ali Riley and rising star Temwa Chawinga embodied the NWSL’s evolution at the awards. Riley’s presence reflected years of trailblazing and the league’s growth, while Chawinga’s emergence showcased the new opportunities now available to incoming players. Together, they symbolized a league where experience meets fresh talent, celebrating achievement, progress, and the expanding visibility of women’s soccer.

NWSL Awards Set The Stage For Stars

Both NWSL and AT&T see the inaugural awards show as just the beginning. Matt Soloff, Senior Vice President of Partnerships & Business Development at NWSL, is excited about expanding fan interactivity, integrating new technologies, and continuing to push the boundaries of what the league can offer its audience. Sabina Ahmed, AVP of Sponsorships & Experiential at AT&T, echoed that vision, emphasizing the human element alongside technological innovation.

“As inspiring as it is to celebrate these athletes on the field, it’s equally inspiring to highlight who they are off the field,” Ahmed said. “Bringing technology and innovation rooted in our products, services, and network is number one. We want to create fun, innovative experiences fans have never had before.”

With the NWSL on the rise, athletes and partners like AT&T are shaping a league that is both strategic and visionary. The first-ever NWSL Awards show captured this momentum, celebrating achievement while signaling a future where women’s soccer continues to thrive for players, fans, and the broader sports landscape.