Gift Monday is the NWSL Player of the Week
Fringe Super Falcons player Gift Monday has been voted National Women’s Soccer League Player of the Week for round 22 of the 2025 regular season after her record-breaking hat trick fired Washington Spirit into the play-offs.
The Nigeria international collected 50.3 per cent of the 881 votes cast on the league’s official X account on Tuesday, finishing ahead of Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle (35 per cent), Utah Royals goalkeeper Mia Justus (8.1 per cent), and Kansas City Current striker Bia Zaneratto (6.7 per cent).
Monday’s award followed a historic display in the Spirit’s 4-0 victory over Houston Dash, where she scored three times inside 36 minutes, which was the fastest hat trick from kick-off in NWSL history. It was also the first hat trick recorded at Audi Field.
The 23-year-old, making her first start since mid-August, opened the scoring in the 18th minute from Trinity Rodman’s pass, added a second three minutes later after following up her own header, and completed the treble with a one-touch finish from another Rodman delivery.
Washington sealed the win and a second successive play-off berth with Sofia Cantore’s late backheel, while Aubrey Kingsbury and the back line secured an eighth clean sheet of the campaign.
Speaking after the match, Monday said, “Playing for the Super Falcons is a huge honour for me. I am always more than happy to represent the green, white, and green. I am so, so glad to give Nigeria this precious gift. I don’t know how I ended up like this today, but I am grateful, and I think that today is just special for me.”
“It’s been a minute since I scored a hat trick. Today it came so fast, and I think it is just based on hard work and team spirit. I want to say a very big thank you to my coach for trusting me and allowing me to start this game because I think that hat trick has been waiting for me for a very long time,” she added.
Elsewhere in the league for the other nominees, Justus impressed in goal as Utah Royals beat Bay FC 2-0 to stretch their unbeaten run to seven matches, Zaneratto was on target in Kansas City Current’s 4-1 win over Chicago, and Lavelle registered both a goal and an assist in Gotham’s 3-0 victory against Portland Thorns.
