Nigeria international Deborah Abiodun has been named the National Women’s Soccer League Rookie of the Month for September after a series of standout displays for Washington Spirit.
The 20-year-old midfielder only made her league debut on 31 August against Chicago but has since become a key figure in the team. She earned her first start in a 2-0 victory over Seattle and went on to feature in three of Washington’s four matches in September.
Abiodun impressed with her defensive work, leading the Spirit in tackles and duels won, while ranking second across the league for tackles won during the month. She also registered a passing accuracy of 87.3% in the middle third.
Her contributions helped Washington to three clean sheets and multiple goals in each September fixture, securing a play-off spot. The Spirit are unbeaten since June and sit second in the standings.
Abiodun’s recognition continues a recent trend for Washington, who have now produced six Rookie of the Month winners since the start of the 2024 season.
The monthly award, presented by Ally, is selected by the NWSL Media Association and the league’s broadcast team.
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