Kailen Sheridan named 2022 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year

Kailen Sheridan from Pickering, Ontario has been named the 2022 National Women’s Soccer League Goalkeeper of the Year. The San Diego Wave FC goalkeeper, who was also named to the NWSL Best XI for the second year in a row, became the first Canadian to win an NWSL major individual award.

Sheridan, who earlier this year became the fourth Canadian to feature in 100 career NWSL appearances across all competitions, helped San Diego Wave FC become the first NWSL expansion team to reach the playoffs. She featured in 18 of San Diego’s 22 league matches and tied the record for most clean sheets by a Canadian in the NWSL (eight).

She only missed part of the NWSL regular season when she was away on international duty, notably helping Canada qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 while also winning the Best Goalkeeper Award at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship in July.

Sheridan is now in her sixth NWSL season, having made her professional debut at age 21 with Sky Blue FC on 15 April 2017. Earlier this season on 7 May 2022, just a couple of weeks before making her 100th appearance, she became Canada’s all-time NWSL leader with 19 clean sheets in all competitions.