{"id":244036,"date":"2026-05-18T20:00:46","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T20:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/18\/who-are-the-nwsls-lauren-holiday-impact-award-nominees\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T20:00:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T20:00:46","slug":"who-are-the-nwsls-lauren-holiday-impact-award-nominees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/18\/who-are-the-nwsls-lauren-holiday-impact-award-nominees\/","title":{"rendered":"Who are the NWSL\u2019s Lauren Holiday Impact Award nominees?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every November, the National Womens Soccer League (NWSL) honors one player with the Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/news.nationwide.com\/nwsl-announces-nominees-for-2026-lauren-holiday-impact-award-presented-by-nationwide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nationwide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The award began in 2024 and acknowledges the player\u2019s exceptional service and commitment to giving back to their local communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This year, there are 16 nominees with every NWSL team having a nominee. The Lauren Holiday Impact Award winner will be announced during NWSL Championship Weekend. Nationwide will also donate $50,000 to a charitable organization of the winner\u2019s choosing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"What is the Lauren Holiday Impact Award?\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gogwXlbZOcI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3><b>Savy King\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwslsoccer.com\/players\/3803e24414b54df58dfb21fd3304ef62\/savy-king\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Savy King<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a defender in her second season with Angel City FC. She is a southern California native who was drafted by Bay FC in 2024 and traded to her hometown team in February 2025. Last May, King collapsed on the field during a match due to a cardiac event. Luckily, quick action by the team\u2019s medical staff saved her life through CPR. That moment inspired her to create <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/savykingofhearts.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Savy King of Hearts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, her community partner for this award. The organization works to raise awareness about heart health and make CPR education accessible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Hannah Bebar<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bayfc.com\/roster\/hannah-bebar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hannah Bebar<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a second-year midfielder for Bay FC. After three All-American selections during her time at Harvard and Duke, Bebar signed with Bay FC to begin her professional career. She chose to support the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bawsi.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bay Area Women\u2019s Sport Initiative (BAWSI)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a nonprofit that is dedicated to leveling the playing field and increasing access to sports for girls living in underserved communities. Bebar currently sits on BAWSI\u2019s Advisory Council where she helps shape the impact and direction of the organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Fauiza Najjemba\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bostonlegacyfc.com\/pages\/roster\/fauzia-najjemba\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fauiza Najjemba<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a forward for Boston Legacy FC. While 2026 is her first year in the NWSL, she previously played three professional seasons in Russia. She is passionate about creating safe spaces for girls to thrive and empowering them to become their best selves. Her community partner is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.soccerwithoutborders.org\/our-locations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Soccer Without Borders Boston<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Soccer Without Borders is a nonprofit devoted to \u201ccreating spaces where underserved youth can learn, grow, and find belonging through the power of soccer, education, and community.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Katie Atkinson\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/chicagostars.com\/roster\/katie-atkinson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Katie Atkinson<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a veteran goalkeeper for the Chicago Stars. She spent the majority of her professional career with Racing Louisville, but signed a 3-year contract with Chicago in December. Her dedication to supporting kids and families in need began during her time in Louisville, and she is now partnering with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmn.org\/hospital\/ann-robert-h-lurie-childrens-hospital-of-chicago\/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=19594070127&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADqL0cOAXomHUlkdYkUqlWq3Pg1Ov&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwiJvQBhCYARIsAMjts3J3bCcYqCUlkqsQm4SX8ldk0JgkR0hL_LNRdBVJXNHIjOf8Hfg3Kl8aAo02EALw_wcB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ann &amp; Robert H. Lurie Children\u2019s Hospital\u2019s<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. It is Chicago\u2019s local <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cmn.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Children\u2019s Miracle Network<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> hospital that is committed to providing comprehensive pediatric care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Carson Pickett\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.denversummitfc.com\/club\/roster\/carson-pickett\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carson Pickett<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a veteran defender for Denver Summit FC. Pickett is a 2024 NWSL Champion and was the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/soccer\/story\/_\/id\/37629663\/uswnt-carson-pickett-becomes-first-player-limb-difference-feature-us-national-team\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">first player<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a limb difference to play for the USWNT. Her experience growing up without part of her left arm inspired her commitment to uplifting kids with limb differences. With the help of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.handcampcolorado.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hand Camp Colorado<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Pickett can provide resources and help create\u00a0 welcoming spaces where children with limb differences can feel confident.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Kiki Van Zanten<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstondynamofc.com\/houstondash\/roster\/kikivanzanten\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kiki Van Zanten<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a third-year midfielder for the Houston Dash. She was drafted by the Dash in 2024 after a storied collegiate career at Notre Dame. Van Zanten also plays for the Jamican womens national team. Her community partner is the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.communitiesinschools.org\/mission-and-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communities in Schools (CIS) of Houston<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a charitable organization that works to create equal access to educational resources in the greater Houston area. She is passionate about supporting local students through mentorship and strong support systems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Izzy Rodriguez<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascitycurrent.com\/team\/izzy-rodriguez\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Izzy Rodriguez<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a defender in her fifth season with the Kansas City Current. The Current drafted her in 2022 and she currently holds the club record for most games played in a regular season. Rodriguez is devoted to working with kids and advocating for resources that enable them to thrive. She is partnering with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/earlystartkc.org\/our-why\/mission-and-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EarlystART<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a Kansas City organization that aims to create and increase opportunities for local kids and families.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Tierna Davidson<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gothamfc.com\/roster\/tierna-davidson-15\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tierna Davidson<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a veteran defender for Gotham FC. Davidson is a former no. 1 overall NWSL draft pick and won an Olympic gold medal during the 2024 Paris Olympics. She\u2019s working with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/girlsleadership.org\/?utm_medium=paid&amp;utm_source=hq&amp;utm_campaign=0619-mvmp_paid-hq-dev&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=1660855885&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADk4BmAnNTHmjfzUXaduq_rCjDJkE&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwiJvQBhCYARIsAMjts3KoWNICSBO73saaKKF8RKB3Y2ofnhDuZ3rfYdq8O8egGj40ei24VD0aAv4uEALw_wcB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Girls Leadership<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as her community partner. Girls Leadership is an organization that aims to help schools and other youth serving organizations get the resources they need to empower girls to use their voice and learn to lead. The organization is also helping Davidson implement her Power Lab, an initiative that helps support young female athletes on and off the field.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Cameron Brooks\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nccourage.com\/players\/9b5d78a592f24de5b9d5a829e371c821\/cameron-brooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cameron Brooks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a defender in her first season with the North Carolina Courage. North Carolina acquired Brooks ahead of the 2026 NWSL season, but she previously played professionally in Italy. Brooks is passionate about creating a sense of community and building impactful connections with kids in need. Her community partner is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bair.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bair Foundation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a Christian foster care and adoption agency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Zara Chavoshi\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Zara Chavoshi is a second-year defender for the Orlando Pride. She had an outstanding collegiate career at Wake Forest and was the Pride\u2019s first college signing after the NWSL draft was abolished. Chavoshi is passionate about addressing and conquering barriers that limit housing opportunities for families in underserved communities. She\u2019s partnering with Habitat for Humanity Seminole\u2014Apopka, a local organization that works to build affordable housing and facilitate stronger communities.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Bella Bixby<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thorns.com\/players\/bella-bixby\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bella Bixby<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a veteran goalkeeper for the Portland Thorns. Bixby is a proud Oregonian as she grew up in the state, played college soccer at Oregon State, and has spent all of her professional career with the Thorns. She values environmental stewardship and nature education, which is why she chose <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/friendsoftrees.org\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Friends of Trees<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as her community partner. Friends of Trees is an organization that takes action against climate change by planting trees.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Jordyn Bloomer<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.racingloufc.com\/roster\/jordyn-bloomer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jordynn Bloomer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a goalkeeper in her fifth season with Racing Louisvillie FC. She had a breakout season in 2025 when she stepped into a starting role. Bloomer is a foodie and understands how vital cooking is to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. With that in mind, she partnered with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/daretocare.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dare to Care<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a food bank that supplies groceries and kitchen-made meals to community members in need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Nya Harrison<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sandiegowavefc.com\/player\/nya-harrison\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nya Harrison<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a second-year defender for the San Diego Wave FC. Harrison is a San Diego local who became the first Filipina player to sign a NWSL contract in March 2025. Growing up as a woman of color, she has seen the impact of San Diego\u2019s homelessness crisis and how it disproportionately affects communities of color. Her community partner is the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/monarchschools.org\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monarch School Project<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a nonprofit corporation that is dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for unhoused children and their families.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Cassie Miller<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Cassie Miller is a veteran goalkeeper for Seattle Reign FC. She came to Seattle in a trade during December 2024 and has been with the Reign since. Miller has been passionate about heart health since she had open-heart surgery at two months old. She is supporting Nick of Time, a local foundation that helps prevent future heart complications through early screenings and awareness campaigns.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Aria Nagai\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rsl.com\/utahroyals\/players\/aria-nagai\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aria Nagai <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is a midfielder in her second season with the Utah Royals. Most of her collegiate career was spent at Princeton, but she transferred to UNC Chapel Hill, where she became a national champion. Her experience growing up as an Asian American has shown her the value of representation, community connection, and opportunity access, which is why she is partnering with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/aau-slc.org\/what-we-do\/what-we-do.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Asian Association of Utah<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It is an organization that supports victims of human trafficking and refugees as they transition to life in Utah.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Leicy Santos<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/washingtonspirit.com\/team-member\/leicy-santos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leicy Santos<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a midfielder for the Washington Spirit. She is in her third season with the Spirit but began her professional career internationally. Santos was born in Colombia and created a foundation called <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fundacionleicysantos.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fundaci\u00f3n Leicy Santos<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with hopes of giving back to her community. Her foundation is her community partner, and it utilizes soccer as a way to teach life-building skills and provide other vital resources.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Featured image via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwslsoccer.com\/lauren-holiday-impact-award-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NWSL<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">_<\/h4>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS<\/h4>\n<p> <!-- CONTENT END 2 --><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/girlssoccernetwork.com\/who-are-the-nwsls-lauren-holiday-impact-award-nominees\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every November, the National Womens Soccer League (NWSL) honors one player with the Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide. The award began in 2024 and acknowledges the player\u2019s exceptional service and commitment to giving back to their local communities.\u00a0 This year, there are 16 nominees with every NWSL team having a nominee. The Lauren [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":244038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6805],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-244036","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-womens"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=244036"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244036\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/244038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=244036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=244036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=244036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}