Gotham FC defender Lilly Reale finished her first season in the National Women’s Soccer League with two trophies in hand. First, the former University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) soccer star was named NWSL Rookie of the Year on Nov. 19, an honor she shares with the likes of World Cup winner Julie Johnston and Olympic gold medalist Croix Bethune. Three days later, Reale helped her team secure the NWSL championship win in a 1-0 game against the Washington Spirit.

With both of these accolades, Reale became the second player in NWSL history to be named Rookie of the Year and win the NWSL the same year. The first was superstar Trinity Rodman back in 2021.

“It’s obviously a huge honor, just looking at the players who have won it in the past and seeing what they’ve gone on to do with

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