Also in today’s roundup, Clare Polkinghorne becomes first 100-cap player in W-League and the 2016 CONCACAF awards results are in
On Saturday, Olympique Lyonnais confirmed the signing of Canadian-defender Kadeisha Buchanan. Lyon, the defending UEFA Women’s Champions League champions, welcomed Buchanan to the team via Twitter two days after she was announced as the NCAA’s top women’s player.
Welcome in the #teamOL @keishaballa !! ?? pic.twitter.com/TDD0ZDAljD
— OL English (@OL_English) January 8, 2017
Buchannan arrived in Lyon on Sunday, just two days after accepting the MAC Hermann Trophy in St. Louis for her collegiate play at West Virginia University. She is a four-time NSCAA All-American and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
At 21 years of age, Buchannan has 63 caps with Canada’s full national team. In 2015, her performance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup resulted in her winning the Young Player Award, being named Canada’s Women’s Player of the Year, and also her inclusion on the shortlist for FIFA Women’s Player of the Year.
She is the second Canadian to sign with a French team in the recent weeks, as Ashley Lawrence signed with PSG early last week. Buchanan joins Alex Morgan as the second of two major North American signings for the club. Buchanan will be joining one of the best defenders in the world in French-superstar Wendie Renard at the center back position once she completes her medical today.
Olympique Lyonnais sits in second place behind PSG in with 27 points through 10 games and a record 9-1-0 to date.
{ALSO TODAY: North Carolina Courage unveiled | Flash statement}
Clare Polkinghorne becomes first 100-cap player in W-League
Clare Polkinhorne of the Brisbane Roar became the first player to make 100 W-League appearances when she took the field on Saturday against the Western Sydney Wanderers. Not only is she the first 100 cap player in the league, but all of her appearances have been with one club: the Brisbane Roar, where she signed in 2008.
#Polks100! A special day @suncorpstadium for our Captain @clarepolks89 yesterday! Were you there to #FeelTheRoar? pic.twitter.com/UIPuB0QRFE
— Brisbane Roar (@brisbaneroar) January 8, 2017
The Brisbane Roar sit mid-table with 13 points through 10 games. They are one point shy of fourth place and four points shy of third. Next up, they take on the Newcastle Jets on Saturday 1/14.
USWNT players headline 2016 CONCACAF Awards
The fourth-annual 2016 CONCACAF Award winners were announced on Monday as USWNT players took home all eligible player-awards. Voting concluded Sunday at 11:59pm EST and consisted of voters from member association coaches, captains, media members, and fans. Here are the results:
Female Player of the Year: Tobin Heath, Portland Thorns FC | USWNT
Female Goalkeeper of the Year: Ashlyn Harris, Orlando Pride | USWNT
Female Best XI- Defender: Ali Kreiger, Orlando Pride | USWNT
Female Best XI- Midfielder: Tobin Heath, Portland Thorns FC | USWNT
Female Best XI- Forward: Christen Press, Chicago Red Stars | USWNT
Female Coach of the Year: Amelia Valverde, Costa Rica national team
Tobin Heath took home both Player of the Year and Best Midfielder honors after concluding 2016 with six goals and eight assists for the USWNT in 22 matches. The Portland Thorns midfielder was also named U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year last month.
{ALSO TODAY: Carli Lloyd repeats as FIFA Women’s Player of the Year}