LOS ANGELES (Nov. 9, 2026) – Angel City Football Club (ACFC) captain Sarah Gorden has been nominated for 2026 NWSL Defender of the Year after anchoring a record-setting back line and captaining Angel City to its first postseason appearance since 2023. The nomination is the third of Gorden’s career and her second with Angel City.
Gorden and the Angel City backline together contributed to a record a club-best 10 shutouts during the regular season. She earned Best Defender honors in August and September and was named to the NWSL Best XI of the Month in September. With Gorden as captain, Angel City closed the regular season on a club-record 10-match unbeaten streak, finishing fifth in the league and securing the second playoff berth in club history.
Gorden reached two career milestones in May, making her 150th NWSL appearance on May 2 and recording her first career NWSL assist on May 9. She then went on to notch two more assists and earned Assist of the Week honors in September.
Gorden earned her first NWSL Defender of the Year nomination in 2021 with Chicago Stars FC, when she played every regular-season minute and earned Iron Woman honors. She repeated the feat with Angel City in 2023, playing every regular-season minute and earning both NWSL Best XI honors and her second Defender of the Year nomination.
Fans can vote for Sarah Gorden for 2026 NWSL Defender of the Year through this link HERE.