Malawian superstar Temwa Chawinga wins US MVP award

Malawian superstar Temwa Chawinga etched her name in American football folklore after winning the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Most Valuable Player Award.

Temwa has bagged the award following her stellar debut season with Kansas City, shrugging off competition from other finalists for the award including Orlando’s Zambian forward Barbra Banda.

Temwa Chawinga is the 2024 NWSL MVP 🌟

In her debut NWSL season, she became the first player in league history to score 20 goals in a single campaign.

(via @NWSL)pic.twitter.com/t3lz2Jq51v

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 22, 2024

Other nominees for the award were Orlando’s Marta, Washington forward Trinity Rodman and Portland forward Sophia Smith.

Some 40 per cent of players voted in the award with owners and coaches making up 25 per cent of the voters, media (25 per cent) and fans 10 per cent.

The 2023 Cosafa Women’s Championship top scorer netted a record 20 league goals and six assists after having joined Kansas City from Wuhan University Women’s FC this season.

Malawi’s Scorchers leading forward wrote more history in American women’s football by scoring against all NWSL opposition in the just-ended campaign.

The 26-year-old also overtook the previous record of 18 goals in a single NWSL season, which Chicago Red Stars player Sam Kerr held since 2019.

The Malawian is the first player in current franchise history to earn MVP. She finished with the overall 24 goals and eight assists across all competitions.

Kansas City general manager Caitlin Carducci has since saluted the Malawian following her exploits in her maiden season.

“From the moment Temwa came to Kansas City, we knew she was capable of playing at an MVP level,” Carducci told the club’s website.

“Not only has she been an incredible player on the pitch, she’s also been an incredible teammate and representative of the organisation off it. Temwa laid an incredible foundation with her play in 2024, and we’re so excited for what’s to come in the years ahead.”

Temwa is a nominee for the Confederation of African Football Best Women Footballer Award alongside her elder sister Tabitha.

The Kansas City star is following the footsteps of her elder sister Tabitha, who was among the 2024 Ballon d'Or Feminin award nominees.

Temwa’s elder sister Tabitha, who plays for Lyon in France, is also a big star in world women’s football, recently earning the 2024 Ballon d’Or Feminin award nomination.