CHICAGO, Il. – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced Wednesday the Best XI selections for the 2013 NWSL season.

Chicago Red Stars midfielder and team captain Lori Chalupny was the single Chicago selection to make the list. She came in third amongst all players in NWSL Most Valuable Player voting as well. In spite of missing the final month of the season after suffering an ankle injury, the 29 year-old Chalupny had been the engine of a Red Stars team that nearly fought its way to a playoff spot late in the season.  She registered 5 goals and 4 assists on the season.

FC Kansas City was the only team to have more than one player on the list. Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, defenders Becky Sauerbrunn, Leigh Ann Robinson and midfielder Lauren Holiday were all listed as one of the top players in the league at their position.  All four players will also be representing the United States in their upcoming match against Mexico (and FC Kansas City forward Teresa Noyola). FC Kansas City had the most selections of any team.

Western New York Flash forward Abby Wambach and defender Brittany Taylor were among the 11 players selected ahead of the 2013 NWSL Championship game on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. between the Flash and Portland Thorns FC. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast nationally live on FOX Sports 2.

At 23, Boston Breakers forward Sydney Leroux is the youngest member of the squad, which is comprised of seven allocated players from the United States and Canada women’s national teams and four non-allocated players.

The NWSL Best XI team (listed at position, alphabetically by last name):

Position                 Player                                     Club                                        Country                 Note                 .
Goalkeeper           Nicole Barnhart                    FC Kansas City                       USA                         10 shutouts

Defender               Christie Rampone                Sky Blue FC                            USA                         1.20 GAA
Defender               Leigh Ann Robinson            FC Kansas City                       USA                         5 assists
Defender               Becky Sauerbrunn               FC Kansas City                       USA                         1.0 GAA
Defender               Brittany Taylor                      Western New York Flash    USA                         3 goals, 4 assists

Midfielder             Lori Chalupny                       Chicago Red Stars                USA                         5 goals, 4 assists
Midfielder             Jess Fishlock                          Seattle Reign FC                   Wales                     4 goals
Midfielder             Lauren Holiday                     FC Kansas City                       USA                         12 goals, 9 assists
Midfielder             Diana Matheson                   Washington Spirit                Canada                   8 goals, 3 assists

Forward                 Sydney Leroux                     Boston Breakers                   USA                         11 goals, 2 assists
Forward                 Abby Wambach                    Western New York Flash    USA                         11 goals, 8 assists

NWSL Second XI – Goalkeeper: Adrianna Franch, Western New York Flash – Defenders: Rachel Buehler, Portland Thorns FC; Caitlin Foord, Sky Blue FC; Ali Krieger, Washington Spirit; Lauren Sesselmann, FC Kansas City – Midfielders: Megan Rapinoe, Seattle Reign FC; Desiree Scott, FC Kansas City; Erika Tymrak, FC Kansas City – Forwards: Alex Morgan, Portland Thorns FC; Lianne Sanderson, Boston Breakers; Christine Sinclair, Portland Thorns FC

The NWSL awards are voted on by a selection of journalists that cover the league on a consistent basis, club officials and NWSL players.

Voters for the Best XI provided selections for four (4) defenders and a combination of six (6) midfielders or forwards; with the ability to select a minimum of one (1) and a maximum of three (3) forwards. The Goalkeeper of the Year was automatically named to the Best XI.

The Second XI is comprised of the next leading vote getters at each position that did not make the Best XI.