“I want to be an impact everywhere that I go.” Before you start guessing which soccer icon said these words, know that the “impact” here isn’t just about on-pitch heroics or winning games—it’s about leaving a mark beyond the beautiful game, through meaningful community and philanthropic work. And no one embodies that spirit better than Lauren Cheney Holiday. So when you learn that there’s an award named after her, it should come as no surprise.
Enter the Lauren Holiday Impact Award—a prestigious honor proudly named after the USWNT legend. Having debuted just last year, the award returns this season to spotlight another deserving player. But before diving into the 2025 nominees or the significance of this season’s edition, it’s worth understanding the powerful legacy behind one of the highest off-field honors in American domestic soccer.
All about Lauren Holiday Impact Award
The Lauren Holiday Impact Award is an annual recognition that celebrates National Women’s Soccer League players who go above and beyond in serving their communities. Simply put, it honors those who dedicate themselves to philanthropic or charitable organizations, highlighting their strong character and contributions off the field.
Notably, the award is an evolved version of the Nationwide Community Impact Award, which has been presented since 2021. But now it runs in partnership with Nationwide under the name of the former USWNT forward and midfielder. Of course, this was done in honor of her influential legacy, not only as an Olympic gold medalist and World Cup winner but also as a passionate advocate for community impact.
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Holiday, who won two consecutive NWSL Championships, the 2013 NWSL MVP and Golden Boot, as well as the 2014 NWSL Championship MVP, is the perfect namesake to highlight the legacy of this award. A National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian ESPY Award, she stands as a testament to philanthropic efforts that have changed lives.
While highlighting how this year’s nominees have elevated the standards of this award, Holiday is thrilled to see what it actually means for players to see them give back to the community. “It is a privilege to highlight this incredible group of women who are committed to both their NWSL clubs, and working to improve the communities that these clubs call home,” she said.
The debut winner Lauren Holiday Impact Award!
The first recipient of this award was Bay FC defender Jen Beattie. She received the $30,000 award donation and decided to give it to her Bay Area community partner, Pink Ribbon Good in a bid to support the organization’s mission to aid individuals and families affected by breast and gynecological cancers. The cause stands quite close to Beattie, who herself is a breast cancer survivor after being diagnosed at 29 while playing soccer in the UK.
She had taken a six-week break for surgery before entering remission, also keeping the retired Scottish defender away from her loved ones. This experience only made her realize how there remains a shortage of breast cancer awareness and education. It further inspired her to use her identity and platform as a professional athlete to encourage early detection in both women and men.
Credit: X/Bay FC
Beattie remains a passionate advocate, working with organizations to raise awareness, share her journey, and support others facing similar challenges. With the help of her sheer dedication, the former Irish international has effectively highlighted the critical need for health education, regular screenings, and strong support systems for those affected by breast cancer.
What’s the selection procedure?
A player from each NWSL side makes the cut and is chosen by their own team stakeholders. Then, at the end of the season, a panel of judges votes to select the winner, who is granted $50,000 to donate to a charity of their choice. Interestingly, even fans are given a chance to be part of the celebration through a dedicated vote held in October. The name that garners the most votes from supporters is named the Fan Vote Winner.
As a prize, that winner receives $5,000 to donate to a cause they care about, along with an extra $5,000 going to the nominated community partner. In fact, it doesn’t end here; to exemplify the core values of this recognition, all teams collaborate with their respective nominee to carry out a service initiative in association with a local organization.
These nominees, along with their chosen community partners, are also recognized during their club’s Appreciation Night game, where the partner receives a league- and Nationwide-sponsored donation. Now that we’re clear with the nomination formalities, let’s take a look at this year’s nominees.
Who all are rallying for the 2025 title?
Here is the list of players from each of the 14 NWSL teams and their community partners who are vying for this prestigious award:
Team
Player Name
Community Partner
Angel City FC
Katie Zelem
City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks; GPLA Leadership Academy Program
Bay FC
Racheal Kundananji
Soccer Without Borders
Chicago Stars
Bea Franklin
Digs With Dignity
NJ/NY Gotham FC
Ryan Campbell
Katie’s Save
Houston Dash
Abby Smith
Kids’ Meals Houston
Kansas City Current
Claire Hutton
MINDDRIVE
Racing Louisville
Lauren Milliet
Trees Louisville
North Carolina Courage
Hannah Betfort
WakeEd
Orlando Pride
Haley McCutcheon
Foundation for Foster Children
Portland Thorns
Sam Hiatt
Candlelighters Oregon
Seattle Reign
Cassie Miller
The Nick of Time Foundation
San Diego Wave
Kyra Carusa
The Athlete Academy Foundation
Utah Royals
Kate Del Fava
Primary Children’s Hospital
Washington Spirit
Ashley Hatch
DC Scores
Who do you reckon will win? Sound off in the comments.
The post What Is Lauren Holiday Impact Award? Know About NWSL’s Prestigious Honors and It’s 2025 Nominees appeared first on EssentiallySports.
