Sam Kerr scored a league-record 17 goals for Sky Blue FC this season. (Jeffrey Auger Photo)

CHICAGO – Given her outstanding season for Sky Blue FC, it should come as no surprise that striker Sam Kerr was named to the NWSL Best XI Thursday.

The big questions is whether she will be crowned MVP of the league.

An Australian international, Kerr captured the National Women’s Soccer League scoring title with a record 17 goals and four assists.

Kerr was the lone Sky Blue FC player who received any postseason honors on the Best XI or Second XI squads.

The North Carolina Courage led the way with three selections to the squad followed by the Chicago Red Stars and Orlando Pride with two members each on the team.

Seven players earned their first selection to the Best XI this year, highlighted by the top two goal scorers in the league – Orlando forward Marta and Kerr.

Four of those first-time selections are set to feature in the 2017 NWSL Championship Game at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Saturday as Abby Dahlkemper, Samantha Mewis, McCall Zerboni and the Courage go up against Adrianna Franch and the Portland Thorns in a match broadcast nationally at 4:30 p.m. ET on Lifetime.

FC Kansas City defender Becky Sauerbrunn and Chicago Red Stars forward Christen Press were the only two players from the 2016 Best XI also voted to the team this year. It was the fifth consecutive selection to the squad for Sauerbrunn and the third straight selection for Press.

Seattle Reign FC midfielder Jess Fishlock was voted to the Best XI for the fourth time in five years, while Pride defender Ali Krieger made her second appearances on the team. Fishlock has earned a place on the Best XI or Second XI in all five years of the NWSL.

Krieger is the oldest player on the squad and the fifth-oldest player ever selected to Best XI. She is one of five players – including Sauerbrunn, Marta, Zerboni and Fishlock – voted to the team over the age 30, the most of any Best XI side in the five-year history of the NWSL.

Krieger was also one of three players – along with Fishlock and Red Stars defender Casey Short – made the leap to the Best XI after making the Second XI last season.

2017 NWSL Best XI

Position Player Club Country Note
Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch Portland Thorns FC USA 11 shutouts
Defender Abby Dahlkemper North Carolina Courage USA 2,160 minutes
Defender Ali Krieger Orlando Pride USA 2,160 minutes
Defender Becky Sauerbrunn FC Kansas City USA 1,980 minutes
Defender Casey Short Chicago Red Stars USA 1,914 minutes
Midfielder Jess Fishlock Seattle Reign FC Wales 7 goals, 2 assists
Midfielder Samantha Mewis North Carolina Courage USA 6 goals, 3 assists
Midfielder McCall Zerboni North Carolina Courage USA 3 goals, assist
Forward Marta Orlando Pride Brazil 13 goals, 6 assists
Forward Samantha Kerr Sky Blue FC Australia 17 goals, 4 assists
Forward Christen Press Chicago Red Stars USA 11 goals, 4 assists

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.