NEW YORK – Relevent Sports Group launched the WICC Best XI Tuesday, an annual recognition of the athletes, executives, journalists, and coaches who are doing the most to advance women’s soccer.

WICC is the Women’s International Champions Cup.

The WICC Best XI will be selected by an advisory board comprised of former players Vero Boquete, Laura Gentile, Nadine Kessler, Heather O’Reilly, Briana Scurry, Danielle Slaton and journalist Grant Wahl.

The WICC Best XI will be announced in December, which will be accompanied by a short film on each winner.

RSG plans to incorporate the Best XI into its WICC tournament. The honorees will be recognized at the WICC tournament and will be incorporated into various fan experiences, including panel events, giving fans the opportunity to watch world class matches and also interact with those selected.

“The growth of women’s soccer all over the world is not an accident, but the result of the hard work of many – some of whom are front and center and others who are working tirelessly behind the scenes,” WICC head Susie Fiore said in a statement. “RSG wants to call attention to some of these remarkable contributors and share their stories.”

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.