Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga Makes History, Wins Back-to-Back NWSL MVP Award

Malawi’s star forward Temwa Chawinga has made history after being crowned the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Most Valuable Player (MVP), becoming the first player in the league’s history to win the award in consecutive seasons.

Chawinga, who plays for Kansas City Current and serves as vice-captain of the Malawi women’s national team, also secured her second consecutive Golden Boot, finishing the regular season with 15 goals and three assists in 23 appearances.

The award was announced on Wednesday during the inaugural NWSL Awards in San Jose, California.

According to the NWSL, Chawinga topped a competitive list of finalists that included her teammate Bia Zaneratto, San Diego forward Delphine Cascarino, Gotham’s Esther González, and North Carolina midfielder Manaka Matsukubo. Voting was conducted through a weighted system involving players, club executives, coaches, media and fans.

Record-Breaking Season

Chawinga’s 2025 season cemented her status as one of the world’s most dangerous forwards.

• On May 16, she became the fastest player in NWSL history to reach 25 goals, achieving the milestone in just 34 matches.

• On August 8, she became the league’s quickest to reach 30 goals, needing only 40 games, 11 fewer than any other player.

• She became the first player ever to score in her first four regular-season matches against two different clubs.

• She set another record by scoring in seven consecutive away matches.

Six of her 15 goals were match winners, equaling her own record set in 2024, and she again matched her league-best run of scoring in eight straight matches.

Driving Kansas City to a Historic Campaign

Chawinga played a central role in helping Kansas City Current set several league records this season, including:

• Most points (65)

• Most wins (21)

• Most multi-goal victories (15)

• Most multi-goal games (18)

She scored her 13th goal of the season on September 20 in a decisive win over Seattle, helping Kansas City secure their first-ever NWSL Shield.

Global Recognition

Chawinga’s consistency has also earned her worldwide attention. In 2025, she:

• Received her first Ballon d’Or nomination, finishing 17th

• Earned her second CAF Women’s Player of the Year nomination

• Was nominated for The Best FIFA Women’s Player

• Won two NWSL Player of the Month awards (March and May), bringing her career total to five, the most in league history

• Collected five NWSL Best XI of the Month selections, bringing her career total to 10, tied for second-most all time

Chawinga’s back-to-back MVP titles and trailblazing achievements continue to elevate Malawi’s profile on the global football stage, confirming her as one of the most elite talents in women’s football today.