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Gift Monday has been named NWSL Player of the Week after scoring a record-fast hat trick.
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Her goals propelled Washington Spirit into the play-offs.
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Other standout performers included Justus, Zaneratto, and Lavelle.
Gift Monday has been voted National Women’s Soccer League Player of the Week for round 22 after a record-breaking hat trick that fired Washington Spirit into the play-offs.
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The Nigeria international collected 50.3% of 881 votes on the league’s official X account, beating Gotham FC’s Rose Lavelle (35%), Utah Royals’ Mia Justus (8.1%) and Kansas City Current’s Bia Zaneratto (6.7%).
Gift Monday’s performance came in a 4-0 win at Audi Field, where Monday struck three times inside 36 minutes — the fastest hat trick from kick-off in NWSL history and the first recorded at the stadium.
On her first start since mid-August, Gift Monday, the 23-year-old, opened the scoring in the 18th minute from Trinity Rodman’s pass, added a second three minutes later after following up her own header, and completed the treble with a one-touch finish from another Rodman delivery.
Washington then wrapped up a second straight play-off spot when Sofia Cantore produced a late backheel, while Aubrey Kingsbury and the defence recorded the team’s eighth clean sheet of the season.
Speaking after the match, Monday said: “Playing for the Super Falcons is a very big honour for me. I am always more than happy to represent the green white green. I am so, so glad to give Nigeria this precious gift. I don’t know how I ended up like this today but I am grateful and I think that today is just special for me.”
“It’s been a minute since I have scored a hat trick. Today it came so fast and I think it is just based on hard work and team spirit. I want to say a very big thank you to my coach for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to start this game because I think that hat trick has been waiting for me for a very long time,” – she added.
Outside the hat trick, other nominees made strong cases: Justus kept Utah Royals’ unbeaten run alive with a 2-0 win over Bay FC, Zaneratto scored in Kansas City’s 4-1 victory over Chicago, and Lavelle registered a goal and an assist as Gotham beat Portland Thorns 3-0.
