Nigeria’s Gift Monday has been crowned National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Player of the Week for Round 22 of the 2025 season, after her stunning hat trick powered Washington Spirit into the play-offs.
The 23-year-old forward claimed 50.3 per cent of the 881 votes on the league’s official X account, finishing ahead of Gotham FC’s Rose Lavelle (35%), Utah Royals goalkeeper Mia Justus (8.1%) and Kansas City Current striker Bia Zaneratto (6.7%).
Monday’s recognition came on the back of a historic performance in Spirit’s 4-0 thrashing of Houston Dash. She struck three times within 36 minutes, the fastest hat trick from kick-off in NWSL history, and the first ever recorded at Audi Field.
Making her first start since mid-August, the Super Eagles star opened the scoring in the 18th minute from a Trinity Rodman assist, doubled the tally just three minutes later by reacting quickest to her own header, and completed her treble with a composed one-touch finish, again from Rodman’s delivery.
Sofia Cantore added a stylish backheel late on to seal the win, while Aubrey Kingsbury and her defence collected their eighth clean sheet of the campaign, confirming Washington Spirit’s place in the play-offs for the second year running.
 Player of the Week for Round 22 of the 2025 season){kind=link}