NEW YORK (June 7, 2024) - The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced today the 11 players named to the Best XI of the Month, presented by Prime, for May by the NWSL Media Association and the NWSL’s on-air broadcast talent. Six teams are represented in the league’s Top 11, including the Chicago Red Stars, NJ/NY Gotham FC, the Orlando Pride, the Portland Thorns, Racing Louisville FC and the Washington Spirit.

One of the top defenders on the month's best team is former St. Johns Country Day School star Carson Pickett.
Pickett, a defender for the Racing Louisville team out of Kentucky, recorded two tackles, three interceptions and four blocks in May. Additionally, the veteran defender notched one assist in Racing’s 3-3 draw against the Kansas City Current on May 18.
Racing Louisville is currently has three wins, three losses and six ties to be in seventh place in the 14-team NWSL field with the top eight to advance to playoffs. Two teams remain unbeaten; Kansas City Current at 8-0-5 and Orlando Pride at 8-0-4.
Pickett, for the 2023 season, came to Louisville after playing for the North Carolina Courage, and appeared in 26 matches at outside back across all competitions for Louisville in 2023, starting 24 of them. She continued as one of the league’s most attacking-minded defenders in her first season with the club, ranking near the top of the NWSL in penalty area entries (2nd), crosses (2nd) and passes into the final third (4th).
Pickett played two games for the U.S. Women's National team in 2022.
Pickett, a left-back who was the fourth pick in the 2016 NWSL Draft, is a back-to-back Best XI selection over the past two seasons and won a national championship in 2014 with Florida State. The Florida native led the NWSL in assists this past season with six, a year after tying for second in the league with five.
In all, Pickett has one goal and 16 assists in 130 NWSL appearances with the Courage, OL Reign and Orlando Pride and has regularly ranked among the league leaders in chances created and interceptions, among other areas.
Also selected from Racing Louisville was Savannah DeMelo, who played three games in May, recording two goals and six tackles. The California native added five successful dribbles past opponents to her stat sheet throughout the month.
The NWSL Best XI of the Month, presented by Amazon Prime, is selected each month of the regular season by the NWSL Media Association, a collection of writers that cover the league consistently, and the NWSL’s on-air broadcast talent.