Houston Dash forward Ebony Salmon was named to the National Womenās Soccer Leagueās 2022 NWSL Best XI Second Team, presented by Mastercard, the league announced today.
Salmon scored nine goals in her first campaign with the Dash, which begun on July 1 after Houston acquired the 21-year-old in a trade from Racing Louisville on June 27. Salmon led the Dash in scoring and finished with 12 regular season appearances. Salmonās clinical finishing in the final third led the Houston Dash to their first ever NWSL playoff berth. Salmon earned the start on Oct. 16 as Houston hosted the Kansas City Current in front of 21,284 fans at PNC Stadium for the first playoff match in team history.
Salmonās first three goals for the Dash came in an explosive fashion during the July 16 match against the Chicago Red Stars at PNC Stadium. Salmon was the second player this season to score a hat trick, joining her teammate Nichelle Prince who scored three goals on June 3. The duo became the third pair of teammates in NWSL history to record a hat trick in the same season. Salmonās performance earned her NWSL Player of the Week honors, Player of the Month honors and Best XI honors in July.
The England native continued to dazzle on the pitch throughout the month of August adding five goals and earning a second NWSL Best XI honors. Salmon became the first player in club history to earn Best XI honors in consecutive months.
Salmonās breakout performance throughout the 2022 regular season earned her a call up to the England Womenās National Team during the most recent international window. Salmon was available off the bench for the Lionesses 2-1 win in their friendly against the Unites States Womenās National Team on Oct. 7 in front of a sold-out crowd at Wembley Stadium.