Kerr wins ESPYS award, Simmons misses out

Matildas star Sam Kerr has added another gong to her list of achievements after winning an ESPYs.

Matildas star Sam Kerr has collected an ESPY as the best international women’s soccer player . Picture: Getty Images

Matildas star Sam Kerr has added another gong to her list of achievements after being named the best international women’s soccer player at the ESPYS awards in the US.

The 24-year-old was the only Australian to claim an award with NBA basketballer Ben Simmons beaten by Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell for best breakthrough athlete and Stephanie Gilmore overlooked in favour of snowboarder Chloe Kim for best female action sports athlete. Kerr, who plays in America’s National Women’s Soccer League for Chicago Red Stars, was pipped for the best NWSL player by American ace Megan Rapinoe.

The Australian became the first player to score 50 goals in the NWSL with a hat-trick for Chicago against her former club Sky Blue FC, for whom she netted a record-setting 17 goals last season to win the MVP Award for the league. She was named the AFC women’s footballer of the year last year, was a finalist for the FIFA female player of the year and back at home in Australia won the Julie Dolan Medal for the 2016-17 season.

Mitchell gained some revenge on Simmons after the NBA’s top two rookies went head-to-head during the 2017-18 season in a contentious battle in pursuit of the league’s rookie of the year award.

The ESPYS — Excellent in Sports Performance Yearly — are annual awards presented by US network ABC that recognise individual and team achievements.

AAP