Alex Morgan and San Diego Wave FC finished top of the NWSL table on Sunday in the club’s second-ever season. Morgan and the team were awarded the NWSL Shield trophy and to say the silverware was underwhelming is an understatement.
NWSL Shield trophy disappoints
After 22 games San Diego Wave triumphed after a hotly contested season with just six points separating first and seventh.
Finishing top of the table is a remarkable reward and deserves a trophy that reflects that. The NWSL Shield is reflective alright, but that’s because it’s a pie platter… not a shield.
Hold on, no way that's the actual trophy.
What is this?!
pic.twitter.com/Nkq0pLAApN— US SOCCER CORNER (@USMNTCORNER) October 16, 2023
Yes. That is what Morgan was handed to celebrate with. This wasn’t some prank, the NWSL Shield trophy is perhaps the worst in sports.
The NWSL Shield trophy debacle only got worse when fans discovered its price online. The award cost the league around $60. What was the NWSL thinking?
No fucking way @NWSL https://t.co/NwJEZHpEJa pic.twitter.com/oEDojcrv64
— 2023 MLS Champions: The FC (@ThreeDEF) October 16, 2023
Here was how fans reacted after seeing the coveted pie platter.
My favorite part of the #NWSL Shield trophy is that each player gets their own and it comes with a lid pic.twitter.com/lV61PkzKqR
— Anibal (@latinheat) October 16, 2023
why does it look like something I’d put my cupcakes on, could of at least made it a shield shape
— (@miedemaftevans) October 15, 2023
Millions of people: Take women’s sports seriously!
NWSL: Hold my pie plate.(Do take women’s sports seriously. The players are better than this.)— Michael Buckelew (@MichaelBuckelew) October 17, 2023
To give you a reminder of what an actual Shield trophy is supposed to look like. Here are some examples from Major League Soccer and the annual FA Community Shield.
The word “shield” is an important part to consider. The trophies are called shields because of the old tradition of soldiers being honored by being given a shield as a sort of plaque.
How the hell are Morgan and the Wave supposed to use a pie platter as a shield?
On the bright side the NWSL revealed redesigns for the championship and MVP trophies.
NEW TROPHY WHO DIS
Undergoing its first redesign since 2013, the new NWSL Championship trophy will make its official debut at the upcoming Championship.The NWSL x Tiffany & Co. also collaborated on the redesign of the regular season MVP trophy. pic.twitter.com/oGdsdoSev6
— Attacking Third (@AttackingThird) October 17, 2023
It looks like all the budget for trophies went to these two awards, so they had to settle on the $60 pie platter for the NWSL Shield.
