Kim Little wins BBC Women's Footballer of the Year 2016
Scotland and Seattle Reign’s Kim Little has won the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2016 - the BBC World Service annual award which is voted for by football fans around the world.
Published: 24 May 2016
[I’m] extremely happy and humbled to win this Women’s Footballer of the Year [award], especially coming from [the] BBC.
On winning the award Kim Little said: “[I’m] extremely happy and humbled to win this Women’s Footballer of the Year [award], especially coming from [the] BBC.
“We’ve got a great team here, great players, staff and owners and I’m glad to be a part of this club so it’s nice to share this with them.”
The winner was revealed on Sport Today (16.30-17.00 BST) on BBC World Service on Tuesday 24 May.
The trophy was presented to Little by former USA footballer Shannon MacMillan, who won Olympic Gold in 1996 and the World Cup in 1999.
Kim was surprised by the BBC team with the trophy at training with her team mates at Memorial Stadium in Seattle.
Reflecting on her past year and achievements, Little said: “To be honest, I’ve not looked back over it too much but [I’m] extremely proud of the season we’ve had here with Seattle Reign... then to go over to Australia and play in a different league and to do well there. Also to hopefully lead Scotland into the European Championships next year... we hope to continue our good form there too.”
Asked what she thought of the women’s game, she added: “I think women’s football is in a great place and I think especially in terms of the USA and where I’m playing right now, it’s leading the way. I’m proud to have won this award and to stand up here for women’s football and hopefully it will progress further.”
Little was voted the winner from a shortlist of some of the top names in women’s football: Gaelle Enganamouit (Cameroon and FC Rosengard, Sweden), Amandine Henry (France and Olympique Lyonnais), Carli Lloyd (USA and Houston Dash) and Becky Sauerbrunn (USA and FC Kansas City). She is the second player to win the BBC World Service award.
Mary Hockaday, Controller of BBC World Service English, says: “Well done to Kim Little. It’s been another outstanding year for women’s football and Kim’s talent shines through on the pitch. I’m delighted BBC World Service plays an important part in giving female footballers the recognition they deserve.”
Twenty five year-old Little was Seattle's leading scorer - and second in the league - with 10 goals in 2015, while topping the assists rankings on seven. The Reign finished the regular season in first place before a 1-0 defeat in the Championship final against FC Kansas City.
Little has made 115 appearances for Scotland and scored 46 goals.
She has scored five goals in five qualifying games as Scotland edge towards qualification for Euro 2017, which would be their first major tournament. She lit up Australia's W-League during the NWSL off-season with nine goals in 12 games for title-winning Melbourne City.
Previous to her achievements this past year, she has represented Scotland since the age of 16 and she was one of two Scots selected for the Great Britain squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 2012 London Olympics.
In 2010, she was named the FA's Women's Player Of The Year, and in 2013 she became the first recipient of the PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year award.
Whilst playing for Arsenal the team won five league titles and she won the Scottish Championship during an earlier successful stint with Hibernian.
BBC Sarah Mulkerrins presents the coverage of the award which includes interviews with Little, her coach, her team-mates and Shannon MacMillan.
Notes to Editors
For more information about the award, go to bbc.com/womensfootball
If using any of the information above please credit BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, BBC World Service.
BBC World Service delivers news content around the world in English and 28 other language services, on radio, TV and digital, reaching a weekly audience of 246 million. As part of BBC World Service, BBC Learning English teaches English to global audiences. For more information, visit bbc.com/worldservice.
The BBC attracts a weekly global news audience of 320 million people to its international news services including BBC World Service, BBC World News television channel and bbc.com/news
FS
