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Kimmi Ascanio’s spot in the NWSL Best XI for May didn’t exactly catch anyone off guard.
If you’ve been watching San Diego Wave FC this season, you’ve seen it coming. The 18-year-old midfielder has become one of the most important pieces in Jonas Eidevall’s system, doing a little bit of everything and doing it well. While players like Dudinha, Lia Godfrey, and Kenza Dali tend to grab the spotlight, Ascanio is often the one holding everything together.
Her Best XI nod reflects a month where her impact was impossible to ignore, and a season that’s quickly turning into a breakout campaign.
Everywhere, All at Once
Ascanio’s stat line only tells part of the story, but it’s a good place to start.
Through 13 matches, she’s posted one goal and three assists while completing 88 percent of her passes. She’s added 14 tackles, created chances, and logged 941 minutes, serious numbers for any player, let alone one of the youngest in the league.
But what stands out more is how she plays. Ascanio has become the link between midfield and attack, helping San Diego keep the ball moving and pushing it into dangerous spaces. She’s comfortable under pressure, willing to carry the ball forward, and consistently finds the right pass to keep attacks alive.
Eidevall’s trust in her is clear. She’s appeared in every match this season and started 10 of them, cementing her place in one of the league’s most effective midfields.
A Defining Stretch in May
May gave Ascanio a few signature moments.
She picked up an assist in the 2–1 win over Angel City on May 10, helping set up Dudinha’s opener in a rivalry match that carried plenty of weight. Then came her biggest moment so far.
KIMMI ASCANIO CALLED GAME FOR SD 🌊 pic.twitter.com/7jymgfYXwW
— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) May 16, 2026
Against the Washington Spirit, with the game hanging in the balance late, Ascanio rose up on a Kenza Dali corner in the 89th minute and buried the winner. Snapdragon Stadium erupted as San Diego knocked off one of the league’s top teams.
She stayed consistent the rest of the month, contributing in matches against Houston, Orlando, and Chicago, impacting games in ways that don’t always show up on the scoresheet.
The Impact
What makes Ascanio stand out is everything she does beyond goals and assists.
In the final match before the international break against Chicago, she completed 90 percent of her passes, made three tackles, and nearly scored herself with a late run into the box. More importantly, she helped San Diego control the tempo from start to finish.
That kind of influence has shown up all season. Against Boston, she won the ball in transition and set up Ludmila’s game-winner. Against Denver, she played a role in a comeback from 2–0 down to win 3–2. In Utah, she came off the bench and immediately helped swing the match, creating the sequence that led to a late winner.
It’s a pattern: even when she’s not on the scoresheet, she’s in the middle of the action.
Not Just Potential Anymore
At 18, Ascanio is already playing with the composure of a veteran.
She reads the game well, does the defensive work, and stays calm on the ball, traits that have made her one of the most dependable players in the squad. There’s still plenty of upside, but what matters for San Diego is what she’s doing right now.
The Wave’s attack gets most of the attention, but players like Ascanio are a big reason the team looks as balanced as it does.
Her Best XI selection feels earned, not surprising. And if the first half of the season is any indication, it probably won’t be the last recognition she gets in 2026.
