Lia Godfrey Is Just Getting Started

San Diego Wave FC midfielder Lia Godfrey has been named NWSL Player of the Week for matches played from March 22 through March 28, and it is a recognition that feels both earned and inevitable.

In a demanding stretch of three games in seven days, Godfrey delivered in the moments that mattered most. She scored the game winning goal in all three matches, lifting the Wave to a perfect week and establishing herself as one of the most dangerous attacking threats in the league. With three goals on the season, she is now tied for first in the Golden Boot race and stands as San Diego’s leading scorer.

Delivering in Decisive Moments

What makes this run even more impressive is how quickly it has come together. Godfrey’s impact did not begin this week. It has been building since preseason and her early appearances off the bench.

Even in her debut minutes, there were signs of what was to come. She played with urgency, embraced physical challenges, and showed a willingness to operate across the front line. That positional flexibility has carried into the regular season, where she has been just as comfortable linking play in midfield as she is making decisive runs into the box.

Her performances this week highlighted that versatility.

Against Utah, she entered late and immediately changed the tempo of the attack. Her movement off the ball created space for teammates, and when her moment came, she was composed. One touch to settle, one touch to finish, and three points secured.

A few days later against Portland, she earned her first start and looked completely at home. She combined fluidly with the attacking unit, recycled possession under pressure, and once again found the net in a crowded box. It was a poacher’s finish, the kind that comes from anticipation and awareness rather than luck.

Then against Chicago, she showed yet another dimension. Breaking down a low block requires patience and individual quality, and Godfrey provided both. She received the ball, drove forward through a compact defensive shape, and finished cleanly across goal. It was a goal that showcased her confidence and her ability to create something out of very little space.

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More Than a Goal Scorer

Beyond the goals, her overall play has been just as valuable. Her passing efficiency has stood out, completing over 90 percent of her passes in two of the three matches this week. She is not just finishing chances, she is helping build them. Whether dropping deeper to connect play or drifting wide to combine with runners, she is constantly involved.

Defensively, she has also contributed. Tracking back, applying pressure, and winning duels, she has shown a willingness to do the less visible work that helps sustain San Diego’s high press.

This well rounded profile matches what the club envisioned when they signed her out of the University of Virginia. A midfielder who can create, arrive late into scoring positions, and adapt to multiple roles within the system. Through the opening weeks of the season, she is already delivering on that promise.

A Player Worth Watching

For Wave fans, the excitement goes beyond what she has already done. It is about what feels sustainable.

Godfrey is not relying on one type of goal or one specific situation. She is scoring in transition, in buildup, and against organized defenses. She is finding different ways to influence matches, which suggests this is not a temporary hot streak but the foundation of a consistently impactful player.

At just 24 years old and in her rookie season, she is already playing with the confidence of a veteran. If this week is any indication, Lia Godfrey is only just getting started.