Sinclair wins 14th Canadian player of year award
TORONTO — Canada teammate Jordyn Huitema hadn’t been born when Christine Sinclair won her first Canadian Women’s Player of the Year Award in 2000.
Eighteen years later, Sinclair’s remarkable soccer career continues to impress.
The 35-year-old from Burnaby earned her 14th Canadian Player of the Year Award on Tuesday, capping a year that saw her shine at both the club level and on the international stage.
Sinclair finished first in voting by Canadian media and coaches ahead of defender Kadeisha Buchanan, last year’s winner. UCLA midfielder Jessie Fleming was third, ahead of Manchester City striker Janine Beckie and Paris Saint-Germain wingback-midfielder Ashley Lawrence.
The men’s winner will be announced Wednesday.
Sinclair delivered the winning goal in the game that qualified Canada for next year’s Women’s World Cup in France — scoring a second for good measure in Canada’s 7-0 win over Panama in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Championship in October.
And she led Canada in scoring for the 15th time in 19 years, with eight goals and two assists in 12 international matches.
On the club front, Sinclair played all 2,160 minutes for the Portland Thorns as they finished second in the NWSL. She scored nine goals and tied for third in the league with six assists as the Thorns reached the league championship game in September.