# Rachel Daly and Lauren James Win PFA Women’s Player of the Year Awards
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has announced the winners of its Women’s Player of the Year awards for 2020, with Aston Villa striker Rachel Daly taking home the Players’ Player of the Year award and Chelsea star Lauren James being named Young Player of the Year.
## Rachel Daly Wins Players’ Player of the Year Award
Rachel Daly, 31, was the top scorer in the Women’s Super League (WSL) with 22 goals in her debut season at Aston Villa and played a key role in England’s run to the Women’s World Cup final last year, scoring in the 6-1 group stage win over China. She was also named in the PFA’s WSL Team of the Year for 2020, beating out competition from Sam Kerr and Guro Reiten of Chelsea, Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum, Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw and former Manchester United defender Ona Batlle – now at Barcelona – to win the award.
Daly had spent six years playing for US side Houston Dash before moving to Villa last year and has been a key player for both club and country since then, helping Villa to a sixth place finish in the WSL and scoring four goals in England’s run to the World Cup final last summer.
## Lauren James Named Young Player of the Year
The 21 year old Lauren James was rewarded for her impressive form at Chelsea this season, where she scored five league goals in 15 starts for the WSL champions and was England’s top scorer with three goals at the World Cup, where her side lost the final to Spain but she was sent off in the last 16 win over Nigeria.
James beat out competition from Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp, Manchester United defender Maya le Tissier, Liverpool midfielder Missy Bo Kearns, Villa midfielder Laura Blindkilde and Brighton and England forward Katie Robinson to win the award, although she did not feature in the PFA’s Team of the Year for 2020.
## PFA’s Women’s Super League Team of the Year
The PFA’s Women’s Super League Team of the Year for 2020 is as follows: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Rafaelle Souza (Arsenal), Alex Greenwood (Man City), Maya le Tissier (Man Utd), Ona Batlle (Man Utd), Frida Maanum (Arsenal), Guro Reiten (Chelsea), Yui Hasegawa (Man City), Sam Kerr (Chelsea), Khadija Shaw (Man City), Rachel Daly (Aston Villa).
Meanwhile, Erling Haaland won the PFA men’s Player of the Year award and Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka was named Young Player of the Year for 2020.
The PFA Women’s Player of the Year awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of both Rachel Daly and Lauren James this season and a recognition of their contributions to their respective clubs and to women’s football as a whole. It is a great achievement for both players and a sign that women’s football is continuing to grow in popularity and recognition around the world.