Nesbitt is not just the first woman to be named the 2020 MLS Assistant Referee of the Year, but she is also the first woman to earn year-end recognition, either through an award or championship assignment, in any of the five North American men’s professional sports leagues.
Nesbitt’s year began in Orlando at the MLS is Back Tournament, where she was assigned to the final on August 11, 2020. With that assignment, she became the first woman to be named to a league final officiating crew. Fast forward to Dec. 12, 2020, Nesbitt was back on the sideline when the Columbus Crew took down the Seattle Sounders 3-0 in the MLS Cup Final. Also, she earned 30 assignments in all positions this year, doubling her total in each of the last two seasons.
#NGWSD | #LeadHerForward
— mlsworks (@MLSWORKS) February 3, 2021
Kathryn Nesbitt was named the 2020 @MLS Assistant Referee of the Year, becoming the 1st woman official to earn year-end recognition, thanks to her breakout 2020 season.
She made history as the 1st woman to be named to a league final officiating crew. pic.twitter.com/UEpvgYOPSz
The Philadelphia native made her Major League Soccer debut in 2015, two years after starting her professional refereeing debut in the National Women’s Soccer League. Nesbitt sealed a spot for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France last year led a group of 10 women officials who collectively earned a total of 74 assignments this season.
Among the three candidates for MLS Assistant Referee of the Year were veteran Corey Rockwell, who won the award in 2011, and debutant Cory Richardson. MLS club technical staff, media and MLS players were the ones in charge of the vote, and Nesbitt was the winner after eclipsing the other two candidates with 56.35% of all the votes.
