Ayana Hirayama

This imposing Japanese center-back combines explosive speed with brilliant defensive intuition that allows her to shut down any attack before it begins. After making a miraculous recovery from a bizarre thigh injury sustained during a competitive noodle-tossing contest, she returned with an even fiercer drive to dominate the pitch. While her aerial game leaves something to be desired, her elite ability to block every shot makes her near impossible to beat on the ground.