PITTSBURGH (July 30, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riveters SC defender/midfielder Abi Hugh was selected as the Great Forest Division Player of the Year, the USL W League announced today with the release of all 15 divisions’ top players.
Hugh, 22, played a vital role in the Riveters’ inaugural season, in which the team won the Great Forest Division and was one of 16 teams to qualify for the USL W League Playoffs. The Huntington, W.Va. native started 10 of the Riveters’ 11 matches, missing only one match due to an off-field commitment, and she played the third-most minutes of any player on the team with 862.
Bringing a mix of speed and technical skill to the Riveters after her college career at Marshall and North Carolina State, Hugh’s biggest asset to the team was her versatility. Hugh was the opening night starter at left back for the Riveters to utilize her skills as a two-way player, but as injuries and absences shook up the lineup, she became a piece that moved many spots on the field, as needed. Of her 10 starts, four were at left back, three were at center back, two were as a defensive midfielder and one was as an attacking midfielder on the left side.
Hugh also proved to be a key contributor delivering balls for the Riveters on set pieces, and though she only recorded one official assist on the season, it was a crucial one — a pinpoint cross in the run of play setting up Olivia Damico‘s header for an important second goal in the 3-1 road win at Steel City FC.
The success Hugh experienced in Year 1 for the Riveters quickly led to her next opportunity, as earlier this month, she signed her first professional contract with Apollon Ladies FC. The Limassol, Cyprus-based club is the defending champion of the Cypriot First Division and begins its season next month in the second qualifying round for the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
To see the complete list of Divisional Players of the Year, visit uslwleague.com.
