Sky Blue FC forward Natasha Kai has been selected WPS's Player of the Week for Week 17 after leading the New Jersey club to a victory and a tie to remain in fourth place and in position for the final Women's Professional Soccer playoff berth.

The Hawaii-born forward scored her fourth and fifth goals of the campaign, in the fifth and 86th minutes, as Sky Blue FC (6-6-4) collected a 4-4 draw with the visiting Washington Freedom last Wednesday night. Her second strike provided a 4-3 lead that was wiped away after she departed in the 87th minute.

On Sunday, Kai led Sky Blue FC with a consistent attack and totaled six shots, coming oh-so-close to scoring three goals, in a 1-0 thriller Sunday over visiting Chicago.

Kai is the first Sky Blue FC player honored as Player of the Week and all seven teams have now had at least one POW award winner. This makes Kai an automatic nomination for the July WPS Player of the Month Award.

WPS's Player of the Week award is selected by a panel of writers with the North American Soccer Reporters.

WPS Players of the Week

Week 1: Aya Miyama (Los Angeles Sol)
Week 2: Marta (Los Angeles Sol)
Week 3: Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers)
Week 4: Aly Wagner (Los Angeles Sol)
Week 5: Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)
Week 6: Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom)
Week 7: Lori Chalupny (Saint Louis Athletica)
Week 8: Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride)
Week 9: Jillian Loyden (Saint Louis Athletica)
Week 10: Shannon Boxx (Los Angeles Sol)
Week 11: Camille Abily (Los Angeles Sol)
Week 12: Eniola Aluko (Saint Louis Athletica)
Week 13: Erin McLeod (Washington Freedom)
Week 14: Marta (Los Angeles Sol)
Week 15: Lindsay Tarpley (Chicago Red Stars)
Week 16: Cristiane (Chicago Red Stars)
Week 17: Natasha Kai (Sky Blue FC)