November 15, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Washington Spirit News Release
Washington, D.C. – The Washington Spirit has made several roster moves this offseason in preparation for its upcoming 11th season in 2023, the club announced today.
The Spirit has exercised 2023 team options for defender Sam Staab, midfielders Jordan Baggett, Dorian Bailey, Bayley Feist and Anna Heilferty and forwards Maddie Elwell and Tara McKeown.
Washington has also extended new contract offers to defenders Camryn Biegalski and Julia Roddar and midfielder Marissa Sheva as their current contracts expire on December 31.
The Spirit has four players who are part of the NWSL’s first-ever free agent class: goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, defender Amber Brooks, midfielder Tori Huster and defender Kelley O’Hara. These players were able to begin negotiations for their 2023 Standard Player Agreements on Friday, August 26, 2022. Agreements for all NWSL free agents will be announced when the terms are finalized through the league office.
The club would like to express its gratitude to midfielder Taylor Aylmer, forward Averie Collins, goalkeeper Devon Kerr and defender Karina Rodriguez for everything they brought to the Spirit over the past several seasons. In their tenure, these five players all played key roles in bringing the District its first NWSL championship in 2021.
Additionally, the Spirit thanks forward Audrey Harding, defender Alia Martin and midfielder Gaby Vincent for their contributions to the 2022 team after joining the side last offseason.
Aylmer and Martin will not be returning to the Spirit next season as the club declined the 2023 team options on their contracts, releasing the players’ rights to be distributed through the waiver wire. Should their rights not be picked up through the waiver wire, they will become eligible for the discovery process. Aylmer joined the Spirit as a national team replacement in July 2021 before signing a full contract with the team the following month. Aylmer appeared in 32 total matches with the Spirit and totaled over 1,500 minutes of playing time. Martin signed with the Spirit in December 2021 after completing her senior season at Michigan but did not appear in 2022.
“We’re certainly going to miss having Taylor and Alia with the club,” said Spirit club president Mark Krikorian. “Both players are a great addition to any organization and we look forward to seeing their continued successes.”
The contracts of Collins, Harding, Kerr,…