March 11, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – Washington Spirit News Release
Washington, D.C. – The Washington Spirit has signed six first-year players to its active roster, the club announced today. Draft picks including midfielders Croix Bethune, Courtney Brown, Hal Hershfelt and Makenna Morris and defender Kate Wiesner all signed with the club to officially begin their respective NWSL careers. Midfielder Heather Stainbrook has also signed a contract to join the Spirit. All six players have been training with the club during preseason camp since January. Forward Anna Podojil, the Spirit’s third round draft pick this year, has not yet reported to preseason camp as she continues to rehab a knee injury.
“We have an excellent class of first-year players this season and we expect them to have an immediate impact on this team,” said President of Soccer Operations/General Manager Mark Krikorian. “Signing this year’s rookie class is an important step in taking the Spirit toward the club’s goal of competing at a high level year in and year out.”
This Spirit’s 2024 class of first-year players includes four first round draft picks for the first time since 2019. The high-caliber talent of this season’s newcomers are representative of the club’s goal of becoming the preeminent sports organization in the world. Adding to its roster of world-class talent already featuring seven players with senior international experience, the Spirit looks to establish itself as a standard in the NWSL by continuing to develop its athletes from the moment they enter the league throughout their careers.
Full details of each player’s contract can be found below:
M Croix Bethune: three-year contract, option for 2027
Bethune was drafted by the Spirit with the third overall pick in January’s NWSL Draft. The 2023 SEC Tournament MVP started her career at the University of Southern California (2019-2022, playing with Spirit defender Tara McKeown for her first several seasons) before playing her final season at Georgia. Bethune, a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist (2021) and two-time Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year (2021, 2022), earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors for three consecutive years (2020-2022) and Second Team All-SEC in 2023. Bethune also previously played with midfielder Hal Hershfelt prior to college and with defender Kate Wiesner at the youth national team level.
M Hal Hershfelt: three-year contract
Hershfelt, a five-year standout at Clemson, was taken by the Spirit with the…