Hi all, Im going to the away game with Orlando this week and I’m wondering if it would be safe to wear my Spirit support. I feel the home games are very family friendly but I’m concerned how the Orlando public is, being number one right now and stuff. Advice?

https://x.com/NWSL/status/1840854794011127827?t=X2fFQNB9u3VFP7aX9NYKtQ

I realize everyone has been asking this, but wondering if there are updates (that I've missed) on Rodman, Sarr, or Krueger- Sarr has been out for some time?

Morris. Every time I've seen Morris play, she's excellent. My ideal starting combo up top would be some combo of Rodman and Sarr (because they play well together and connect) and Morris or Kouassi (based on complementary speeds and connection), with Hatch, Ratcliff, and Brown as subs. I don't really get why (particularly with Rodman and Sarr out) she is not starting or playing more? Wondering if I'm missing something or other thoughts....

Confirmed as of minutes ago. https://audifield.com/audi-field-named-as-a-host-stadium-for-the-historic-fifa-club-world-cup-2025/

No official announcement for this yet, but Audi field is a strong possibility for hosting matches. June 15 to July 13, so we will see how this affects the teams schedule. I wonder if we end up with not many home matches between season start and July 15.

I think we are 1 point away from assuring at least 1 home field playoff game, right? Warming up my credit card ....

The Washington Spirit are playing Angel City on Friday night without Rodman, Sarr, Bethune, or Krueger… and I still believe they will win. Anyone else feel that way or am I delusional?

Were these made preseason and never revisited? This is crazy.

Rodman: 84

Sarr: 83

Kingsbury: 83

Butel: 82

Hatch: 82

Sullivan: 81

Kouassi: 80

Krueger: 77

Carle: 76

Barnhart: 75

McKeown: 75

Bethune: 74

Morgan: 74

Ratcliffe: 74

Heilferty: 72

Metayer: 72

Hershfelt: 71

Wiesner: 71

Brown: 69

Kuhlmann: 69

Silano: 69

Bosselmann: 67

Stainbrook: 67

Morris: 65

Ricketts: 62

Source: https://www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/ratings/teams-ratings/washington-spirit/116304

https://www.marca.com/futbol/futbol-femenino/primera-division/2024/09/24/66eef556268e3e1d0a8b459f.html

P. Have you found many differences between the F League and the NWSL?

R. I don't like to compare because if you say something good about something it seems that the other is bad, but there are some. Here you have to sweat the fat drop to win any game because it is a very equal League where most matches are decided by few goals and many are scored in the last minutes. It is very difficult to close the games, something that in Spain, according to my experience, was easier to achieve. In addition, all the show around, with fireworks, national anthem and so on make the League an attractive product that many people see and is selling very well. Families who go to the stadium have fun because they not only watch a soccer game, but they spend a great day with their family.

The NWSL is an attractive product that many people see and is selling very well

Jonatan Giráldez, Washington Spirit coach

P. Have you mastered the physical (playing style in the NWSL)? R. What predominates the most (in the NWSL) is the conditional aspect, but there are players of a lot of level. In addition, players are coming from other countries, with other cultures, another way of playing and understanding football. It is true that the characteristics of the players here make the games completely crazy: transitions, little control, a lot of clear opportunity... That favors the show. What I'm trying to do is have a little more control in the games, that what you want happens, but without giving up the characteristics of the players we have and that as a coach I like to exploit.

P. Does this Washington Spirit have any Barça DNA?

R. Comparing with Barça is an odyssey for the characteristics of the players and the experience of the team. What we (Spirit coaches) are proposing (teaching) is to have blocks or structures where the players are much closer, where the distances of pass and relationship are closer, that the players understand the pass as a means of communication and the position as a means of progression. I am seeing a very important improvement because the players are very open and receptive to grow, improve and train more so that they can improve their version. We are achieving what I call “tactical harmony” and that allows our attacks to be comfortable and in turn, when we lose the ball, the team is as compensated as possible.

See Spirit release. I don't think she ever got in a game, if I recall correctly . Not even in the summer cup games, where Spirit literally were bringing in players for 1-game rentals. Hope she finds PT in Dallas (she can get some lessons on birding from Amber Brook, nyuck, nyuck).

Buuuuuut this move also opens up a roster spot. Which leads me to make groundless speculation about whether a new signing might be in the works -- and hopefully not because another player is expected to be out.

Maybe a loan up from a USL team? Pickings from European leagues have to be slim by now.

I spent so long trying to find good copies of her tats but decided to go with whatever was on Community Creations after I realized the white of the background would be too distracting.

https://preview.redd.it/5gr8l6alheqd1.png?width=2560&format=png&auto=webp&s=c9ec11a4bf09109c52723707551b98557d1d4c23

https://preview.redd.it/ge903oqlheqd1.png?width=2560&format=png&auto=webp&s=c5e3dd120a9da988e6e0f28526b4ff291cb32fab

https://preview.redd.it/p3q89mqlheqd1.png?width=2560&format=png&auto=webp&s=29cf8a9071af828ab81b114a9aae791ba7b825b5

Pondered this game on my long run today and had the following thoughts/questions. Would love others insights.

• we can be great in fast transitions and can execute a high press. It feels like we've done less of that recently. Is this just a gap bc Sarr and Bethune are out? There were several times I noticed Trin being (surprisingly) open. I get the slow build off the back but at times we need to quickly counter...
• I hope Trin and Sarr can take this week off and we can still walk away with a win against LA (and Tara, Hal, Kruger recover.)
• Pre Olympics it seemed like we were always been building and there was a lot joy on the field. In SD and KC games we seemed so flat- is it burn out, injury, both... or the transition from Adrian to Jona?
• Hope do we build a back line that has more clean sheets? (I genuinely don't know)

Hopefully Spirit have a lot of ice baths for the team this week. Rough.

BACKGROUND NOTE: You may find greater value from the high-level summary of the origins of the 2024 Spirit roster and its leadership posted on this subreddit here.

However, if you actually end up reviewing this reference post that provides a more detailed, very long chronology of the 2024 Spirit roster, feel free to flag anything relevant that you think may be incorrect or missing!

Previously on the Washington Spirit... 

January 16, 2018: Spirit acquired Ashley Hatch as part of a trade.

• In addition to Hatch, the Spirit also acquired Taylor Smith in exchange for the North Carolina Courage acquiring an international roster spot and the NWSL rights to Crystal Dunn.

January 18, 2018: Spirit drafted Andi Sullivan (Stanford University) with the first overall pick of the 2018 college draft. 

January 23, 2018: Spirit acquired Aubrey Bledsoe (post-future marriage, Aubrey Kingsbury) as part of a trade. 

• In addition to Bledso, the Spirit also received the #1 pick in the 2019 college draft in exchange for the Orlando Pride acquiring defender Shelina Zadorsky.

September 27, 2018: Spirit announced re-signing Bledsoe (aka, Kingsbury) to a new contract. 

March 1, 2019: Spirit announced contract developments, including re-signing Hatch to a new contract and Sullivan had a 2019 option picked up.

November 14, 2019: Spirit announced off-season roster updates, including exercising the 2020 option for Hatch. 

January 9, 2020: Spirit announced re-signing Sullivan and Bledsoe (aka, Kingsbury).

October 28, 2020: Spirit announced re-signing seven players, including Hatch to a two-year contract with a club option for 2023.

December 29, 2020: Spirit announced that Michele Kang had joined the Spirit ownership group. 

January 14, 2021: Spirit drafted five players through the 2021 NWSL College Draft, including:

• No. 2 (Round 1): Trinity Rodman (Washington State University)
• No. 8 (Round 1): Tara McKeown (USC)
  • The Spirit sent $100,000 in allocation money and the second round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft to Sky Blue FC in exchange for the #8 pick in this draft.
• No. 19 (Round 2): Anna Heilferty (Boston University)

March 12, 2021: Spirit signed, among other players, Rodman to a three-year contract through 2023 and Heilferty to a two-year contract with an option for 2023. 

April 23, 2021: Spirit announced re-signing Bledsoe to a three-year contract through 2023 and extending Sullivan’s contract through 2022 and 2023 (at the conclusion of Sullivan’s US-allocated contract through 2021).

May 15, 2021: Spirit signed McKeown to a two-year contract with an option for 2023.

December 22, 2021: Spirit re-signed Hatch to a two-year contract through the 2023 season with a team option for 2024.

January 31, 2022: Spirit announced signing Nicole Barnhart (for a one-year contract through the end of the 2022 season). 

February 2, 2022: Spirit re-signed Rodman to a contract extension through the 2024 season with an option for 2025.

March 30, 2022: Spirit announced that Michele Kang had officially become the majority, controlling interest owner of the Spirit. Kang was born in South Korea, immigrated to the United States as a student, and as part of a successful career was most well-known for being founder and CEO of Cognosante, a medical technology company. 

June 23, 2022: Spirit named Mark Krikorian President of Soccer Operations and General Manager. Krikorian was previously head coach of Florida State University’s women’s soccer program for 17 years, and also served as the head coach of the Philadelphia Charge in the Women’s United Soccer Association between 2000 and 2003. 

August 27, 2022: Spirit added Mike Bristol to its coaching staff. Bristol most recently held an assistant coaching position at Florida State University as part of Mark Krikorian’s staff for 13 seasons. Bristol is a defensive specialist. 

November 1, 2022: Spirit named Dawn Scott Senior Director of Performance, Medical and Innovation. Scott’s experience includes roles with Inter Miami, the U.S. Women’s National Team, England Women’s National Team, FIFA, UEFA and MLS.

November 7, 2022: Spirit added Morinao Imaizumi to its coaching staff. Imaizumi had most recently served as an assistant coach with the Chicago Red Stars, and before that was a member of Mark Krikorian’s coaching staff at Florida State University for roughly a decade. He also has a lot of coaching and playing experience in Japan (e.g., national team). 

November 15, 2022: Spirit exercised 2023 options for a number of players, including Heilferty and McKeown. 

December 12, 2022: Spirit announced signing Gabrielle Carle to a two-year contract with a team option for 2025. Carle was previously signed to Kristianstads DFF (Sweden), played for Florida State University in college (i.e., Krikorian connection), and occupied an international roster spot (she is Canadian).

December 22, 2022: Spirit announced signing Nicole Barnhart (for a one-year contract through the end of the 2023 season).

January 12, 2023: Spirit drafted six players through the 2023 NWSL College Draft, including:

• No. 28 (Round 3): Lyza Bosselmann (Gonzaga University). 
  • The Spirit first sent $75,000 in allocation money to the Orlando Pride in exchange for the 29th and 34th overall picks in the 2023 draft. The Spirit then traded the year’s 29th overall pick and $30,000 in allocation money to Racing Louisville FC in exchange for the 28th overall pick in the draft.
• No. 34 (Round 3): Lena Silano (Long Beach State University). 
• No. 37 (Round 4): Civana Kuhlmann (University of Colorado Boulder). 

January 17, 2023: Spirit announced signing Heilferty to a new two-year contract with a team option for 2025 (replacing her current contract that was set to expire after the 2023 season).

January 19, 2023: Spirit announced signing McKeown to a new three-year contract with a team option for 2026 (replacing her current contract that was set to expire after the 2023 season).

January 30, 2023: Spirit announced signing Aubrey Kingsbury (nee Bledsoe) to a new three-year contract with a team option for 2026 (replacing her current contract that was set to expire after the 2023 season).

March 3, 2023: Spirit announced signing Chloe Ricketts to a three-year contract with an option for 2026 through the NWSL’s Under-18 Entry Mechanism.  

March 8, 2023: Spirit announced signing of 2023 rookie class to professional contracts, including:

• Lyza Bosselmann, Lena Silano, Civana Kuhlmann: two-year contract, plus option for 2025; and
• Paige Metayer: three-year contract, plus option for 2026

April 5, 2023: Spirit added Mami Yamaguchi to the coaching staff. Yamaguchi had most recently served as an assistant coach with Detroit City FC (men’s club), played professionally and for country (Japan), and attended Florida State University from 2005 to 2007 before turning pro  (i.e., Krikorian connection). 

June 20, 2023: Spirit announced they had exercised the 2024 contract option for Hatch, signed Sullivan to a new three-year contract with team option for 2026, and signed Carle to a new three-year contract with team option for 2026. 

June 30, 2023: Spirit announced signing of Ouleymata Sarr to a three-year contract through the end of the 2025 season. Sarr was previously signed to Paris FC, and occupied an international roster spot (she is French).

July 6, 2023: Spirit announced signing of Annaïg Butel to a two-year contract through the end of the 2024 season. She was previously signed to Paris FC, and occupied an international roster spot (she is French).

July 12, 2023: Spirit announced that Civana Kuhlmann had been placed on the SEI list.

November 20, 2023: Spirit announced they had exercised the following contract options: Rodman (2025), Kingsbury (2026), and Sullivan (2026).

December 12, 2023: Spirit announced trades related to the 2024 NWSL Expansion draft, including:

• trading Dorian Bailey to Bay FC in exchange for expansion draft protection; and
• trading second-round draft picks #20 and #21 to Utah Royals FC in exchange for expansion draft protection. (For the 2024 college draft, the Spirit originally acquired second-round pick #20 from Louisville through a 2023 trade in exchange for then-Spirit player Jordan Baggett, while Spirit’s natural second-round pick was #21.) 

December 20, 2023: Spirit announced: 

• signing Metayer to a new three-year contract with a 2027 option (replacing her current contract that was set to expire after the 2025 season); and
• signing Bosselmann to a new three-year contract with a 2027 option (replacing her current contract that was set to expire after the 2025 season)

January 5, 2024: Spirit signed Nicole Barnhart to a new, one-year contract through the end of the 2024 season. 

January 9, 2024: Spirit named Jonatan Giráldez Costas new Head Coach. 

• Jona’s contract with FC Barcelona Femení (as their head coach) was through the end of the club’s 2023-2024 season, so the Spirit did not have to buy him out of a contract. The length and financial terms of his contract with the Spirit have not been disclosed.

January 10, 2024: Spirit signed free agent Casey Krueger (most recently Chicago Red Stars) on a three-year contract through the end of the 2026 season. In college, Krueger played for Mark Krikorian at Florida State University.

January 11, 2024: Spirit signed free agent Brittany Ratcliffe (most recently NC Courage) on a three-year contract through the end of the 2026 season. 

January 12, 2024: Spirit drafted six players through the 2024 NWSL College Draft.

• No. 3 (Round 1): Croix Bethune (University of Georgia). 
  • The Spirit traded Sam Staab to the Chicago Red Stars in exchange for Chicago’s first round pick (#3) in the 2024 NWSL Draft.
• No. 5 (Round 1): Hal Hershfelt (Clemson University).
  • The Spirit traded Ashley Sanchez in exchange for North Carolina’s first round pick (#5) in the 2024 NWSL Draft and $250,000 in allocation money.
• No. 7 (Round 1): Kate Wiesner (Penn State University).
  • Under the terms of a January 12, 2023 trade, Washington traded Emily Sonnet in exchange for Seattle Reign's natural first round pick (#13) in the 2024 NWSL Draft.
• No. 13 (Round 1): Makenna Morris (Clemson University).
• The Spirit’s two Round 2 picks were traded away to the Utah Royals for 2024 Expansion Draft protection from that club (discussed earlier). 
• No. 35 (Round 3): Anna Podojil (University Arkansas).
• No. 49 (Round 4): Courtney Brown (University of Utah).

January 23, 2024: Spirit appointed Adrián González as Assistant Coach, interim Head Coach

• Jona helped identify Adrián as a coaching option for the Spirit. Jona first met “Adri” at Espanyol de Barcelona when Adri was an assistant coach for the U-16 team and Jona was completing his practicum in his final year as a Sports Science student. EDIT: Immediately prior to joining the Spirit, Adrian was the head coach for RCD Espanyol, a 2nd division women's team in Spain.

March 5, 2024: Spirit announced signing Hatch to a new three-year contract with a 2027 option (replacing her current contract that was set to expire after the 2024 season). 

March 11, 2024: Spirit announced official signing of 2024 rookie class to professional contracts.

• Bethune: three-year contract plus option for 2027;
• Hershfelt, Wiesner, Brown, and Heather Stainbrook (Utah Valley University, preseason non-roster invitee): three-year contract; and
• Morris: one-year contract.

March 13, 2024: Spirit announced final 2024 preseason roster.

April 2, 2024: Spirit announced signing of Leicy Santos.

• Santos was signed to a three-year contract through the end of the 2026 season via a transfer from Atlético Madrid (Spanish Liga F). It appears to have been a free transfer. (No fee was reported, and she was reportedly as of 2020 only signed with Atletico Madrid through the end of the club’s 2023-2024 season, June 2024.)
• Santos presumably occupies an international roster spot. She is Colombian and competes on their senior international team.

April 8, 2024: Spirit announced waiving of Riley Tanner. 

April 30, 2024: Spirit announced that Anna Heilferty had been placed on the SEI list. 

May 22, 2024: Spirit announced the signing of defender Waniya Hudson (on a one-year deal through the end of the 2024 season). 

June 13, 2024: Spirit announced signing of Esme Morgan.

• Morgan was signed to a four-year contract through the end of the 2027 season via a transfer from Manchester City (English Women’s Super League) for an undisclosed transfer fee.
• Morgan occupies an international roster spot (e.g., press coverage of the deal referenced her visa paperwork). She is English and competes on their senior international team.

June 20, 2024: Jonatan Giraldez officially joined the Spirit in DC.

July 6, 2024: Jonatan Giraldez officially assumed the Head Coach role for a match vs Bay FC. 

July 10, 2024: Spirit announced signing of Rosemonde Kouassi.

• Kouassi was signed to a four-year contract through the end of the 2027 season via a transfer from FC Fleury 91 Cœur d’Essonne (French Première Ligue) for an undisclosed transfer fee. 
• Kouassi occupies an international roster spot (Spirit announcement references her needing to receive her P-1 visa). She is originally from Côte d’Ivoire (sometimes still referred to by the English name “Ivory Coast”), a country for which Kouassi competes on the senior international level.

July 18, 2024: Spirit signed three players to national team replacement contracts – Jenna Butler, Kaylie Collins, and Olivia Stone – for the planned duration of the 2024 NWSL x LIGA MX Femenil Summer Cup. 

July 27, 2024: Spirit added two players on short-term loan – Jill Aguilera and Maya Gordon – for the duration of the Summer Cup. 

August 8, 2024: Spirit announced that Lyza Bosselmann had been placed on the SEI list. 

August 23, 2024: Spirit extended the contracts for Jenna Butler and Kaylie Collins through the end of 2024. 

September 13, 2024: Spirit signed Morris to another one-year contract, this one through the end of the 2025 season. 

September 19, 2024: Spirit re-signed McKeown to a new four-year contract through 2027 with a fifth-year option for 2028.

And that’s what you missed with the Washington Spirit! 

A few months ago I saw a post on r/RacingLouisvilleFC about how their 2024 roster was built. I thought it would be interesting to produce something addressing that same topic but for the Spirit. In this post, I share a a very high-level summary of the 2024 roster's origins as a potential source for big-picture reflections upon and comments about the 2024 Spirit roster and players' histories with the club.

(In another reddit post, I share a MUCH more detailed chronology for the true sickos amongst the Spirit fanbase. Among other considerations, that post is probably too long to be viable for reading on mobile devices, so I see that post as a reference rather than as viable place for r/washingtonspirit to potentially comment upon and discuss the origins of the 2024 Spirit roster.)

In reviewing the high-level summary below, I am intrigued by the fairly distinct cohorts of players I can artificially impose upon the 2024 Spirit roster. (You may see different patterns or make different observations.)

• For example, I see the 2018 "A" class of players who are now club veterans (Ashley, Andi, & Aubrey), the 2021 Championship-year rookies who are now also (but slightly younger) club veterans (Trinity, Tara, & Anna), and the Kang-era (post-ownership takeover) players and staff (i.e., 2023-2024 seasons). Alas, Nicole "Barnie" Barnhart is a roster orphan from 2022, fitting into none of these groups.
• Furthermore, when considering the Kang-era players, I would distinguish between the pre-Jona arrivals (Carle through Stainbrook) and post-Jona signings (beginning with Leicy Santos), The "post-Jona" distinction refers to signings upon which he would have potentially had the opportunity to exercise greater influence (keeping in mind that Krikorian as the GM is, to my understanding, still the person in charge of player recruitment).

Summary of 2024 Spirit Roster and Team/Club Leadership, by season of arrival

2013

• NWSL launched, with the Washington Spirit as one of eight inaugural teams. (DC also hosted teams in the previous two women's professional soccer leagues in the United States.)

2018

• Ashley Hatch
• Andi Sullivan
• Aubrey Kingsbury

2020

• Michele Kang joined the Spirit ownership group.

2021

• Trinity Rodman
• Tara McKeown
• Anna Heilferty
• The Spirit won the 2021 NWSL Championship.

2022

• Nicole Barnhart
• Michele Kang became controlling interest owner of the Spirit, and shortly thereafter appointed Mark Krikorian as President of Soccer Operations/General Manager.

2023

• Gabby Carle
• Lyza Bosselmann
• Lena Silano
• Civana Kuhlmann
• Paige Metayer
• Chloe Ricketts
• Ouleymata Sarr
• Annaig Butel

2024

• Casey Krueger
• Brittany Ratcliffe
• Croix Bethune
• Hal Hershfelt
• Kate Wiesner
• Makenna Morris
• Courtney Brown
• Heather Stainbrook
• Jonatan Giraldez named head coach, Adrian Gonzalez named assistant coach and interim head coach.
• Leicy Santos
• Waniya Hudson
• Esme Morgan
• Rosemonde Kouassi
• Jenna Butler
• Kaylie Collins

I have held my tongue for too long but I can't anymore. We can't keep going on like this as a team, as a fan base, as a community.

We cannot have a center back as our number 9. It's just not how you do things. My footballing brain just rejects it every time I see it. Hatch is up front rocking 33 while number 9 is in our back line? It feels like we're breaking a cardinal rule of football. Also after doing some very legitimate and scientific research I know that Hatch would be 48% more accurate in front of goal if she had the number 9 shirt there, so it's basically detrimental to the team to keep this going.

Now I know what you're going to say, years ago didn't William Gallas wear the number 10 shirt for Arsenal and he was a CB? Yes, and it was wrong then and it's wrong now! We need to be better people, we need to do better.

Let us return to the natural order of things and set this travesty right.

(Im a huge fan of Tara and this is a joke, but I constantly forget that's she's our number 9 and when I see it I go through the shock and confusion all over again every time.)

“Hatch brace” along the LITERAL BEST words to hear 🥰

https://www.youtube.com/live/c8OxPTQS3DI?si=OqIumRj_JoRt03V_

Someone asked about the after-match press conference. Here is this week. Loved the discussion about Esme.

I got the email stating I could purchase my playoff tickets. When I went to my invoice it only showed a balance of $4 ($2 processing fee for each seat). My account activity shows that I should be charged $336+$4. But I paid the $4 and now the invoice says that I have paid for my playoff tickets. The tickets even show up as blank in my ticket manager and just say “Your ticket is not available to be managed”. Anyone else having an odd blank invoice? I don’t want to lose my seats but wanted to check first before reaching out to my rep.

Curious if there’s any news. Hopefully she’s back for the next match…