After starting the off-season with a Kelley O’Hara-sized hole in their defense, the Spirit have confirmed the return of free agents Nicole Barnhart, Amber Brooks, and Tori Huster. All three are established veterans of the league who bring a plethora of experience to a youthful Spirit squad.
The Spirit have re-signed Defender Camryn Biegalski and Midfielder Marissa Sheva.
Swedish International Julia Roddar was extended a new contract offer but has left the Spirit to play in her home country.
The team has also announced the signing of a young Canadian international, Defender Gabrielle Carle.
On the other side of the ball, the Spirit have brought Mark Parsons back to the NWSL after a short stint in the Netherlands. Parsons was previously with the Spirit from 2013-2015, and will again serve as Head Coach.
Most notably, Dawn Scott joins the club in Washington as the newly established Senior Director of Performance, Medical and Innovation. Morinao Imaizumi also joins the Spirit Technical Staff as a Player Development Coach.
The Spirit have struck a deal to play all home games at Audi Field in DC, and will no longer be splitting their time between Audi and Segra Field in Leesburg, VA.
Draft Day Trades
All off-season trades for the Washington Spirit occurred during the 2023 NWSL Draft, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth noting. Having previously engaged in trades over the past few seasons that involved two of the Spirit’s natural draft picks, the team entered the Philadelphia Convention Center with two draft picks and left with six draftees.
The Spirit were rather quiet the first two rounds, and then the trades just kept coming.
$75,000 in allocation money went to Orlando for the 29th and 34th overall picks.
$30,000 in allocation money and the 29th overall pick went to Louisville for the 28th overall pick.
A player to be named later was traded to OL Reign in exchange for the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 Draft and the Reign’s natural first-round pick in the 2024 Draft. This player was later announced to be two-time NWSL Champion, Olympic Bronze Medalist, and World Cup Winner Emily Sonnett.
$30,000 in allocation money and the newly acquired 32nd overall pick went to Houston for the 30th overall pick.
$25,000 in allocation money went to Louisville in exchange for the 40th overall pick.
Who did they draft?
The Spirit ended the night having selected players with the 26th, 28th, 30th, 34th, 37th, and 40th picks in the 2023 NWSL Draft. These picks were Forward Nicole Douglas from Arizona State, Goalkeeper Lyza Bosselmann from Gonzaga, Winger Riley Tanner from the University of Alabama, Forward Lena Silano from Long Beach State, Forward Civana Kuhlmann from the University of Colorado, and Midfielder Delaney Graham from Duke.
While Graham is recovering from surgery and has yet to report for the Spirit, the remaining draftees have all been signed for the upcoming season.
Additional Signings
Midfielder Inès Jaurena, former student-athlete of Mark Krikorian at Florida State and teammate of Washington fan-favorite Tori Huster, left Lyon to join the Spirit on a one-year contract.
Midfielder Chloe Ricketts, a U18 Non-Roster Invitee, was signed to a three-year contract per NWSL rules for the signing of minors. Ricketts is 15 years old and occupies one of two potential roster spots for minors.
Non-Roster Invitee, Midfielder Paige Metayer was signed to a three-year deal with an option for 2026.