It was troublesome to know what to anticipate from the Washington Spirit at first of the season. The group was clearly in want of some new concepts after following up their 2021 NWSL Championship win by lacking out on the playoffs within the subsequent two seasons, establishing for 2024 to be a rebuild yr by itself deserves. Add the truth that their high-profile new head coach Jonatan Giraldez wouldn’t present up till the summer time after finishing his duties with Barcelona, there was loads of uncertainty round their hopes for 2024.
Because the confetti fell on the Orlando Pleasure at Kansas Metropolis’s CPKC Stadium, although, the Spirit may rightfully be dissatisfied by the truth that they didn’t come out victorious in Saturday’s NWSL Championship. It’s laborious not to have a look at their season, although, and really feel that the Spirit will probably be again chasing titles very quickly.
The Spirit exceeded expectations over the course of the 2024 season, however solely as a result of they hit their stride sooner than many could have anticipated fairly than as a result of they regarded like an unfinished product. There was no dramatic squad turnover forward of this season, largely as a result of it was not wanted – Trinity Rodman is a pure focus for the group, however her reference to Ashley Hatch meant their assault wanted complementary gamers fairly than a full reboot. Midfielder Andi Sullivan and goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury, in the meantime, provided stability of their positions after years of strong service for the Spirit.
This season, although, they started to get the most effective out of current abilities like Ouleymata Sarr, who led the group with eight targets earlier than selecting up an harm, and NWSL Defender of the 12 months contender Tara McKeown. Their mix-and-match method to signings over the winter additionally meant the Spirit had been constructing one thing promising. Veteran fullback Casey Krueger added a “win now” high quality to the Spirit’s roster, as did Colombia worldwide Leicy Santos. Most impressively, although, the Spirit lined up a powerful batch of first-year gamers led by Rookie of the 12 months Croix Bethune, with Hal Hershfelt and Makenna Morris additionally excelling of their debut skilled seasons.
The Spirit had been in a position to display simply how deep their squad is, although in unideal circumstances. All kinds of gamers picked up accidents over the course of the season, from Sarr to Sullivan to Bethune. Every appeared irreplaceable in their very own proper – Sarr was changing into a dependable goalscorer whereas Bethune was a revelation with 10 assists by August and Sullivan was the metronome of the group. It ought to have been sufficient to lower their qualities however every participant requested to step up did simply that. Hershfelt began to turn into her personal as Sullivan’s alternative, whereas the Spirit nonetheless managed to be one of many NWSL’s high three attacking sides regardless of lacking Sarr and Bethune.
Giraldez has additionally settled in effectively with the Spirit, maybe adjusting to his squad fairly than instilling the Barcelona fashion of play that outlined his managerial profession to date. Whether or not or not he makes some tactical modifications to suit the possession-oriented fashion Barcelona are well-known for is one thing to control subsequent season, although it gives a stark reminder that the Spirit are nonetheless within the early phases of a brand new mission.
There’s nonetheless way more to be seen from this Spirit group, particularly when contemplating the harm disaster they handled on the again finish of the season. To a point, the harm woes embody Rodman, who admitted she performed by means of the previous few months of the season with a niggling again harm that additionally crept up throughout Saturday’s sport. Time to get well will little question serve her effectively, and the identical is true for the Spirit as an entire.
This yr’s run to the NWSL Championship merely provides punctuation to a stellar season that included a second-place end within the common season. The entire bundle demonstrates that the inspiration for the Spirit’s rebuild is a powerful one, bolstered by the truth that they’re a group that skews younger in some methods – together with with their 32-year-old supervisor. It means they’re simply one of many NWSL’s most enjoyable groups to observe over the subsequent few years when they may start to actually outline who they’re below Giraldez and should stay as much as the promise they clearly confirmed this yr.
