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After a busy week of offseason announcements, the Washington Spirit entered Friday with two first-round picks in the NWSL Draft and a roster largely unchanged from last season. As the day came to a close, the Spirit welcomed a draft class of college football's top talent — at the expense of two long-time starters who had helped shape the club's core.
In two blockbuster trades, the Spirits sent star midfielder Ashley Sanchez to the North Carolina Courage for the No. 5 pick and $250,000 in draft money and dealt defensive star Sam Staab to the Chicago Red Stars for the No. 3 pick.
The deals gave the Spirit four first-round picks, the most of the 14 teams assembled in Anaheim, California. The club used them to put together a strong group: Georgia midfielder Croix Bethune (No. 3), Clemson midfielder Hal Hershfelt (No. 5), Penn State defender Kate Wiesner (No. 7) and Clemson defender Makenna Morris (No. 13).
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But they came at a price. Sanchez, drafted fourth overall by Washington in 2020, was a standout attacking midfielder for the Spirit whose skills and electric footwork made her one of the NWSL's most exciting young players. The 24-year-old has made 27 appearances for the US national team and was part of the 2023 World Cup squad.
“Ashley is an exceptionally talented player with an intense competitive drive,” general manager Mark Krikorian said in a press release. “We are grateful for everything she has brought to DC, both as a player and as a professional, and wish her all the best in this next step of her career.”
The 26-year-old Staab was selected No. 4 by the Spirit in the 2019 draft and developed into a fixture on defense. She set an NWSL record with 90 consecutive regular season starts and played every minute of Washington's final three seasons. The centre-back received the 2023 Best XI award and was a finalist for the league's Defender of the Year award.
“We cannot say enough about Sam's reliability and defensive prowess during her five years with the team,” Krikorian said. “She has truly been an unsung hero since joining the Spirit, and the organization wishes her nothing but the best for the future in a promising career.”
Bethune has been the Spirits' highest pick since Trinity Rodman was the second pick in 2021. One of the most creative prospects in the draft, she scored 30 goals in four college seasons and should be a contender to fill the void left by Sanchez in the midfield. Morris, a Germantown native, was a two-time All-Met at St. John's.
The Spirit added Arkansas forward Anna Podojil with the 35th pick and Utah midfielder Courtney Brown with the 49th pick.
The Utah Royals and Bay FC, the two expansion teams entering the NWSL this season, had the first two picks of the draft. Ally Sentnor, a 19-year-old forward/midfielder from North Carolina, was selected No. 1 by Utah. Bay FC selected 18-year-old Tar Heels defenseman Savy King with the second pick.
Florida State's Lauren Flynn (Yorktown) and Penn State's Ellie Wheeler (Fairfax Station) were drafted in the second round by Utah and Kansas City Current, respectively. University of Virginia defender Talia Staude went to the Courage in the second round.
The Spirit announced on Tuesday the hiring of Barcelona's Jonatan Giráldez as their next coach. It signed U.S. national team defender Casey Krueger on Wednesday. Free agent forward Brittany Ratcliffe, an eight-year NWSL veteran and former U-Va. standout, also agreed to a three-year deal with Washington.
Remarks: The NWSL hopes to release its regular season schedule by the end of the month, commissioner Jessica Berman said at a press conference ahead of the draft. … The league aims to implement a full rebrand next year and plans to add two expansion teams in Boston and a yet-to-be-determined location in 2026. … The salary cap this offseason is $2.75 million, an increase from 40 percent last season.