The Washington Spirit have announced that rising star Croix Bethune will miss the remainder of the 2024 season due to a significant injury. On Wednesday, the NWSL team revealed that Bethune suffered a torn meniscus, though the circumstances surrounding the injury were unexpected. According to Spirit head coach Jonatan Giráldez, the injury occurred at an MLB game rather than during training.
Bethune, who recently won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA this summer, had the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for the Washington Nationals on August 28. Just days later, she missed the Spirit’s 1-1 draw against the San Diego Wave, leading to questions about her absence.
“She had a problem making the first pitch in the baseball game,” Giráldez said after the match, as reported by the Associated Press. “She is not going to be available this season. It is part of life. You have to keep going.” His comments appeared to confirm that Bethune’s injury occurred during or as a result of her appearance at the Nationals’ game.
Bethune had appeared at Nationals Park alongside her Washington Spirit and Olympic teammates Trinity Rodman, Casey Krueger, and Hal Hershfelt, proudly representing her team. The 23-year-old midfielder even posted photos from the event on social media, with no indication that anything had gone wrong at the time.
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Bethune’s absence is a significant blow for the Spirit. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft, she had a standout rookie season, contributing five goals and 10 assists. Her dynamic playmaking ability and midfield presence made her a key figure for the Spirit as they push for the playoffs. Prior to joining the NWSL, Bethune was a standout at Georgia, scoring 13 goals in her final college season after transferring from USC, where she amassed 75 points in 48 games.
As an alternate for Team USA, Bethune’s Olympic success earlier this summer only added to her impressive resume, making her one of the most promising young talents in women’s soccer. Unfortunately, her season-ending injury will keep her off the field just as the Spirit are gearing up for a potential championship run.
Despite Bethune’s absence, the Washington Spirit remain a formidable team. With 12 wins out of their 18 matches this season, they sit in second place in the NWSL standings, trailing only the Orlando Pride.
The Spirit have amassed 38 points and boast an impressive plus-17 goal differential, but losing a key player like Bethune will certainly test their depth as they continue their campaign.
Bethune’s journey in 2024 may have come to an early end, but she’s shown incredible potential. Fans will be eagerly awaiting her return, hoping that she can bounce back stronger than ever for the 2025 season.
