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Bethune, McKeown and Rodman named to shortlists for 2024 honors after historic Washington Spirit season
Washington, D.C. (11/12/2024) – Washington Spirit players have been named finalists for four different end-of-year NWSL awards for their stellar play during the 2024 season, the league announced today. Trinity Rodman has been named a finalist for the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, Tara McKeown for Defender of the Year and Croix Bethune for both Midfielder of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
Trinity Rodman – Most Valuable Player
With eight goals and six assists across 23 matches played, Rodman was the Spirit’s co-scoring leader for the first time in her career. At just 22 years old, the two-time Ballon d’Or finalist became the youngest player in league history to reach 50 career goal contributions across all NWSL competitions with her output in 2024. Rodman’s impact on the pitch extends far beyond her goal contributions. The standout forward can create chances at will, consistently igniting the Spirit attacking third and setting up her teammates for scoring threats. In her fourth professional season, this is Rodman’s first time as an MVP finalist.
Tara McKeown – Defender of the Year
In just her second season since converting from forward to center back, McKeown recorded the first Iron Woman season of her career, playing every available minute this regular season. She is the fourth Spirit player in history to accomplish this feat and joins seven other players from around the NWSL this season. She was a key defensive leader, playing every minute of an NWSL-record 18 wins this season and helping the Spirit tie for the third-lowest goals against average (1.08). McKeown also ranked in the top four in the NWSL in the following categories: headed clearances (#1 – 68), clearances (#3 – 135), touches (#4 – 1,961) and passes completed (#4 – 1,399). The star defender also tallied her first goal of 2024 with an equalizer from outside the box late in the Spirit’s quarterfinal match against Bay FC, leading the team to victory after extra time.
Croix Bethune – Midfielder of the Year & Rookie of the Year
Bethune had a standout rookie season for the Spirit, recording five goals, ten assists and a league-record four Rookie of the Month honors in just 17 matches. Her ten assists tied an all-time NWSL single season record, matching Tobin Heath’s NWSL record set in 2016, a mark Bethune equaled in a span of just 12 matches. Bethune’s five goals tied for the lead amongst rookies in 2024, despite missing the final nine matches of the regular season. In the Spirit’s home opener this season, Bethune introduced herself to DC fans with a second half stoppage time winner against Bay FC. Less than three months later, she tallied another result-changing score, finding the back of the net in the final minute of stoppage time to draw San Diego in front of a Spirit club record 19,897 fans. In doing so, she became the first player in NWSL history to record two result-changing goals after the 95th minute.
The final round of voting uses a weighted scale of players (40%), owners/GMs/coaches (25%), media (25%) and fans (10%). Fans can submit their votes here. Award winners will be announced in the days surrounding the 2024 NWSL Championship, presented by Google Pixel. The match, set for Saturday, November 23, kicks off at 8 p.m. EST at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri and will air live on CBS Television Network and stream on Paramount+.
The Spirit will take the field next on Saturday, November 16 when the side hosts rival NJ/NY Gotham FC in the first NWSL semifinal match at Audi Field. Following last weekend’s quarterfinal sellout, limited tickets are available here.
About The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. In 2024, the Spirit drafted an epic class of rookies who are already breaking records and wowing fans. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
