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Bethune quickly emerged as one of the NWSL’s best with five goals and ten assists across just 17 matches
Washington, D.C. (11/19/2024) – Washington Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune has been named the Rookie of the Year, presented by Ally for being the best first-year pro in the NWSL this season, the league announced today. Bethune was also recently named to the Best XI First Team as one of the best 11 players in the league in 2024.
After being taken with the third overall pick in January’s NWSL Draft, Bethune became an impact player for the Spirit almost instantly. The midfielder earned a spot in the starting lineup for the first match of the season and never looked back, scoring three goals in her first five appearances, including a stoppage time winner in Washington’s home opener at Audi Field. In her sixth career match, Bethune tallied her first career assist and would add nine more over the following 11 matches to match the NWSL’s single season record before her season ended prematurely due to a knee injury.
First goal.
First game-winner.
First Spirit win. @CroixBethune 👑 pic.twitter.com/ie4PfW4HL1— Washington Spirit – x (@WashSpirit) March 24, 2024
During the Spirit’s away match against the Chicago Red Stars on May 1, Bethune became the fourth player in league history to record three assists in a single match. She set up Trinity Rodman for a first half score before finding Brittany Ratcliffe with two through balls late in the second half to put the match away.
🚨super sub alert 🚨 @brit_ratcliffe just scored TWICE 🤌pic.twitter.com/VNZxcUYQUY
— Washington Spirit – x (@WashSpirit) May 2, 2024
In a season full of highlights for the young phenom, perhaps Bethune’s best play of the year came on June 15 against San Diego in front of a club record 19,897 fans at Audi Field. With the Spirit trailing by a goal late in second half stoppage time, Bethune corralled a long ball in the box before firing a shot home to equalize and sending the sellout crowd into a frenzy.
CROIX CANNOT BE STOPPED 😤
— Washington Spirit – x (@WashSpirit) June 16, 2024
Bethune was named the NWSL’s Rookie of the Month each of the first three months of the season, becoming the first player in league history to win the award in consecutive months. After earning a call-up to the U.S. Women’s National Team for the Paris Olympics, Bethune returned to earn another Rookie of the Month award for August, winning the award four of the first five months.
Bethune becomes the second Washington Spirit player to win Rookie of the Year after Rodman took home the honor for her performance during the 2021 championship season.
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.
