Washington Spirit Announces Initial Offseason Roster Moves
Washington Spirit | November 20, 2023
Club currently has 18 players under contract for 2024, six in free agency, three entering waiver wire
Washington, D.C. (11/20/2023) – The Washington Spirit has made several roster moves this offseason in preparation for its upcoming 12th season in 2024, the club announced today.
The Spirit has six players in the NWSL’s latest free agent class. Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, defender Amber Brooks, midfielder Bayley Feist and midfielder Tori Huster are all unrestricted free agents (UFA) and thus eligible to sign with any club with which they reach an agreement. Defender/forward Camryn Biegalskiand midfielder Marissa Sheva are restricted free agents (RFA) and are thus able to negotiate with other clubs but the Spirit retains the right to match any offers they may receive. These players were able to begin negotiations for their 2024 Standard Player Agreements on Friday, September 22, 2023. Agreements for all NWSL free agents will be announced when their terms are finalized through the league office.
The club would like to thank midfielder Nicole Douglas, defender Maddie Elwell and midfielder Inès Jaurena for their valuable contributions to the Spirit. The playing rights for all three will be distributed through the waiver wire. Should their rights not be picked up through the waiver wire, they will become eligible for the discovery process as they do not yet meet the three-year NWSL service time minimum requirement to be eligible for restricted free agency.
“Nicole, Maddie and Inès all played important roles during their tenure with the Spirit and provided phenomenal value on and off the pitch,” said President of Soccer Operations/General Manager Mark Krikorian. “We thank them for their dedication and work ethic and look forward to following their future successes.”
Elwell joined the Spirit after being drafted by the club in the second round of the 2022 NWSL Draft and appeared in 19 total matches over the past two years, tallying one goal across over 800 minutes of action. Jaurena signed with the club in February, making the jump to the NWSL after ten professional seasons in France. She appeared in 17 total matches for the Spirit in 2023, playing over 1,100 minutes. Douglas was drafted by the Spirit in the third round of the 2023 NWSL Draft and made 16 total appearances for the club this year, seeing over 400 minutes of playing time.
The Spirit exercised the 2024 team option on forward Ashley Hatch’s contract in June, keeping her with the club through the end of next season. The club has also exercised the 2025 option on forward Trinity Rodman’s contract and the 2026 options on both goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury’s and midfielder Andi Sullivan’s contracts.
The club continues to hold the NWSL playing rights to midfielder/defender Delaney Graham, the 40th overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, and will extend a 2024 preseason camp invitation to her. Because Graham did not report to preseason camp in 2023, her 60-day signing window has not yet begun.
There are currently 18 players under contract with the Spirit for the 2024 season:
The Washington Spirit is the professional women’s soccer team based at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. Launched in 2012, the Spirit plays in the National Women’s Soccer League, the premier women’s soccer competition in North America. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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