That's great news! Now let's get back the rest of the players who are out: Emma Gaines-Ramos (SEI – knee), Lyza Jessee (SEI – wrist), Ashley Hatch (back), Paige Metayer (D45 – knee), Leicy Santos (knee), Ouleye Sarr (SEI – back). And Andi Sullivan (maternity leave) is also out with a torn ACL, so God only knows when (if?) she'll be back?
@Winoman: help is on the way. https://bsky.app/profile/jasondcsoccer.bsky.social/post/3lsjq2fn2322b Jason Anderson @jasondcsoccer.bsky.social Spirit put Metayer on the D-45 designation because they expected her to be back sometime in June or July. Last I heard, signs are positive that she'll be available coming out of the break. Next open training for media is likely the 7/19 fan event.
That's too bad, I really enjoy watching her play. She's quick and it seems hard for defenders to know where she is going to go.
Trinity Rodman returns from injury, scores game-winning goal for Spirit in first game since April - Yahoo Sports
Spirit ‘cautiously optimistic’ about Trinity Rodman negotiations and working with NWSL - Yahoo Sports
The Paraguayan sensation is coming to DC! "The Washington Spirit have signed 18-year-old Paraguayan forward Claudia Martínez from Club Olimpia for a $950,000 transfer fee, a source with knowledge of the deal told ESPN. The fee, which also includes a sell-on fee due to Olimpia for any future transfer, ranks among the top 10 in women's soccer history to date. Martínez, who turned 18 years old last week, dazzled for Paraguay at the youth international levels before joining the senior team. She is the first Paraguayan player in NWSL history."
cash grab. no? Spirit will receive $1 million in transfer fees, which is the third-most expensive intra-league transfer in NWSL history and among the top 10 globally. The acquisition fees include $100K in allocation funds and $900k in transfer funds.
I'm thinking salary cap issues with Martinez coming in. I'm also reading that Bethune requested the transfer. Went down the rabbit hole on this some last night, and the bold are technically not correct, to my surprise. Technically, this is a trade of a player for cash, only the cash is an allocation, not real funds because it is all done through NWSL and the money is not going directly from club to club. IOW, it is a balance sheet adjustment by NWSL, nothing more. At least for intraleague movement of players. Thus, they are, in the technical sense, not transfers since no actual money is exchanging hands (from club to club). Thus, the top 10 world "transfers" would normally include Shaw (NC to Gotham), Hutton (KC to Bay), Bethune (Washington to KC), and Ludmila (Chicago to San Diego), but since they are all intraleague, they are not, technically, transfers. Was a fascinating discovery. And, also technically, it is tied for third with Ludmila.
That's what I'm talking about, too. Croix was getting plenty of playing time and developing well. Could there be drama in paradise?
I don't think drama (she seems to have a good relationship with Rodman) but more about a place where she can stand out and make a better case for getting on the national team. Of course, it could also be an off-field issue as well. No matter, it's really none of my business.
Maybe she thinks it's getting crowded there. In the midfield they have Herschfeldt, Santos, and Sullivan is returning. They also have Kante. Maybe she'd have to fight for minutes there. And, they are stocked at forward, with Gift Monday, Kouassi, Cantore, Rodman, and Hatch is coming back. Spirit should trade Hatch. Give her a chance to play somewhere.
Yeah, it's none of my business either, but as a Washington Spirit fan, I'm sorely disappointed. I had hopes that Kang was assembling a team, including Bethune, that would be a dynasty much like DC United back in the 1990s.
I will be VERY glad when we finally get past all these player moves and get to actually playing the game in the USA. I am not saying players should not move or be moved for their own or the team's good I am just saying that player moves without actually seeing the play is boring and does not really feel like soccer discussion. It seems like a couple of old women gossiping over the back fence about the neighbors. My intent is not to disparage the moves but rather to say that it is a lot like cotton candy, all sweetness with no substance. I also wish the women's leagues of the world, along with the men's, would synchronize their schedules so that most of the transfer garbage gets concentrated over one period of time.
If you could do something about the weather, and the tilt of the planet, and the rotation around the sun, you'd get your wish.
Which do you want fixed first? I'm good but I am limited to doing one thing at a time. Doing it very well and then moving on. Extra two points if you can identify the character and series I am somewhat misquoting.