Washington Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune, a rookie in the National Women’s Soccer League, will miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury sustained while throwing the ceremonial first pitch at a Washington Nationals game. The injury was later diagnosed as a torn meniscus, and the 23-year-old player will focus on rehab for the rest of the year. Bethune, who recently won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team, has made significant contributions to the Spirit with five goals and 10 assists in 17 games. Despite the unfortunate injury, the team is prepared to move forward without her for the remainder of the season.
The Spirit coach, Jonatan Giráldez, expressed disappointment about the situation but emphasized the need to continue without Bethune. The injury occurred during a ceremony where Bethune and other Spirit players were honored for their Olympic achievements. While Bethune appeared to be in some discomfort after throwing the pitch, the extent of the injury was not immediately clear. However, it has now been confirmed that she will not return to play this season.
Although losing a key player like Bethune is a setback for the Spirit, the team is focused on moving forward and finishing the season strong. The NWSL is a highly competitive league, and the Spirit will need to rely on their depth to fill the void left by Bethune’s absence. With the support of their fans and the determination of the players, the Spirit will continue to push forward and compete at the highest level in the NWSL.
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