2023 Washington Spirit season

In November 2022, the Spirit announced several technical and front-office hirings, including:

• Dawn Scott, formerly of The Football Association and United States Soccer Federation and most recently of Inter Miami CF, to staff and lead the Spirit's new performance and medical division, on November 1[4]
• Morinao Imaizumi, formerly of Florida State University and most recently with Chicago Red Stars, as a player development coach on November 8[5]
• Mark Parsons, its former head coach and most recently manager of the Netherlands women's national football team, as its new permanent head coach on November 21[6]

On February 7, 2023, the Spirit signed Olympique Lyon midfielder Inès Jaurena,[7] who had ended her contract with Lyon by mutual consent on January 29.[8]

On March 3, 2023, the Spirit signed midfielder Chloe Ricketts, who at 15 years and 283 days old had signed her NWSL contract at an age three days' younger than Olivia Moultrie in June 2021, setting a new NWSL record for youngest signing.[9] The record was broken again 18 days later, when San Diego Wave FC signed Melanie Barcenas at 15 years and 138 days old. Rickett was signed using the league's new under-18 entry mechanism added by the collective bargaining agreement signed near the start of the NWSL preseason.[10]

The Spirit abandoned its red, white, and blue color scheme for monochromatic white and black kits with a metallic chrome crest. The team debuted the kits and crest to premium season ticket holders, supporters' group members, and sponsors at the Penn Social event space on March 1, 2023.[11] Spirit owner Y. Michele Kang said the changes represent a clean-slate transition toward a planned club rebranding.[12]

The Spirit went undefeated in its first five league matches and did not trail an opponent during that span,[13] but lost its 2023 NWSL Challenge Cup opener to NJ/NY Gotham FC 1–0 on April 19.[14] The unbeaten stretch included the professional debut of Ricketts on April 15 against North Carolina Courage.[15]

On April 7, the Spirit announced the hiring of Mami Yamaguchi, a former Japan national team player and former player and assistant coach to Mark Krikorian at Florida State, as an assistant coach. She had most recently served as an assistant coach and player-coach at Detroit City FC and AFC Ann Arbor.[16][17]

The Spirit continued winning through the start of May, with wins of 3–1 against San Diego Wave FC on May 6, 4–2 against Orlando Pride in the second match of Challenge Cup group play, and 1–0 against Angel City FC on May 13 to move to the top of the NWSL table. The team's time atop the standings ended with its next match on May 20, its first league loss of the season, falling 2–1 at Orlando Pride.[18] The Spirit finished May tied for second with 16 points with OL Reign, San Diego Wave FC, and Portland Thorns FC after a 1–1 draw against leaders NJ/NY Gotham FC on May 28, equalizing on a Paige Metayer goal in the 69th minute.[19]

On May 13, Olympique Lyon won the Coupe de France féminine 2–1 over Paris Saint-Germain, its 10th victory in the competition, on a brace by Ada Hegerberg.[20] The match was attended by Spirit owner Y. Michele Kang, who also raised the trophy with Lyon.[21] On May 16, Olympique Lyon holding company OL Groupe and Kang announced the formation of a separate entity that would be composed of the Spirit and Olympique Lyon Féminin. OL Groupe would retain a 48% stake in the resulting new entity, and Kang would become the club's majority owner and CEO, pending regulatory approval.[22][23][24][25]

The Spirit opened June with a 1–1 draw at home against Racing Louisville FC, scoring through Trinity Rodman in the 3rd minute. Louisville equalized on a 51st-minute penalty kick by Savannah DeMelo, then lost Elli Pikkujämsä to a straight red card in the 77th minute. Despite the advantage, the Spirit failed to convert again.[26]

On June 10, the Spirit ended a three-match winless streak by defeating Angel City FC 2–1 at home on goals by Ashley Hatch and Ashley Sanchez, while the defense limited Angel City to one shot on goal in the second half. Goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury suffered a head injury in the 90th minute and was substituted out for backup Nicole Barnhart.[27]

On June 14, the Spirit lost to North Carolina Courage 2–1 at home in a Challenge Cup match, conceding the losing goal in second-half stoppage time. The team played without starters Hatch, Rodman, Sanchez, and Andi Sullivan, while Kingsbury remained out while recovering from the head injury sustained against Angel City.[28] Barnhart was team captain for the match, making her 151st appearance across competitions and passing Ashley Harris for second-most appearances by a goalkeeper in league history. Her start alongside 16-year-old Chloe Ricketts resulted in the largest age gap between starting players in a league match, at 25 years, 7 months, and 13 days. Riley Tanner also made her first career start for the Spirit in the match.[29]

On June 18, the Spirit rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Kansas City Current 3–2 on the road. The first concession was by Michelle Cooper 22 seconds into the match, setting a new league record for the fastest goal scored in a match, followed by a second goal conceded in the 23rd minute by Debinha on a penalty kick called for a Spirit handball foul in the penalty area. The Spirit's rally began with a Sanchez goal in the 37th minute, a Metayer equalizer in the 82nd minute, and an 88th-minute match winner by Tara McKeown, a defender who played as a forward until the start of the 2023 season.[30]

The Spirit then lost 4–2 on the road to Portland Thorns FC on June 23, conceding a hat-trick to Sophia Smith. The Spirit equalized twice, through Hatch in the 13th minute and Sanchez in the 46th minute.[31]

On June 30, the Spirit signed French forward Ouleymata Sarr, whose contract with Paris FC had expired, to a three-year contract.[32]

Six Spirit players left the team in late June to play for their national teams in the 2023 Women's World Cup:[33]

• MF Aubrey Kingsbury for  United States
• FW Trinity Rodman for  United States
• MF Ashley Sanchez for  United States
• MF Andi Sullivan for  United States
• FW Marissa Sheva for  Republic of Ireland
• FW Riley Tanner for  Panama

On June 28, the Spririt signed Mariana Speckmaier and Jordan Thompson to cap-exempt short-term national team replacement player contracts allowed by league rules.[34]

In the Spirit's first regular-season match without its World Cup callups on July 1, the team lost 3–0 at home against Orlando Pride. Nicole Barnhart started in goal for Kingsbury,[33] Hatch took on captaincy of the team, Amber Brooks moved into the midfield, and Nicole Douglas and Lena Silano took on starting roles.[35]

On July 6, the Spirit signed French defender Annaïg Butel, formerly of Paris FC, to a two-year contract with an option for an additional year.[36]

As of May 12, 2023.[42][43]

Sporting operations staff

General manager President of soccer operations	Mark Krikorian
Senior director of soccer operations	Nathan Minion

Technical staff

Head coach	Mark Parsons
Assistant coach	Angela Salem
Assistant coach Director of player personnel	Mark Bristol
Player development coach	Morinao Imaizumi
Assistant coach Player development coach	Mami Yamaguchi

Performance staff

Vice president of performance, medical, and innovation	Dawn Scott
Athletic trainer	Alessandro Ciarla
Athletic trainer	Rylee Learn

As of July 6, 2023.[44]

First-team roster

No.	Pos.	Nation	Name	Birthday (age)	Since	Previous team	Notes
1	GK	USA	Aubrey Kingsbury	(1991-11-20)November 20, 1991 (aged 31)	2018	Orlando Pride
18	GK	USA	Lyza Bosselmann	(2001-07-27)July 27, 2001 (aged 21)	2023	Gonzaga
28	GK	USA	Nicole Barnhart	(1981-10-10)October 10, 1981 (aged 41)	2022	Kansas City Current
3	DF	USA	Sam Staab	(1997-03-28)March 28, 1997 (aged 25)	2019	Clemson
5	DF	FRA	Anaïg Butel	(1992-02-15)February 15, 1992 (aged 31)	2023	Paris FC	INT[lower-alpha 1]
9	DF	USA	Tara McKeown	(1999-07-02)July 2, 1999 (aged 23)	2021	University of Southern California
14	DF	CAN	Gabrielle Carle	(1998-10-12)October 12, 1998 (aged 24)	2022	Kristianstads DFF	INT[lower-alpha 1]
16	DF	USA	Maddie Elwell	(1999-08-01)August 1, 1999 (aged 23)	2023	Vanderbilt
19	DF	USA	Dorian Bailey	(1997-01-28)January 28, 1997 (aged 26)	2019	University of North Carolina
21	DF	USA	Anna Heilferty	(1999-04-17)April 17, 1999 (aged 23)	2021	Boston University	SEI[lower-alpha 2][45]
22	DF	USA	Amber Brooks	(1991-01-23)January 23, 1991 (aged 32)	2022	OL Reign
30	DF	USA	Camryn Biegalski	(1998-08-11)August 11, 1998 (aged 24)	2021	Chicago Red Stars
37	DF	USA	Jordan Thompson		2023	Gonzaga Bulldogs	NTR[lower-alpha 3]
7	MF	FRA	Inès Jaurena	(1991-05-14)May 14, 1991 (aged 31)	2023	Olympique Lyon	INT[lower-alpha 1]
10	MF	USA	Ashley Sanchez	(1999-03-16)March 16, 1999 (aged 24)	2020	University of California, Los Angeles
12	MF	USA	Andi Sullivan	(1995-12-20)December 20, 1995 (aged 27)	2018	Stanford
13	MF	USA	Bayley Feist	(1997-03-14)March 14, 1997 (aged 26)	2019	Wake Forest	D45[lower-alpha 4]
17	MF	ENG	Nicole Douglas	(2000-07-31)July 31, 2000 (aged 22)	2023	Arizona State	INT[lower-alpha 1]
23	MF	USA	Tori Huster	(1989-09-23)September 23, 1989 (aged 33)	2013	Western New York Flash	SEI[lower-alpha 2]
25	MF	IRL	Marissa Sheva	(1997-04-22)April 22, 1997 (aged 25)	2022	Utah Royals FC
26	MF	USA	Paige Metayer	(2000-09-23)September 23, 2000 (aged 22)	2023	University of California
27	MF	PAN	Riley Tanner	(1999-10-15)October 15, 1999 (aged 23)	2023	Alabama
39	MF	USA	Chloe Ricketts	(2007-05-23)May 23, 2007 (aged 15)	2023	AFC Ann Arbor[46]	U18[lower-alpha 5]
2	FW	USA	Trinity Rodman	(2002-05-20)May 20, 2002 (aged 20)	2021	Washington State
8	FW	FRA	Ouleymata Sarr	(1995-10-08)October 8, 1995 (aged 27)	2023	Paris FC	INT[lower-alpha 1]
20	FW	USA	Civana Kuhlmann	(1999-04-14)April 14, 1999 (aged 23)	2023	University of Colorado Boulder
24	FW	USA	Lena Silano	(2000-02-28)February 28, 2000 (aged 23)	2023	Long Beach State
33	FW	USA	Ashley Hatch	(1995-05-25)May 25, 1995 (aged 27)	2018	North Carolina Courage
37	FW	VEN	Mariana Speckmaier	(1997-12-26)December 26, 1997 (aged 25)	2023	Valur	NTR[lower-alpha 3]

As of June 29, 2023

Player of the Week

Wk.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	Won	Ref.
6	FW	USA	Ashley Hatch	Nom.	[51]
10	FW	USA	Trinity Rodman	Nom.	[52]
11	FW	USA	Ashley Sanchez	Nom.	[53]
12	DF	USA	Tara McKeown	Won	[54]

Save of the Week

Wk.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	Won	Ref.
4	GK	USA	Aubrey Kingsbury	Nom.	[55]

Draft selections are not automatically signed to the team roster. The 2023 NWSL Draft was held on January 12, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

2023 NWSL Draft selections, by round

Round	Pick	Pos.	Nat.	Player	College	Status	Ref.
3	26	FW	ENG	Nicole Douglas	Arizona State	Signed to a two-year contract and rostered as a midfielder.	[56]
	28	GK	USA	Lyza Bosselmann	Gonzaga	Signed to a two-year contract with an option for a third year.	[56]
	30	FW	PAN	Riley Tanner	Alabama	Signed to a two-year contract with an option for a third year and rostered as a midfielder.	[56]
	34	FW	USA	Lena Silano	Long Beach State	Signed to a two-year contract with an option for a third year.	[56]
4	37	FW	USA	Civana Kuhlmann	Colorado	Signed to a two-year contract with an option for a third year.	[56]
	40	DF	USA	Delaney Graham	Duke	Not signed; recovering from surgery.	[56]