The 2024 NWSL Midfielder of the Year and 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year Croix Bethune returned to the active roster today ahead of the Washington Spirit's season opener against the Houston Dash tonight 192 days after joining the 2024 Season-Ending Injury list with a torn meniscus. 

Bethune was selected third overall in the 2024 Collegiate Draft by the Washington Spirit, and her impact on the pitch for the Spirit was felt immediately. She earned three straight Rookie of the Month awards for her performances on the pitch, which included assisting three goals in the May matchup against Chicago and then later in the month breaking the rookie assist record. After coming back from the Olympic break (with a Gold Medal), Bethune earned her tenth assist, tying the league record for assists in a season set by Tobin Heath back in 2016—she also had scored five goals for the Spirit by this point. In an unfortunate turn, just a few days later she tore her meniscus and joined the league’s Season Ending Injury list.