KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Washington Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune capped off an incredible first year as a professional player with another award on Thursday when the 23-year-old was named the first recipient of the NWSL’s Midfielder of the Year, and told ESPN that she is only just getting started.
Bethune, who tied an NWSL record with 10 assists this season, was also named Rookie of the Year earlier this week. She earned her first cap for the United States this year and won an Olympic gold medal with the team in August.
Her season was cut short by a torn meniscus suffered while throwing out a celebratory first pitch in late August, meaning she won’t be on the field for the Spirit in Saturday’s NWSL Championship against the Orlando Pride.
Bethune said she hopes to start running again next week and return to the field for the start of the 2025 season.
“Of course, staying healthy, but building on this year,” she told ESPN about her future goals. “Having such a great rookie season, I feel like a lot of people might think it will be hard to top or do better, but for me, I feel like this is just the base to build off of that and to continue to elevate as a player.”
Bethune needed only 17 games to tie former USWNT great Tobin Heath’s…
