Yesterday, Washington Spirit head coach Jim Gabarra released his first-ever preseason roster for the Spirit. The sixteen returning members of last year's squad are joined by eleven trialists, four draft picks, and four offseason acquisitions.
Crystal Dunn, the 2015 NWSL MVP, and her fellow USWNT player Ali Krieger will join the Spirit this Wednesday. Canadian internationals Diana Matheson, Stephanie Labbe, and Shelina Zadorsky will report to camp the 18th.
Both Labbe and Zadorsky are new to the Spirit this year after being allocated by the Canadian federation. Labbe is a 29-year-old goalkeeper who played for KIF Orebro in Sweden prior to joining the Spirit. She was allocated to the Chicago Red Stars but the Spirit traded Amanda DaCosta and their fourth round pick in 2017 for the rights to Labbe. Zadorsky, a 23-year-old center back, recently scored against Brazil in the Algarve Cup. For both players it will be their NWSL debut.
Of the eleven trialists, six have played for the Spirit Reserves. Didi Haracic, the third goalkeeper invited to the Spirit's preseason, also played for the Western New York Flash in 2014. Yanara Aedo, a Chilean midfielder, was also in camp with the Spirit last year. The 22-year-old ended up playing for the Reserves team and scored both goals in the W-League final.
The Spirit drafted Madalyn Schiffel this January but the goalkeeper signed with Avaldsnes IL in Norway. The four other Spirit draftees will report to preseason.
This Saturday night, the Spirit host the University of Virginia at the Maryland Soccerplex.