Black And Red United - 2019 NWSL Draft: Keep up with a busy day for the Washington SpiritThey can't hold us back. We are United.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47471/blackandred-fave.png2019-01-10T19:54:20-05:00http://www.blackandredunited.com/rss/stream/179512302019-01-10T19:54:20-05:002019-01-10T19:54:20-05:00Washington Spirit trade three players to land the third pick in the 2019 NWSL Draft
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<p>A new direction for the Spirit</p> <p id="UtoZeJ">As a part of a major NWSL Draft day trade, the Washington Spirit sent defenders Estelle Johnson, Caprice Dydasco, and goalkeeper DiDi Haracic to <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/mls/teams/sky-blue-fc">Sky Blue FC</a> in exchange for the third overall pick. With that <a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/washington-spirit-womens-soccer/2019/1/10/18177087/nwsl-draft-2019-washington-spirit-jordan-dibiasi-stanford-sky-blue-fc-trade">pick</a> the Spirit selected Stanford midfielder Jordan DiBiasi. In addition to sending these three players to the New Jersey club, the Spirit also exchanged the 29th overall pick in this year’s draft.</p>
<p id="OQoamW">Both Sky Blue and the Spirit are rebuilding after bad seasons, but Sky Blue is in a far worse situation. Sky Blue had a 23-game winless streak last season and matters were even worse off the field, with their players <a href="https://www.onceametro.com/2018/7/17/17583026/sky-blue-fc-created-untenable-player-conditions-years-nwsl">reportedly experiencing</a> extremely poor living and training conditions. The responses from general manager Tony Novo has led to <a href="https://www.prosoccerusa.com/nwsl/sky-blue/sky-blue-fc-president-theres-a-lot-of-things-we-have-to-overcome/">issues</a> with their primary supporters’ group and the general public.</p>
<p id="Pw8qSk">The Spirit’s 2018 season featured a league-record 765 minute scoreless streak, 10-straight losses, and the firing of head coach Jim Gabarra. Going into the draft the Spirit were low on defensive players, something this trade aggravated.</p>
<p id="pE5aNz">DiBiasi is an attacking midfielder, a role that the Spirit will need during the many international call-ups during this season. She’s a U-23 national team player and was a finalist for collegiate soccer’s top honor, the MAC Hermann Trophy.</p>
<p id="YJriPk">On the outgoing side, Johnson, Dydasco, and Haracic were long-time names with the Spirit. Dydasco came to the Spirit in 2015 through the college draft and appeared in all 24 matches for the Spirit in 2018. Johnson also came to the Spirit in 2015 and she was a regular starter during the 2018 season. Haracic, a Virginia native, was a back-up keeper for the Spirit and also made appearances on the Spirit Reserves. </p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/2019/1/10/18177737/washington-spirit-trade-three-players-land-third-pick-2019-nwsl-draftCaitlin BuckleyBen Bromley2019-01-10T14:30:04-05:002019-01-10T14:30:04-05:00Spirit select Wake Forest midfielder Bayley Feist
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<figcaption>Jason Anderson</figcaption>
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<p>Yet another draft day trade sees the Spirit add a fifth player today</p> <p id="BgRUNw">The <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/NWSL/teams/washington-spirit">Washington Spirit</a> traded up in the 2019 NWSL College Draft once again, sending the 31st overall pick in today’s draft and their natural 2020 2nd round pick to <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/NWSL/teams/portland-thorns-fc">Portland Thorns FC</a> to acquire the 17th overall pick, which they used to select Wake Forest’s Bayley Feist. Feist, an attacking midfielder, was named to the All-ACC 2nd team after this year’s collegiate season.</p>
<p id="VNIQxk">Despite playing in the midfield, Feist’s career has been more about scoring goals than setting them up. In 78 appearances with the Demon Deacons, she scored 22 goals and added 10 assists, and attempted 160 shots during her four years in Winston-Salem.</p>
<p id="OAmiHq">The move to trade up is an intriguing one, as the Spirit appeared to have addressed their possible shortage at attacking midfield during the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/fifa-world-cup">World Cup</a> by trading up to draft Jordan DiBiasi earlier today. However, Feist may project as more of a #8 and play a linking role in midfield. That’s another crowded position, however, and it remains to be seen how Washington’s roster will shake out.</p>
<p id="2IRgUZ">The trade means that, as of now, the Spirit have finished up at today’s draft. However, given their heavy involvement in proceedings, trading back in can’t be ruled out.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/washington-spirit-womens-soccer/2019/1/10/18177271/nwsl-draft-2019-washington-spirit-bayley-feist-wake-forest-portland-thornsJason Anderson2019-01-10T13:54:33-05:002019-01-10T13:54:33-05:00NWSL Draft 2019: Spirit pick UNC’s Dorian Bailey
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<figcaption>Jason Anderson</figcaption>
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<p>A crowded central midfield just got more crowded for the Spirit</p> <p id="VNIQxk">Continuing a busy 2019 NWSL College Draft, the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/NWSL/teams/washington-spirit">Washington Spirit</a> used the eighth overall pick to take North Carolina central midfielder Dorian Bailey. Bailey is the fourth player picked by the Spirit in today’s first round, joining Jordan DiBiasi, Samantha Staab, and Tegan McGrady.</p>
<p id="O8TPy5">Bailey’s career with the Tar Heels was a bit unusual, as injuries and a crowded midfield meant that she only emerged as a full-time starter this season. In 86 career appearances, she made 49 starts for Anson Dorrance’s side, putting up 17 goals and 17 assists in her collegiate career. Bailey is known for being a technical, smart player who can connect the dots either as a #6 or #8 in the midfield.</p>
<p id="hUM1Oi">Bailey’s place with the Spirit is currently unclear. Washington is very deep in central midfield, with Andi Sullivan, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/NWSL/players/285627/tori-huster">Tori Huster</a>, Rebecca Quinn, Meggie Dougherty Howard, and Joanna Lohman. However, with multiple as-yet-unnamed players heading to Sky Blue via trade and a hugely disappointing 2018, it may well be that the Spirit’s rebuild includes changes in the midfield.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/washington-spirit-womens-soccer/2019/1/10/18177172/nwsl-draft-2019-washington-spirit-dorian-bailey-north-carolina-uncJason Anderson2019-01-10T13:15:53-05:002019-01-10T13:15:53-05:00NWSL Draft 2019: Washington Spirit select Stanford left back Tegan McGrady
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<figcaption>Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="BgRUNw">With their third pick of the first round, the 7th pick overall, the Washington Spirit selected defender/forward Tegan McGrady from Stanford University. McGrady is a long-time member of the United States women’s national team youth setup, and has made one appearance with the senior national team. She is joined on the Spirit by former Stanford teammates Andi Sullivan and Jordan DiBiasi.</p>
<p id="9QOdlq">The 5’6” left backwas a 2018 3rd team All-American, as well as a member of the Top Drawer Soccer 3rd-team Best XI and the All-Pac 12 first team. Her one cap for the senior USWNT came in April 2018 against Mexico, where she replaced her now-teammate Mallory Pugh in the 58th minute.</p>
<p id="vKdGPQ">She looks to bolster a back line that was the team’s main problem last season, and the fact that Taylor Smith is injured and Rebecca Quinn is rumored to be possibly moving to France gives McGrady a chance to slide right in. She described her game on the broadcast by saying “Everyone knows my left foot is special,” and head coach Richie Burke obviously thought that having her send crosses into Ashley Hatch, Mallory Pugh, and Rose Lavelle all season long is something that he needed for this team.</p>
<p id="DQyehF">Welcome Tegan!</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/2019/1/10/18177133/nwsl-draft-2019-washington-spirit-tegan-mcgrady-stanfordBen Bromley2019-01-10T13:05:02-05:002019-01-10T13:05:02-05:00NWSL draft: Spirit use 4th pick to take Clemson’s Samantha Staab
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<figcaption>Jason Anderson</figcaption>
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<p>The Spirit needed defenders, and they nabbed a good one with the #4 pick</p> <p id="BgRUNw">With the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft, the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/NWSL/teams/washington-spirit">Washington Spirit</a> selected Clemson center back Samantha Staab. A native of San Diego, California, Staab had a stellar senior season for the Tigers, posting an impressive 11 assists despite playing a defensive position. Staab’s free kick delivery will likely be a real weapon for the Spirit in 2019, while she’s also known for having a very long throw-in that Clemson used to create havoc on a regular basis.</p>
<p id="O8TPy5">A 5’7” USA under-23 international, Staab figures to compete for a starting role immediately. Washington entered draft day with just three defenders under contract, and one of them (Taylor Smith) has a torn ACL. With rumors pointing to Estelle Johnson among the players involved in the Spirit’s trade for the #3 pick earlier today, Staab could in fact step right into the starting eleven.</p>
<p id="RpI35K">However, a major draw for Washington is likely her ability to create from dead balls. A team that only managed 12 goals in a full season needs any source of goals it can get. If Staab can produce real chances from free kicks and throw-ins, she may quickly become a valuable piece for Washington.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/washington-spirit-womens-soccer/2019/1/10/18176991/nwsl-draft-2019-washington-spirit-samantha-staab-clemsonJason Anderson2019-01-10T12:46:25-05:002019-01-10T12:46:25-05:00Spirit make big trade, select Jordan DiBiasi
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<figcaption>Jason Anderson</figcaption>
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<p>Following a major trade, the Spirit added a creative midfielder to a squad that needed one</p> <p id="VNIQxk">With the third overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft, the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/NWSL/teams/washington-spirit">Washington Spirit</a> selected Jordan DiBiasi, an attacking midfielder from Stanford.. Washington made a major trade to acquire this third pick, sending three players to be named later and the #29 pick in this year’s draft to Sky Blue FC in the exchange. Reports on Twitter indicate that one of those players could be team captain Estelle Johnson, one of the three natural defenders on the roster.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">So SkyBlue will get Estelle Johnson and others. They are just trying to get players. If not they won’t have a roster</p>— Jon Lipsitz (@jonlipsitz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonlipsitz/status/1083416143396691968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2019</a>
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<p id="lcg0w2">DiBiasi, a US under-23 international, was a finalist for the 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy, given to college soccer’s top player. She was a 1st Team All-American, the Pac-12 midfielder of the year, and made Top Drawer Soccer’s 1st team Best XI following a 10 goal/10 assist senior season with the Cardinal. As a four-year starter, DiBiasi posted 31 goals and 23 assists.</p>
<p id="90pmaH">DiBiasi makes quite a bit of sense for the Spirit, who struggled mightily to carve out scoring chances last year. While they will bring USWNT stars <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/NWSL/players/285619/rose-lavelle">Rose Lavelle</a> and <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/NWSL/players/285653/mallory-pugh">Mallory Pugh</a> back, and re-signed playmaker Estefania Banini, all three will miss significant time due to the 2019 Women’s <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/fifa-world-cup">World Cup</a>.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/washington-spirit-womens-soccer/2019/1/10/18177087/nwsl-draft-2019-washington-spirit-jordan-dibiasi-stanford-sky-blue-fc-tradeJason Anderson2019-01-10T08:00:10-05:002019-01-10T08:00:10-05:002019 NWSL Draft: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
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<figcaption>Caitlin Buckley</figcaption>
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<p>Today could be a big day for the Washington Spirit, who have 2 first round picks</p> <p id="q3wysF">The National Women’s Soccer League may be months from featuring any games, but the 2019 NWSL draft marks an informal beginning of the season. While the draft’s impact has been blunted recently due to contraction, teams are still looking to land starters and regular contributors, and draft day is generally high on surprise trade announcements involving big names. For the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/NWSL/teams/washington-spirit">Washington Spirit</a>, it’s a big day as they look to recover from a nightmarish 2018 season. If 2019 sees them successfully rebuild after two bad years, whatever happens today is probably going to be a big part of it.</p>
<p id="GKUXJi"><strong>When will the Spirit pick?:</strong> In the first round, Washington has the 4th, 7th, and 8th picks (they <a href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/washington-spirit-womens-soccer/2019/1/9/18175951/washington-spirit-nwsl-draft-2019-chicago-red-stars">picked one up</a> yesterday afternoon). They’ll then skip two rounds, as they have no second round selections, before jumping back in with the 2nd and 4th picks in the fourth and final round (29th and 31st overall).</p>
<p id="z95jWc"><strong>What about everyone else?:</strong> Here’s the <a href="http://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/2019-nwsl-college-draft-to-take-place-on-jan-10-at-12-p-m-et">full draft order</a>.</p>
<p id="MphYfK"><strong>Location:</strong> McCormick Place (Chicago, IL)</p>
<p id="wA99m9"><strong>Start time:</strong> 12:00pm Eastern</p>
<p id="cBSGxT"><strong>What you should expect from the Spirit:</strong> After a disastrous 2018, it seems safer to say what you shouldn’t expect, since Washington has plenty of work to do. The roster is overloaded with forwards, winger/forwards, defensive midfielders, and goalkeepers, so it seems doubtful we’ll see more than one pick in those positions (and most likely, we’d be talking about a creative wide player rather than a speedy winger/forward type).</p>
<p id="ISBhhY">The Spirit badly need to increase their quality and depth at the back, as Taylor Smith’s torn ACL leaves them with just three full-time defenders. After a season that saw them shatter the league’s all-time lowest goals total, the Spirit also have a serious need for creativity in the midfield and out wide. They may appear to have that problem solved with <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/NWSL/players/285619/rose-lavelle">Rose Lavelle</a>, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/NWSL/players/285653/mallory-pugh">Mallory Pugh</a>, and Estefania Banini all currently healthy and on the roster, but that trio will miss time for the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/fifa-world-cup">World Cup</a>. Lavelle and Pugh may not even make 10 appearances thanks to the USWNT’s <s>profit-driven</s> extensive warm-up schedule, so Washington needs NWSL-ready options to step in.</p>
<p id="5sDry0">Finally, as with any NWSL draft, there is plenty of reason to expect plenty of trades. The Spirit weren’t involved in last year’s flurry of moves, but it wouldn’t be a shock if they were aggressive today (and as the offseason goes on).</p>
<p id="KVW4dQ"><strong>Available streaming:</strong> <a href="http://www.nwslsoccer.com/collegedraft">NWSLsoccer.com</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/NWSL">NWSL’s Youtube page</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/NWSL">NWSL’s Facebook page</a>, and on the NWSL app</p>
<p id="WXbrl0"><strong>What are you drinking?:</strong> This was written before I even arrived in Chicago, but given that it’s Chicago in January, probably a hot cup of coffee or green tea.</p>
<p id="VldPMt">This is the place for all your pre-, mid-, and post-draft discussion.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/washington-spirit-womens-soccer/2019/1/10/18171360/nwsl-draft-2019-live-stream-time-tv-schedule-how-to-watch-online-washington-spiritJason Anderson2019-01-09T17:19:03-05:002019-01-09T17:19:03-05:00Spirit acquire 7th overall pick in 2019 NWSL Draft
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<p>The Spirit now hold three first round picks</p> <p id="cofGI8">Less than a day before the 2019 NWSL College Draft, the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/NWSL/teams/washington-spirit">Washington Spirit</a> bundled the 20th overall pick in this year’s draft and their natural 2020 first round pick to trade up, exchanging those spots with the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/NWSL/teams/chicago-red-stars">Chicago Red Stars</a>. In exchange, Washington gets the 7th overall pick in this year’s draft (which starts at 11:00am Eastern tomorrow morning).</p>
<p id="2UlCwc">For the Spirit, the move is clearly designed to move up and grab a specific player. That isn’t too much of a surprise, given that the draft pool is heavy on talented defenders and Washington is currently very short in the back. At the moment, the only true defenders the Spirit have under contract are center backs Estelle Johnson and Whitney Church. Caprice Dydasco was offered a contract after the 2018 season ended, but the club has yet to announce whether she has signed it. Taylor Smith and Rebecca Quinn are also under contract as Federation Players, but Smith recently tore her ACL (and may lose her Federation status), while <a href="https://coeursdefoot.fr/event/rumeur-rebecca-quinn-devrait-s-engager-avec-le-paris-fc/">rumors from France</a> have linked Quinn to a move to Paris FC.</p>
<p id="EX52n6">Other defensive options include winger Mallory Eubanks (who is under contract) and central midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard (who, like Dydasco, was offered a deal after the 2018 season concluded). However, even if every possibly defender returns, the Spirit would enter 2019 with three natural defenders and three midfielder/defenders (two of whom have very limited experience playing defensive roles).</p>
<p id="O44Sxx">The Spirit now hold the 4th, 7th, and 8th picks in the first round, as well as the 29th and 31st overall picks (which fall in the fourth round). It would not come as a surprise to see them use at least two of those first round picks to bolster their defense, though it is also worth noting that the team also needs attacking help coming off of a season in which they set an NWSL record for goalscoring futility.</p>
https://www.blackandredunited.com/washington-spirit-womens-soccer/2019/1/9/18175951/washington-spirit-nwsl-draft-2019-chicago-red-starsJason Anderson