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Washington Spirit forward Francisca Ordega will spend her offseason in Spain on loan with Atletico Madrid. Ordega remains under contract with the Spirit, and with the Spanish season ending in March, should be back just in time for the start of the 2018 NWSL season. This is not Ordega’s first winter loan, as she spent last winter playing in the Australian W-League with Sydney FC.
The 24 year old Nigeria national team regular was a strong contributor to the Spirit’s attack when healthy, posting 4 goals and 3 assists in 921 minutes this season. She dealt with a hamstring injury though that derailed parts of her season, and the Spirit clearly missed her fearless style of play.
Spirit midfielder Tori Huster is the other Spirit player heading abroad this offseason. Huster is playing for the Western Sydney Wanderers alongside Maryland native and Portland Thorns goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom. Last year, several Washington players spent time in the W-League, while Estefania Banini joined Valencia in Spain before opting to re-sign with the Spirit late in the spring.