Washington Spirit confirm 2017 roster ahead of NWSL season opener

The Washington Spirit have officially announced their 2017 roster. Per NWSL rules, all clubs had to announce a roster with between 18-20 active players today. In the Spirit’s case, their squad has 22 players, 19 of whom are currently active. The list includes Federation Players Stephanie Labbe and Shelina Zadorsky (both of Canada), as well as eight players who were not under contract with the club in 2016.

Of that latter group, four are rookies. The Spirit ended up signing all three of their draft picks (Lindsay Agnew, Meggie Dougherty Howard, and Cameron Castleberry) as well as Arielle Ship, who was originally drafted by the Seattle Reign and later acquired in the trade that sent Diana Matheson to the west coast. Havana Solaun was also acquired from Seattle, though she was involved in the trade that sent Christine Nairn back to her first pro club.

Kristie Mewis and Kassey Kallman both came from the Boston Breakers in the Megan Oyster deal. Finally, DiDi Haracic was a part of the Spirit Reserves in 2016, and made the first team’s bench as an amateur call-up a few times. In 2017, she’s been upgraded to a full contract and roster spot.

Currently, the Spirit have three players on the Disabled List. Cali Farquharson tore her ACL just before the end of the regular season last year, while the same injury took down Caprice Dydasco (during the NWSL final) and Kelsey Wys (while on loan in Australia during the offseason). All three are still eligible to return to the roster this season, but per league rules must wait a minimum of 45 days before that’s possible.

Dydasco is the closest to a return, and has been able to take part in some parts of Washington’s pre-game warm-ups. Farquharson and Wys, meanwhile, are not yet in town. Washington can add one player to their active roster without issue, so if Dydasco stays on schedule, she may well be added the moment her 45 days are up. Once Farquharson or Wys are ready to go, though, the Spirit will probably have a tough decision to make.

The full roster is as follows: