The Washington Spirit’s 2024 season is officially underway, and after a few more preseason stops the regular season will get underway next month. So now is a great time to look at the state of the Spirit as things presently stand. We took a look at the interim manager and his task(s) ahead, the light preseason match schedule, the squad as it is and what’s missing, and the challenges of undertaking a drastic transition in style of play.

Let’s get straight to it.

Interim Manager

The news that Adrián González would be taking over as interim manager prior to Giráldez’s arrival was first confirmed in an official press release by his now former club, Espanyol. Speaking at a press conference, González expressed trepidation at leaving mid-season but noted that he’d received an international offer that ‘fit him well.’ The Spirit made the announcement official twelve days later.

In the Spirit’s press release they included a bit more information about González’s qualifications beyond being a Spanish coach. González has a degree in Sport Science, two master’s degrees in Sport Management and Financial Intelligence, and golds a UEFA A coaching license. And, for what it’s worth, seems excited about the opportunity too.

González’s Espanyol side are currently competing in the second division of Spanish football, and at the time of his departure were tied at the top of the table with 10w/4d/1l, with the most goals scored and fewest conceded. Since he’ll be the interim coach for up to nearly half of the Spirit’s regular season games, it’ll be interesting to see how he adjusts to the step up in level.

It is impressive that he could take a lesser talented squad and organize them to be proficient in attack and resolute in defense, but there’s likely to be a fairly steep NWSL learning curve. The hope is that he can use his months in charge to lay a foundation, and do quite a bit of winning while he’s at it.

Preseason Schedule

Washington’s preseason is well underway, with the team on their way back from Chula Vista, CA where they spent their first two weeks. They’ll be home for a bit, until they jet off to Bradenton, FL to finish camp at IMG Academy.

While in Florida, the Spirit will have two closed door preseason matches, against Houston Dash and Orlando Pride.

• Thursday, February 29: vs. Houston Dash (Bradenton, Florida)
• Friday, March 8: vs. Orlando Pride (Orlando, Florida)

Given the fairly drastic style change the Spirit are attempting in one offseason, with a plethora of new players and an interim manager for nearly half the season, I’m hoping more preseason matches are added. Even if against college competition, it will be important to practice keeping the ball in tight spaces, and drilling the off-ball movement that allows for short quick passing while facing direct pressure.

The Squad

When the NWSL dropped the salary cap and a host of other rules and rule adjustments, they also noted that squad sizes for 2024 would be 22-26 players. Factoring in trades, draft picks, incoming free agents, outgoing free agents (Feist to KC, Biegalski to Chicago) and free agents Amber Brooks and Marissa Sheva receiving ‘thank you for everything’ goodbye posts, the Spirit currently have 26 players in preseason camp.

• Goalkeepers (3) – Aubrey Kingsbury, Lyza Bosselmann, Nicole Barnhart
  
• Defenders (7) – Maya Antoine (NRI), Casey Krueger (free agent signing), Annaig Butel (INT), Tara McKeown, Gabby Carle (INT), Anna Heilferty, Kate Wiesner (draft pick), Makenna Morris (draft pick)
  
• Midfielders (7) – Andi Sullivan, Croix Bethune (DRAFT), Paige Metayer, Heather Stainbrook (NRI), Makenna Morris (DRAFT), Hal Hershfelt (DRAFT), Courtney Brown (DRAFT)
  
• Forwards (9) – Trinity Rodman, Ashley Hatch, Ouleymata Sarr (INT), Lena Silano, Brittany Ratcliffe (free agent signing), Civana Kuhlmann, Riley Tanner, Chloe Ricketts (U18), Anna Podojil (DRAFT)

With all the moves it has certainly felt like the Spirit were lacking in numbers to start a camp, but sprinkling in six draft picks adds to the numbers. Anna Heilferty tore her ACL last February, but was spotted on Instagram with a ball at her feet, which is terrific news. However, Kuhlmann’s injury occurred in July and Podojil’s just this past November, so it’s likely both will continue rehabbing into the season.

The Spirit have space in the squad, and certainly space in a projected starting XI, to add a player or two, so it will be interesting to see if anyone is added. In a rare media availability, General Manager Mark Krikorian noted that the hiring of Jonatan Giráldez has already increased the number of international players interested in suiting up for the Spirit. Whether the Spirit act on this to bring players in prior to opening day, at the end of European seasons, or next offseason, we’ll have to wait and see.

Style of Play

Weaving multiple rookies into the squad isn’t the biggest task Spirit coaches face this offseason. Instead, they must completely rewire last season’s preferred methods in possession. According to StatsBomb, in 2023 the Spirit averaged the least amount of passes per 90, 378.7, and lowest passing percentage in the league, 72% per 90. Compare this to the North Carolina Courage, who not only led both categories (563.9 passes and 82% completion percentage per 90), but played a possession style in the ballpark of what the Spirit will be aiming for.

Rookies Makenna Morris and Hal Hershfelt were key pieces to Clemson’s style, which saw them dominate the ball versus just about everyone, even at times the 2023 Florida State juggernaut. Still, it wasn’t particularly a Spanish style, instead the ball was often circulated along the backline and moved through safer deep areas of midfield until they could find space on the wing.

The style we presume in heading to the Spirit is much more narrow, with attacks usually building within the width of the box.

Croix Bethune’s transition to professional soccer will be key. She possesses natural tendencies to keep the ball in tight spaces, spot small gaps before anyone else, and has a fluid dribbling technique that keeps all options open while she on the ball.

Andi Sullivan will also likely thrive, as she’ll again be able to showcase her passing skill, which has become an underrated aspect of her game. When given the ability to be more cerebral and patient on the ball, Sullivan can shine. When tasked with playing chaos ball and being asked to imitate Julie Ertz, you lose what makes her a unique and valuable midfielder in this league.

However, this still leaves space for one more midfielder to tie together defense and attack. That could be Paige Metayer, who the Spirit re-signed to a new three-year contract in December, but we’ve yet to see that side of her game. However, last season Metayer posted the lowest pass completion percentage, 69%, of all regular started in midfielders. It’s probably unfair to hold last season’s style against these players, but it’s all we have at the moment.

There’s a chance that Makenna Morris, Hal Hershfelt or Courtney Brown could step into that much needed box-to-box role, but it’s a big ask to completely rely on a rookie for a set of responsibilities vital to the Spanish possession style. Getting another midfielder familiar with the Spanish style of play would make the transition between styles much easier.

However, there’s still plenty to get excited about with the change in style. The Spirit are still a super athletic team – “fit as hell”, some might say – that doesn’t necessarily mean they should only lean on those talents. Physical standouts like Trinity Rodman and Andi Sullivan are also gifted with intelligence and technical ability.

Casey Krueger is a defensively solid and technical right back who loves getting forward and combining, and she and Rodman should develop terrific chemistry along the wing. Ball retention and off-ball movement should get Rodman into more favorable matchups closer to the box, where she can be far more dangerous. The NWSL has never seen a 10 goal/10 assist player, but it’s my belief that, in the right system, Rodman can get there. It likely won’t be this season, but Spirit coaches should make it their aim to get here there.

Defensively there are questions. The addition of Krueger, plus the drafting of Morris and Kate Wiesner, plus the return of Anna Heilferty from injury, makes that position group suddenly deep and quite strong. Now, it’s central defense where question marks can’t be ignored. Krikorian noted that Annaïg Butel would likely go back to playing her best position, center back, but who will be next to her, and on what side is still unknown.

It’s damn near impossible to replace Sam Staab in possession. Super athletic, natural left-footed center backs with passing range that spans zip codes aren’t common, and it’s quite a shame Staab won’t have a chance to shine in a system that seems perfect for her strengths. The only natural left-footed defenders on the Spirit are Gabrielle Carle and Kate Wiesner. It’s possible Wiesner could be tried at center back to the left of Butel, but it’s more probable that Butel-McKeown/McKeown-Butel will be the primary pairing.

While replacing Staab in possession is impossible, there were defensive weaknesses and the panicked recovery tackles that not infrequently led to penalties. Defensively, a new pairing might provide more solidity and allow the midfield more freedom to take risks. However, central defenders with comfort on the ball and passing range is a necessity for any possession style, and the Barcelona and Spanish styles are no different.

How the Spirit cope with or address question marks in midfield and central defense will determine the level of success they’re able to have in year one of this style transition.