Striker Ashley Hatch has signed a new contract with the Washington Spirit that will extend her time with the team through 2026 with an option for 2027. The deal will replace Hatch’s current contract, which was on its final year.
Since being traded to the Spirit in 2018 by North Carolina Courage, Hatch has been the team’s leading scorer in every season, earning the NWSL Golden Boot in 2021. In 2023, she started all 22 of Washington’s regular season matches, scored 9 goals, and made 3 assists. She also served as team captain during the World Cup window and was a member of the leadership group throughout the season.
“Hatchy has been a key component of the Spirit attacking third for the past six years and still has the prime of her career ahead of her,” Spirit President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Mark Krikorian said in the team’s press release.
Hatch is a Brigham Young University alumna, and many fans speculated that she would join the newly-reformed Utah Royals FC this season. Instead, she’s reaffirmed her commitment to Washington, a place where she’s put down roots over the past seven years.
““I truly feel this is the best place for me to continue to grow and develop as a player and person,” Hatch said. “The DC community is home, and I am so glad to be a part of it for another 4 years!”
In addition to her work on the field, Hatch has been an active contributor to DC SCORES, a local non-profit group that seeks to empower kids in D.C. through a combination of soccer and poetry. Hatch is the first active professional soccer player to serve on the group’s Board, joining their meetings even when away on National Team duty as well as working with the kids, taking part in charity soccer clinics, and performing a poem of her own at the group’s One Night One Goal event in 2023.
In fact, fans interested in both supporting the charity and meeting Hatch could have the opportunity to do so at an adult soccer clinic on March 13.
As a player, Hatch is known for her ability to split center backs, sense of placement in the box, and being stone cold from the PK spot. This re-signing so early in the transition to a new play style indicates she is adapting well to the changes and continuing to impress Spirit coaching staff. It also demonstrates a real interest by Hatch in remaining in DC long-term, as she delays her opportunity to become a first-time free agent.
A reassuring move after jettisoning Staab and Sanchez.
Good move.
Here’s a Spirit-related detail. The Washington Commanders just signed TE Zach Ertz. The spouse of one Julie Ertz. Yeah, she retired to deal with her family. But assuming Zach makes the Commanders and stays healthy (the second is a big if) and the family moves to DC, I think the Spirit should approach Julie about coming out of retirement. It could potentially be a good fit. It wouldn’t be a case of her and her spouse playing in different cities while the family home is in a third. Instead, they’d all be in one location. And the seasons wouldn’t be at the same time except for a couple of months. This is a do-able situation. And the Spirit are screwing up if they don’t at least explore this option. Ertz as a CB on this team–oh my. I would have a lot less heartbreak on seeing Sam Staab leave.