Washington Spirit have entered into contacts with draft picks Bethune Croix, Courtney Brown, Hal Hershfelt, Makenna Morris, and Kate Wiesner and preseason invitee Heather Stainbrook, the team announced at their First Look training event last night.

The new players’ contracts all begin immediately but are of varying lengths, as described below:

• Croix Bethune, midfielder – 3-year contract with option for 2027
• Courtney Brown, midfielder – 3-year contract
• Hal Hershfelt, midfielder – 3-year contract
• Makenna Morris, midfielder – 1-year contract
• Heather Stainbrook, midfielder – 3-year contract
• Kate Wiesner, defender – 3-year contract

These signings have been announced with little time to spare, as the Spirit play their first game of the 2024 season this Sunday, March 17. Anna Podojil, the team’s only unsigned draft pick, did not report to preseason camp due to injury and was therefore not included in this group of signings.

All six rookies spoke to the media after their public training session, which for most was their first time standing on Audi Field, and certainly their first time playing in front of a Buzzard Point crowd. Approximately 6000 fans registered to attend the event, according to Kim Stone, the Spirit’s Chief Executive Officer.

The crowd filled much of one side of the stadium, and included both adults and many children, all of whom cheered the players on as they completed pre-training sprints, ran drills, and played a small-sided practice game.

“It was so great to play in front of this many people,” Morris said after the event. “The energy was amazing.” Morris’s family was in attendance, having made the short trip from Germantown, MD.

“I can only imagine what it’s going to be like on game day,” Wiesner said of the crowd size. Actual match conditions are likely to be even more intense for the new players. Washington averaged 10,876 fans per game in 2023, while their best-attended match drew a crowd of 15,479.

To continue building on that trend, Stone said the team will be providing improved halftime entertainment and more in-game “to make sure fans are constantly entertained and constantly have updates.” Halftime performances will kick off with dance crew Jabbawockeez at the March 23 home opener.

Mark Krikorian, General Manager and President of Soccer Operations, teased before the event that the team has also signed an international player, with an announcement coming soon. The player, who would occupy one of the team’s four open international spots, was not training with the team yesterday, and it’s unclear whether she will join for their opening game in Seattle next weekend.