Washington Spirit’s 2025 roster is coming into clearer focus with the team’s announcement this afternoon that recent signings Deborah Abiodun and Tamara Bolt will be loaned to Dallas Trinity FC in the USL Super League for the remainder of this calendar year.

Abiodun is a rookie midfielder from the University of Pittsburgh who has also played for the Nigerian Women’s National Team and was signed to a three-year contract with an option for 2028. Bolt, a right winger who Washington signed to a one-year deal with two option years, has played professionally for two years in the Brazilian league. This will be the first year playing professionally in the US for both 21-year-olds.

The Spirit’s signings this offseason had previously baffled fans and media alike by seeming to outstrip the number of roster and international slots available to them. These loans answer a lot of the outstanding questions, bringing the team to a total of 26 players signed for this year. Five of those players are not currently active, but some are expected to return from injury before the season begins. NWSL rules allow 22-26 active players on a roster. Further, this means that the team will have one open international slot, even after Ouleye Sarr is removed from the Season-Ending Injury list.

The move could make good sense for Abiodun and Bolt as well, allowing the two young players to develop their games in a slightly lower stakes environment that is likely to provide them more time on the field.

“Deborah and Tamara’s loans are part of our development plans for them as they begin their U.S. pro careers,” President of Soccer Operations/General Manager Mark Krikorian said in the team’s press release. “They both will gain valuable experience playing in Dallas this year and we look forward to welcoming them back to the Spirit in the future.”

Dallas currently sit in second place in the USL Super League standings, with a record of 6 wins, 5 draws, and 3 losses. The calendar-year loan means that Abiodun and Bolt would be available to help Trinity make a push to come out on top this season and to start their campaign in the first half of the 2025-26 season.

According to reporting by Jason Anderson, Washington retain the right to recall either player before the end of the loan, if they are needed on the Spirit roster.

A final thing to note here is the developing relationship between the Spirit and Trinity FC. This will be the third loan the Spirit have made to the other team, having sent defender Waniya Hudson to Dallas for the second half of 2024. These loans indicate that Washington views the Super League team not only as a destination for players unlikely to make it into their own rotation but also as a partner who can be trusted to help develop young talent.

We’ll certainly be watching Dallas Trinity and these players with interest. They take the field next on Feb. 15 against Tampa Bay Sun FC and will be in D.C. to play Power FC on May 8.

Roster tracker

Goalkeepers (4): Kaylie Collins, Lyza Jessee (SEI), Aubrey Kingsbury, Sandy MacIver (INTL) 

Defenders (7): Gabby Carle, Casey Krueger, Tara McKeown, Paige Metayer, Esme Morgan (INTL), Kysha Sylla (Loaned player, INTL), Kate Wiesner 

Midfielders (9): Croix Bethune (SEI), Courtney Brown, Hal Hershfelt, Narumi Miura (INTL), Makenna Morris, Chloe Ricketts (U18), Leicy Santos (INTL), Heather Stainbrook, Andi Sullivan (SEI) 

Forwards (6): Emma Gaines-Ramos (SEI), Ashley Hatch, Rosemonde Kouassi (INTL), Brittany Ratcliffe, Trinity Rodman, Ouleye Sarr (INTL, SEI)