Washington Spirit rookie midfielder Croix Bethune will miss the rest of the soccer season after tearing her meniscus while tossing a ceremonial first pitch for baseball’s Washington Nationals, her team announced Wednesday.
Bethune, 23, was in the middle of a spectacular summer. She was named the National Women’s Soccer League’s Rookie of the Month three times and won an Olympic gold medal in Paris with the U.S. team.
The Nationals honored Bethune and the Spirit’s other Olympians at their home game against the Yankees on Aug. 28. The Southern Cal and Georgia product — who battled ACL injuries in high school and college — walked gingerly off the mound after her pitch.
“She had a problem making the first pitch in the baseball game,” Spirit coach Jonatan Giraldez told reporters. “She is not going to be available this season. It is part of life. You have to keep going.”
Bethune recorded five goals and 10 assists in her first 17 NWSL games.
The Spirit is in second place in the NWSL standings with eight games remaining in the regular season.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.