Spirit shutout Tarheels 2-0 in preseason college series

GERMANTOWN, Md. (Mar. 30, 2013) - The Washington Spirit professional women's soccer team defeated defending NCAA champions North Carolina 2-0 today in front of 1725 fans at the sunny Maryland SoccerPlex. The Spirit have yet to concede a goal, in what was their third preseason exhibition game in two weeks, with two more to go until starting their first National Women's Soccer League season in Boston on April 14.

The Spirit have now played 270 minutes of scoreless soccer at the back, despite starting today without several players expected to patrol the back line for the regular season, including missing international veterans Ali Krieger, Robyn Gayle and Candace Chapman. Krieger, Gayle, Ashlyn Harris and Diana Matheson all missed today's game while on international duty. Chapman has nearly recovered from off-season knee surgery, and was out of uniform today. 

USWNT players Krieger, Lindsey officially join Washington Spirit

Now that U.S. Soccer and the Women's National Team Players Association have finalized material terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, USWNT players are beginning to join their clubs to prepare for the upcoming inaugural NWSL season.

Both Ali Krieger and Lori Lindsey arrived at Spirit facilities on March 20 to start working with their teammates.

Video: Washington Spirit first game in franchise history vs Penn State

It's official, professional women's soccer has returned to the DMV! Checkout highlights from the first game in Washington Spirit franchise history. More exciting professional women's soccer is coming soon.

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USWNT Welcomes Ali Krieger back

Virginia native and member of the Washington Spirit (NWSL), Ali Krieger was welcomed back to the U.S. Women's National team by her teammates.

Ali Krieger (photo by Chris Wimmer)

via: ussoccerdotcom YouTube

UVA forward Caroline Miller selected in 2nd round by Washington in NWSL college draft

With the second overall selection in the inaugural National Women's Soccer League college draft taking place at the NSCAA convention in Indionapolis, IN, the Washington Spirit have chosen Tiffany McCarty (forward / Florida St.).

Tiffany McCarty Bio

The Spirit also selected University of Virginia forward Caroline Miller with the second pick of the second round. Miller ranks second all-time with 45 career goals at Virginia. The club selected former D.C. United Women's player Holly King in the third round.

Caroline Miller Bio

UCLA forward, Zakiya Bywaters was selected 1st overall by the Chicago Red Stars.

NWSL First Round Draft Selections

Washington Spirit will pick 2nd in inaugural NWSL colleg draft

Inaugural NWSL College Draft Begins at 9 a.m. ET at Indianapolis Convention Center;

CHICAGO (Jan. 16, 2013) - The National Women's Soccer League announced today the order for the league's inaugural college draft, which will take place on Friday, Jan. 18, at 9 a.m. ET at the Indianapolis Convention Center. 

Fans can follow the draft live on Twitter @NWSL. 

The draft order is as follows: 

1.          Chicago Red Stars
2.          Washington Spirit
3.          FC Kansas City
4.          Sky Blue FC (New York/New Jersey)
5.          Boston Breakers
6.          Western New York Flash
7.          Seattle Reign FC
8.          Portland Thorns FC

NWSL Player Allocation announced, Washington Spirit player list revealed

Today US Soccer officially announced the National team player allocations for all eight of the clubs in the newly formed National Women's Soccer League. 

NWSL Announces Allocation of 55 National Team Players to Eight Clubs

The list of US National Team players allocated for the Washington Spirit is below:

Washington Spirit
Ashlyn Harris (USA)
Ali Krieger (USA)
Lori Lindsey (USA)
Robin Gayle (CAN)
Diana Matheson (CAN)
Alina Garciamendez (MEX)
Teresa Worbis (MEX)

Other notable players allocated to other league teams include FIFA Women's Player of the Year winner Abby Wambach (Western New York Flash), FIFA Women's Player of the Year nominee Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), and often controversial goalkeeper Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC).

National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) set for Spring 2013 start

CHICAGO (Dec. 15, 2012) - The new eight-team women's soccer league will be called the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The league, which will be administered by U.S. Soccer, will begin in the spring of 2013.
The new league logo is appropriately red, white and blue and features the silhouette of a female soccer player about to strike a shot.

With the confirmation of the league name and logo, the National Women's Soccer League has also launched its official pages on Facebook and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to like the league at facebook.com/NWSLsoccer and follow on Twitter @NWSL_soccer. A league website will be launched in the near future.

U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati announced on Nov. 29 that former U.S. Women's National Team General Manager Cheryl Bailey had been named the Executive Director for the new league.

"We are working on finalizing a number of league items, but we now have a name and a logo that we think the fans will identify with and enjoy," said Bailey. "This is a league we have to build from the bottom up and we have a group of dedicated owners and talented support staff at U.S. Soccer to keep this process moving in a positive direction while slowly growing the brand."

U.S. Soccer will subsidize the salaries of up to 24 U.S. Women's National Team players while the Canadian Soccer Association and Federation of Mexican Football will each do the same for up to 16 players.

The eight teams in the league are: Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Kansas City, Portland Thorns FC, Sky Blue FC, Washington Spirit, Western New York Flash and Seattle, which has yet to announce its team name.

More information on the details of the league will be released as they become finalized.