The USWNT’s Croix Bethune has suffered an injury that ends her season after throwing the first pitch at an MLB game
Croix Bethune will not be able to play for the rest of the 2024 NWSL season, as the Washington Spirit announced on Wednesday that the midfielder for the U.S. women’s national team has suffered an injury that will keep her out for the remainder of the season.
According to the team, Bethune has a torn meniscus that she sustained “away from training last week.” The injury occurred while she was throwing a ceremonial first pitch during a game where the Washington Nationals honored the Spirit’s four Olympians after their return from winning gold in the Paris Olympics.
The Spirit chose not to provide further comments beyond their initial press release, which announced that Bethune—who tied the NWSL single-season record with her ninth assist in her last game, a 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Current on August 25—has been placed on the season-ending injury list.
Coach Jonatan Giráldez stated on Sunday that Bethune was unable to play in Washington’s 1-1 tie against the San Diego Wave due to the injury she incurred at Nationals Park.
“She had a problem making the first pitch at the baseball game the other day,” Giráldez explained to reporters following the match. “We will provide details about her condition soon, but she will not be available for the rest of the season. It’s unfortunate news, but we have to continue moving forward.”
Bethune’s season concludes with her being a strong contender for the NWSL Rookie of the Year award, showcasing five goals and ten assists after being selected third overall during the 2024 NWSL College Draft. She also had a solid case for the 2024 MVP award, but will now miss the Spirit’s last eight regular-season matches and any potential playoff games.
Bethune’s impressive performance had caught the attention of the new USWNT coach, Emma Hayes, who brought the former youth national team player into a pre-Olympic training camp, eventually earning her a spot as an Olympic alternate. With Jaedyn Shaw sidelined during the tournament due to a quad injury, Bethune ended up winning a gold medal after being included in a matchday squad, participating in a group stage victory against Australia.
