USWNT midfielder Croix Bethune named 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year

With five goals and 10 assists in 17 appearances this season, Croix Bethune has been named 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year after her debut season with the Washington Spirit.

Recently named to the NWSL's Best XI first-team for 2024, Bethune had a breakout year in her first professional season before it ending prematurely due to an unexpected knee injury while throwing out the first pitch at a Washington Nationals MLB game in September.

The 23-year-old won NWSL's Rookie of the Month award in four out of the first five months of the season, while also earning a spot as an alternate on the U.S. Women's National Team roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics under Emma Hayes.

Croix becomes the second Spirit player to win the prestigious award, following in the footsteps of fellow teammate and U.S. international, Trinity Rodman, who earned the award in 2024.

In May, against the Chicago Red Stars on the road, Bethune became just the fourth player in league history to record three assists in a single match. She helped Rodman to an early first half goal, before finding Brittany Ratcliffe for a brace in the second.

The 23-year-old is still recovering from a torn meniscus, but is expected to make a full recovery ahead of the 2025 season. The Spirit, meanwhile, compete in the 2024 NWSL Championship this weekend against regular season champions Orlando Pride.