Olympic gold medalist and Washington Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune is out for the rest of the NWSL season after tearing her meniscus while throwing out the first pitch at a Nationals game last Wednesday.
“She had a problem making the first pitch in the baseball game,” Spirit coach Jonatan Giráldez said after the team’s Sunday match in San Diego. “She is not going to be available this season. It is part of life. You have to keep going.”
The team confirmed it was placing Bethune on the season-ending injury list Wednesday, saying she had a “successful surgery” to her knee injury obtained “away from training last week.” The club said Bethune will “remain with the team throughout her recovery” as she rehabs with the Spirit’s medical department. According to the league’s current collective bargaining agreement, which is in the process of being replaced by a new one, the Spirit can sign a new player to replace Bethune, and both players would be eligible for postseason bonuses. Representatives for the Spirit and NWSL Players Association did not immediately respond to questions about contractual protections for Bethune during her injury.
It’s not the first time a first pitch has caused a knee injury. In 2014, the late Don Baylor broke his right thigh bone while catching a first pitch from Vladimir Guerrero.
It’s not exactly clear how Bethune sustained the injury. Video of the pitch shows her sailing it way over a catcher’s head but staying on her feet throughout the process.
Bethune earned NWSL Rookie of the Month honors three times this season, the first time a player has won the award consecutive times. She scored five goals and recorded 10 assists in her 17 matches with the Spirit. Bethune was the third pick in the NWSL draft, which was recently abolished by the new CBA.
Originally an alternate, she rose to the Olympic roster following an injury to Jaedyn Shaw, and she saw action in the group-stage match against Australia.
The morning after the Spirit confirmed Bethune’s status, the team also announced Magic Johnson as a new member of the club’s investor group. The Spirit are currently second in the NWSL table.
