The 2013 season was

Washington Spirit The Washington Spirit are an American professional Association football, soccer team based in Washington, D.C. that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). It is a continuation of the D.C. United Women of the USL W-League (1995� ...

's first season of existence in which they competed in the

National Women's Soccer League The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a women's professional Association football, soccer league and the highest level of the United States soccer league system#Women's leagues, United States soccer league system (alongside the USL Supe ...

, the top division of women's soccer in the United States.

Review

The inaugural Spirit roster began to assemble on January 11, 2013, as part of the

NWSL Player Allocation The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) federation players were players whose salaries for playing in the National Women's Soccer League were paid for by their respective national federations from 2013 to 2021. American federation players were co ...

, goalkeeper

Ashlyn Harris Ashlyn Michelle Harris (born October 19, 1985) is an American former Association football, soccer player. She represented the United States women's national soccer team, making her debut for the senior national team on March 11, 2013, and was ...

(USA), defender

Ali Krieger Alexandra Blaire Krieger (born July 28, 1984) is an American former professional Association football, soccer player who played as a right back or center back. She made more than 100 appearances for the United States women's national soccer team ...

(USA), midfielder

Lori Lindsey Lori Ann Lindsey (born March 19, 1980) is an American soccer commentator and retired midfielder. Lindsey made 31 appearances for the United States national team. She represented her country at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, where they were run ...

(USA), defender

Robyn Gayle Robyn Krista Gayle (born 31 October 1985) is a former Canadian soccer player who was both a Concacaf champion and Olympic Bronze Medal winner. She played her club career in Canada and the United States, including two years with the Washington S ...

(CAN), midfielder

Diana Matheson Diana Beverly Matheson (born April 6, 1984) is a Canadian former professional soccer player who played for the Canada national team from 2003 to 2020 and multiple professional women's teams over the course of her career. She is best known for ...

(CAN), defender

Alina Garciamendez Alina Lisi Garciamendez Rowold (born 16 April 1991) is an American-born Mexican former footballer who played as a defender. She has been a member of the Mexico women's national team. Early life Born in Los Gatos, California, to Edsel Garciame ...

(MEX) and midfielder

Teresa Worbis Teresa Guadalupe "Lupita" Worbis Aguilar (born 12 December 1983) is a Mexican architect and a former footballer who played as a midfielder. She has been a member of the Mexico women's national team. Early life Worbis completed her undergradua ...

(MEX) were named to the team. During the February 7, 2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft, the team selected

Stephanie Ochs Stephanie Elise Ochs (born August 29, 1990) is an American soccer forward. Early life Born in San Diego, California to Carol and David Ochs, Stephanie attended Patrick Henry High School where she played on the varsity soccer team all four yea ...

Tori Huster Victoria Lauren Huster (born September 23, 1989) is an American retired women's association football, soccer player who spent most of her career with Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). In 2020, she was elected presid ...

Jordan Angeli Jordan Leigh Angeli (born May 31, 1986) is an American former soccer player and current soccer commentator. Known for her versatility, Angeli played for Boston Breakers in the Women's Professional Soccer, and the Washington Spirit and Western ...

Natasha Kai Natasha Kanani Janine Kai (born May 22, 1983) is an American professional soccer forward and Olympic gold medalist who played professionally most recently in 2019. She previously played for Sky Blue FC and the Philadelphia Independence of Women ...

, Megan Mischler and Heather Cooke. The Spirit played their first competitive match on April 14, 2013, drawing

Boston Breakers The Boston Breakers were an American professional women's soccer club based in the Boston neighborhood of Allston. The team competed in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). They replaced the original Breakers, who competed in the defu ...

1–1 with Tiffany McCarty scoring the team's first goal assisted by

. The Spirit won their first competitive match on May 16, 2013, when they defeated the

Seattle Reign Seattle Reign FC is an American professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington, that competes in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Founded in 2012, it is one of eight inaugural members of the NWSL. Since June 2024, the Reign ar ...

2–4 at

Starfire Stadium Starfire Sports is a multi-purpose stadium and sporting facility in Tukwila, Washington, United States. It is located on the banks of the Green River, just south of Seattle. The stadium is operated by the nonprofit corporation Starfire Sports a ...

. As the season wore on, the Spirit struggled to gain form and after the first eleven matches, Mike Jorden was fired and replaced by

Mark Parsons Mark Richard David Parsons (born 8 August 1986) is an English football manager who is the former head coach of American club Washington Spirit. He previously managed top-level teams including the Netherlands women's national team, the Portland ...

. The coaching transition would be tough, and the Spirit continued the season with a 13-match winless streak (only one draw) until finishing the season on a high with two wins and a draw. Washington finished their first season in last place (8th).

Review

Club

Roster

Team management

Competitions

Preseason

Regular season

Standings

Results summary

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Top scorers

Top assists

Disciplinary record

Disciplinary record

Goalkeeper stats

Transfers

In

Loan in

Honors and awards

NWSL Yearly Awards

NWSL Team of the Year

See also

References