The 2013 season was

Washington Spirit The Washington Spirit is an American professional soccer club based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area that participates in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). It is a continuation of the D.C. United Women of the W-League and cont ...

'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 professional women's soccer league at the top of the United States league system. It is owned by the teams and, until 2020, was under a management contract with the United States Soccer Federatio ...

, 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 NWSL were paid for by their respective national federations from 2013 to 2021. American federation players were contracted to the United Sta ...

, goalkeeper

Ashlyn Harris Ashlyn Michelle Harris (born October 19, 1985) is a former American soccer player for Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the highest division of women's professional soccer in the United States, and the United States women' ...

(USA), defender

Ali Krieger Alexandra Blaire Krieger (born July 28, 1984) is an American soccer player for NJ/NY Gotham FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the highest division of women's professional soccer in the United States, and the United States women's ...

(USA), midfielder

Lori Lindsey Lori Ann Lindsey (born March 19, 1980) is a retired American soccer midfielder who last played for Canberra United in the Australian W-League and was also a member of the United States women's national soccer team player pool. She played one ...

(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 footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga MX Femenil club Puebla. She has been a member of the Mexico women's national team. Early life Worbis co ...

(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 year ...

Tori Huster Victoria Lauren Huster (born September 23, 1989) is an American soccer midfielder currently playing for Washington Spirit of the NWSL. In 2020, she was elected president of the National Women's Soccer League Players Association. Early life Bor ...

Jordan Angeli Jordan Leigh Angeli (born May 31, 1986) is an American former soccer player from Lakewood, Colorado. She last played in 2015 for the Western New York Flash in the National Women's Soccer League after a preseason trade with the Washington Spirit. ...

Natasha Kai Natasha Kanani Janine Kai (born May 22, 1983) is an American professional soccer forward and Olympic gold medalist. She previously played for Sky Blue FC and the Philadelphia Independence of Women's Professional Soccer and National Women's Socc ...

Megan Mischler Megan Kathleen Mischler (born August 8, 1989) is an American professional soccer player who last played for Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a professional women's soccer l ...

and

Heather Cooke Heather Marie Diosano Cooke (born 25 December 1988) is an American-born Filipino Women's association football, footballer and reality television series participant. She plays as a Defender (association football), defender and a Striker (associa ...

. The Spirit played their first competitive match on April 14, 2013, drawing

Boston Breakers The Boston Breakers were an American professional 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 defunct Women's ...

1–1 with

Tiffany McCarty Tifanny Janea McCarty (born December 14, 1990) is an American soccer forward who plays for Þór/KA in the Úrvalsdeild kvenna. She previously played for the Houston Dash, and FC Kansas City, and Washington Spirit in the NWSL as well as Albirex ...

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 OL Reign is an American professional Women's association football, women's soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded by Bill and Teresa Predmore in 2012 as Seattle Reign FC, it was one of eight inaugural members of the National Women's S ...

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 (Duwamish River), Green River, just south of Seattle. The stadium is operated by the nonprofit co ...

. 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 currently the head coach of American club Washington Spirit. He had previously managed the Netherlands women's national team and the Portland Thorns FC. Pa ...

. 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