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United States Women’s National Team midfielder Croix Bethune will miss the remainder of the NWSL season after tearing her meniscus while throwing out a first pitch for the Washington Nationals.
Bethune, who won a gold medal in the Olympics with the USWNT, plays for the Washington Spirit of the NWSL and was asked to throw out the first pitch before the Nats’ August 28 game against the Yankees.
Fellow Olympians Trinity Rodman, Casey Krueger and Hal Hershfelt, each of whom also play for the Spirit, joined Bethune for the pregame ceremony.
But when Bethune stepped up to deliver the pitch, things went sideways.
very cool moment 🥇@CroixBethune threw out the first pitch at the @Nationals‘ game tonight! pic.twitter.com/C4MIWzsLLW
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) August 29, 2024
Bethune appeared to grimace after delivering the pitch and walking off the mound. Now her coach, Jonatan Giráldez, has revealed she suffered a significant injury in the process.
“She had a problem making the first pitch in the baseball game,” Giráldez said after a 1-1 draw with the San Diego Wave on Sunday. “She is not going to be available this season. It is part of life. You have to keep going.”
Bethune, who played her college soccer for the Georgia Bulldogs, went third in the 2024 NWSL Draft. She impressed early in her pro career, notching five goals and 10 assists in 17 games. Her 10 assists lead the league by a wide margin, with USWNT teammate Sophia Smith tied for second with six.