Croix Bethune, the heavy favorite for 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year, scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time to give the Spirit a 1-1 tie with the San Diego Wave before a record Spirit crowd of 19,897 at Audi Field.

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Paul Kennedy edited Soccer America for 41 years (1985-2026). He began writing for SA in 1974. He started writing for France Football in 1978 and has served on in Ballon d'Or jury since 2007.