Spirit announce preseason cuts, bring Wys back on trial

The big surprise: former Spirit GK Kelsey Wys is back with the club as a trialist

The Washington Spirit reduced their preseason roster down to 26 players today, with several trialists being let go. The only addition to the squad is Kelsey Wys, who spent four seasons with the Spirit and started in the 2016 NWSL Championship final. Wys was waived back in January and was said to be pursuing opportunities in Europe, but is now looking to secure a place on the Spirit’s 2019 roster.

No players under contract were let go, but 8 trialists have departed camp. Those players are goalkeepers Sammy Jo Prudhomme and Rachel Boaz; defenders Meghan Cox, Jessica Davis, and Jackie Simpson; and forwards MyKayla Brown, Georgie Cloepfil, and Lana Spitler. Goalkeeper Samantha Leshnak and midfielder Amanda Rooney had already departed camp to pursue trials elsewhere in the league. The Spirit did not dress anyone from this group in either of their preseason friendlies.

Wys is the only addition to the squad, but several other things have changed since Washington released their initial roster. That roster included 7 players who had not reported for camp, but most of those players (Rose Lavelle, Cheyna Matthews, Mallory Pugh, and Andi Sullivan) were away on international duty at the time. Since then, they’ve participated in both Spirit preseason games, as has rookie Jordan DiBiasi (who was arranging for her move to the area at the time the first roster was announced).

Australian internationals Amy Harrison and Chloe Logarzo arrived this past Friday, with head coach Richie Burke indicating that Harrison should play in this weekend’s preseason game against the University of North Carolina. Burke also noted that Logarzo is 1-2 weeks away from full recovery from the injury she suffered in the W-League Grand Final last month.

The current preseason roster is below. Players with an asterisk (*) next to their name are signed but have not yet reported to camp, while those in italics are on trial.

Goalkeepers (3):
Aubrey Bledsoe, Shae Yanez, Kelsey Wys

Defenders (9):
Megan Crosson, Mallory Eubanks, Amy Harrison, Tegan McGrady, Sam Staab, Paige Nielsen, Dorian Bailey, McKenzie Berryhill, Carlin Hudson

Midfielders (7):
Meggie Dougherty Howard, Rose Lavelle, Joanna Lohman, Andi Sullivan, Chloe Logarzo, Tori Huster, Jordan DiBiasi

Forwards (7):
Cali Farquharson, Ashley Hatch, Arielle Ship, Mallory Pugh, Cheyna Matthews, Bayley Feist, Tiffany McCarty