Croix Bethune

Croix Bethune Bio

Croix Collette Bethune is an American professional soccer player who plays as an attacking midfielder for the Washington Spirit of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. Bethune played college soccer for the University of Southern California Trojans and the University of Georgia Bulldogs, twice being named first-team All-American, before being selected by the Spirit third overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft. She tied the league’s single-season assist record in her first season and was named the NWSL Rookie of the Year and Midfielder of the Year. Bethune also won a gold medal with the U.S. national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Early Life and Background

Croix Bethune was raised in Alpharetta, Georgia, the daughter of United States Air Force members Richard and Jean Bethune. She has a brother and started playing soccer at a very young age, around three or four years old. When she was four, her family was stationed in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, for three and a half years, where she played with boys due to the absence of a girls’ team. Bethune played club soccer for the ECNL’s Concorde Fire Soccer Club in Atlanta, where she was recognized as part of the national Best XI in 2017 and 2018. She also played one season of high school soccer at Alpharetta High School and participated in basketball but ultimately chose to focus on soccer after recovering from an ACL tear while training with the national under-17 team. She committed to the University of Southern California over other notable programs, including Florida State, Duke, and UCLA.

Path to Soccer

Croix Bethune began her collegiate soccer career with the USC Trojans, where she played three seasons. Unfortunately, she missed her freshman season in 2019 due to a second ACL tear. On her debut for the Trojans, she made an immediate impact by providing two assists in a thrilling 4–3 overtime win against Brigham Young University in spring 2021. During her time at USC, she scored 16 goals in the fall 2021 season, ranking third in program history for goals in a season. Her performance earned her first-team All-Pac-12, first-team All-American, and the Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year honors in both 2021 and 2022. After her time with the Trojans, Bethune transferred to the University of Georgia for the 2023 season, where she reunited with former USC coach Keidane McAlpine. She led Georgia to its first postseason title in program history at the Southeastern Conference tournament in 2023, scoring crucial goals and being named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Croix Bethune Career

Early Career (2021–2023)

Croix Bethune’s early career was marked by her impressive performances at the collegiate level. After her successful stint with the USC Trojans, she transferred to the Georgia Bulldogs, where she continued to excel on the field. In 2024, she was drafted by the Washington Spirit as the third overall pick in the NWSL Draft. This marked a significant milestone in her career, as she signed a three-year contract with the team, starting her professional journey in soccer.

Breakthrough (2024–Present)

Bethune’s breakthrough came during her rookie season with the Washington Spirit in 2024. She quickly established herself as a key player, filling the role of recently traded Ashley Sanchez. Her first professional goal came in late stoppage time, securing a 2–1 victory over Bay FC on March 23, 2024. On May 2, she made history by assisting on three goals in a single match against the Chicago Red Stars, becoming the youngest player in NWSL history to achieve this feat. By May 10, she broke the rookie assist record with her seventh assist of the season, further solidifying her reputation as a rising star in the league. Bethune’s remarkable performance throughout the season earned her multiple accolades, including NWSL Rookie of the Year and Midfielder of the Year, as well as a selection to the NWSL Best XI.

Notable Works and Milestones

Croix Bethune’s signature work includes her record-breaking rookie season in the NWSL, where she tied the league record for assists in a season. Despite facing challenges, including a meniscus injury that cut her season short, she was recognized as NWSL Rookie of the Month four times and played a crucial role in leading her team to the playoffs.

Croix Bethune Award Nominations

Throughout her career, Croix Bethune has received several nominations, particularly for her outstanding performance in her rookie season.

Croix Bethune Awards Won

Croix Bethune has achieved significant recognition in her early career, including the NWSL Rookie of the Year and Midfielder of the Year awards in 2024. Additionally, she was part of the United States national team that won a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.