Washington Spirit's Croix Bethune suffers season-ending knee injury throwing ceremonial pitch

Washington Spirit rookie midfielder Croix Bethune will miss rest of season for National Women's Soccer League club after apparently suffering a knee injury while throwing ceremonial first pitch at a Washington Nationals game last week.

Spirit said Wednesday that Bethune, who was part of U.S. Olympic team that won gold medal in Paris last month, suffered a torn meniscus “away from training” and won't play again in 2024 while she rehabs injury.

23-year-old Bethune did not travel with team for last Sunday's 1-1 draw at San Diego.

“She h a problem making first pitch in baseball game," Spirit coach Jonatan Giráldez said after match. “She is not going to be available this season. It is part of life. You have to keep going.”

Bethune, third overall pick in NWSL draft, has five goals and 10 assists in 17 games.

She was honored alongside Spirit teammates and fellow Olympians Trinity Rodman, Casey Krueger and Hal Hershfelt before Nationals hosted New York Yankees on Aug. 28. She appeared to grimace slightly while walking off mound after making pitch.