Boyds, MD. (3/9/20) – The Washington Spirit has announced an initial 31-player roster as the 2020 NWSL Preseason officially begins today.

Included on the 31-player roster are six non-roster invitees and five players that were selected in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.

The Spirit will have an inaugural preseason warm-weather camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida from March 12 to March 25. The warm-weather camp will provide Spirit players with high-quality pitch conditions and will improve the quality of outdoor training sessions.

The Spirit will return to the DMV to play their first game of the preseason on March 28 against the University of Virginia at the Maryland SoccerPlex. For the Spirit’s full preseason schedule, and more information, click here.

Five members of the roster have recent United States Women’s National Team experience, with midfielders Rose Lavelle and Andi Sullivan currently with the team at the 2020 SheBelieves Cup and Goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe, forward Ashley Hatch, midfielder Jordan DiBiasi having joined the USWNT for training camps in November, December and February, respectively.

Canadian international Jenna Hellstrom joined the Canadian Women’s National Team for the 2019 World Cup, and forward Kumi Yokoyama has 43 career caps for the Japanese Women’s National Team.

The Spirit roster has five 2020 NWSL College Draft picks on the roster for the second year in a row. The players were selected across all four rounds of the draft, ranging from the No. 4 overall pick to No. 32. No. 4 pick Ashley Sanchez (UCLA), No. 13 Natalie Jacobs (USC), No, 17 Averie Collins (Washington State University), No. 23 Katie McClure (Kansas), and No. 32 Kaiya McCullough (UCLA) will be making their professional debuts March 28 against the UVA.