Washington Spirit Signs Star Defender Tara McKeown to New Contract
McKeown inks a new deal through the 2027 season with a 2028 option
Washington, D.C. (09/19/2024) – The Washington Spirit has signed standout defender Tara McKeown to a new four-year contract with a fifth-year option, the club announced today. Replacing McKeown’s current contract, her new deal will take effect immediately and run through the 2027 season with an option for 2028.
“Tara quickly became an important part of our back line last year and has grown into one of the best center backs in the league,” said President of Soccer Operations/General Manager Mark Krikorian. “Keeping her with the club is an important step as we look to compete for championships.”
McKeown has started all 20 matches of the 2024 regular season for the Spirit, playing all 1,800 possible minutes. Since making the move from forward to defender in 2023, McKeown has been a stalwart of the Spirit back line, having only missed 120 minutes of regular season action since the start of the 2023 season.
“I’m so happy and grateful to be extending my time with the Spirit,” said McKeown. “DC has become my second home and I’m looking forward to the future with this coaching staff and my teammates. I’m thankful to Michele Kang and the front office for the belief in me to continue to be a crucial part of this great club.”
Through McKeown’s first two seasons with the Spirit, she played as a forward for the team, the same position that she played in college. As a member of the attacking third, she appeared in 32 matches and netted four goals and added three assists.
Originally from Newbury Park, California, McKeown attended the University of Southern California before being drafted by the Spirit with the eighth overall pick in 2021. In four seasons with the Trojans, McKeown tallied 33 goals and 28 assists in 76 appearances, earning First Team All-American honors once and First Team All-Pac-12 honors twice in the process. McKeown also earned a Pac-12 All-Freshman Team nod in 2017 and an All-Pac-12 Third Team nod in 2018.
McKeown and the Spirit will take to the pitch next at home against Racing Louisville FC on Sunday, October 13. Kicking off at 5 p.m. EDT, the match will be the Spirit’s return to Audi Field after three straight away matches and feature a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Tickets are available at WashingtonSpirit.com/tickets.
About The Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. In 2024, the Spirit drafted an epic class of rookies who are already breaking records and wowing fans. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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