Croix Bethune has had a whirlwind of a week.
Less than 24 hours after her surprise exit from the Washington Spirit, the 24-year-old midfielder was boarding a cross-country flight to California for preseason with her new team, the Kansas City Current.
“I’m excited to be here – of course, just a little tired because, you know, the traveling and everything,” a smiling Bethune said, before heading to her first training on Friday.
“There are a lot of reasons that went into my decision of joining the Current. A big one would be the staff, the girls wanting to be on a high-level development page, in all aspects – and KC’s just the place for that.”
The 2025 NWSL Shield winners paid the Spirit $1 million to sign Bethune. Her contract runs through 2027, offering the U.S. midfielder stability as she pushes for a spot on Emma Hayes’ World Cup roster. Still, her premature exit after two successful seasons with the Spirit came as a shock.
“Timing is everything,” Bethune said, “but sometimes it’s not necessarily when you want it to be or when it’s planned out. For me, right now, this was the move that I decided to make, simply because of my development, and I feel like Kansas City can help me.”
Bethune began her professional career in D.C. after being selected third overall in the 2024 NWSL Draft. She went on to win gold with the U.S. at the Summer Olympics in Paris and was later named NWSL Rookie of the Year despite a knee injury cutting her rookie season short. After returning from injury last year, Bethune helped the Spirit reach the NWSL finals for a second year in a row, scoring the second goal in their semifinal win over the Portland Thorns.
Bethune’s decision to sign with KC was fueled by her desire to continue developing. She envisions herself fitting seamlessly into the Current’s attacking style of play and is eager to more clearly define her role on the team as she begins playing with them.
“The way that they want to play fits my style of play, but also, I can merge into this team very, very well,” Bethune said. “And, of course, the players. I mean, this is who I’m going to be playing with, and I want to be around the best. I want to be supported. I want to improve my playing, as well as help my teammates. (I want to) get better.”
The Current ended the 2025 regular season in historic fashion and headed into the playoffs with high hopes for their first NWSL Championship.
They secured the NWSL Shield in record time and broke multiple records along the way. They ended the year with 21 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses. Star forward Temwa Chawinga earned a second consecutive Golden Boot, even with an injury that kept her off the pitch in the final weeks of the postseason.
The team’s record year, however, was cut short in the NWSL quarterfinals when they were upset by the No. 8 seed and eventual champions, Gotham FC.
With Bethune, the Current will add another creative layer to their already-impressive depth.
Thirteen days before signing with the Current, Bethune was at NWSL Media Days previewing the 2026 NWSL season with the Spirit. She was fresh off an impressive January camp with the USWNT, when she scored her first U.S. goal against Chile.
“I think it’s been the best camp I’ve seen from Croix in terms of her approach, her application,” Hayes said after the match. “She’s quick. She’s clever. You know, she can unlock things. She can see a pass. There’s something about her that I know I’ve seen so much more in her rookie year, but I can feel that Croix is going to take another level in her game.”
Reflecting on Hayes’ remarks, Bethune told The Athletic at the time, “Personally, I felt very good. I felt comfortable. I told Emma, when she told me that, that I feel like I got my swagger back. I feel like I’m getting back into flow of things.”
Vlatko Andonovski, the Current’s sporting director and last year’s head coach, told reporters on Friday that he has known Bethune “for a long time.” The former USWNT head coach reflected on his time with the national team. While Bethune was still in college, he spent time researching her, as she was on the national team’s radar.
“I’m very familiar with her qualities, and I’ve always referred to her as one of the most creative players in the league, and I know that (KC Current head coach) Chris (Armas) is excited as well to have a player with such caliber on the team,” Andonovski said. “We showed that we’re a very well-attacking team in the last two years, and bringing Croix on the team is going to make us even better.”
In speaking with Armas, Bethune said, “I feel like (with) what he’s told me about the team and my role, I will mesh very well – possibly in that 10 position, possibly in other positions, but I think the plan is key for us.”
Bethune hopes to step into a leadership role at the Current. She is eager to help wherever needed. “Honestly, anywhere that they need me, playing any position that they need me – I just want to help them elevate and be the best that we can be, on and off the field.”
Bethune’s arrival was quickly followed by fellow U.S. midfielder Claire Hutton’s shocking exit from Kansas City. The 20-year-old signed with Bay FC, which paid the Current $1.1 million in transfer fees for the rising star. Hutton started her career in K.C., signing with the club at 17 years old and quickly developing into a key player on their roster. Hayes recently described her as a USWNT “captain in the making.”
“Claire was a player that we loved and we developed. We put a lot of resources, effort, time into her development,” Andonovski said. “We’re thrilled to see how she has progressed in the two years, but in same time, we understand that sometimes we as a club have to make tough decisions, as well as (the) players.”
The club’s general manager Ryan Dell pointed to the club’s success in development when referencing Bethune’s arrival. “I think we’re a leader in that,” Dell said, “and we want to continue that, both with Croix and our young players that we have on our roster.”
The team now shifts its focus to Sunday, when the Current will face the San Diego Wave at the Coachella Invitational. It could very well be Bethune’s first match in Kansas City teal.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Kansas City Current, NWSL
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