Four Washington Spirit Players Called up to U.S. Women's National Team for January Friendlies

Published on January 8, 2026 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Washington Spirit News Release

Washington, D.C. - Four Washington Spirit players have been called up to the U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) for the side's January friendlies, U.S. Soccer announced today. Midfielders Croix Bethune and Hal Hershfelt and defenders Tara Rudd (née McKeown) and Kate Wiesner will take on Paraguay and Chile with the U.S. later this month in southern California.

Bethune earns her second consecutive call-up to the U.S. senior team this month having most recently competed for the side during its friendlies against Italy late last year. The standout midfielder has appeared in five total matches for the USWNT and helped the team earn the gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Hershfelt makes her return to the USWNT this month after a stellar 2025 season with the Spirit. The third-year NWSL star served as an Olympic alternate in 2024 and made her senior international debut that October against Iceland. Hershfelt has made three total appearances for the U.S. senior team.

Fresh off her 2025 NWSL Defender of the Year win, Rudd earns her seventh call-up to the U.S. senior team and first under her new last name after her wedding last month. Making her first appearance and start for the USWNT against Colombia in last year's SheBelieves Cup, Rudd also tallied her first international assist when she connected with Ally Sentnor for a second half goal. In a July friendly against Canada at the Spirit's home ground of Audi Field, Rudd earned her second assist from the back line. The defender has tallied nine total appearances and two assists for the USWNT.

Wiesner earns her second consecutive call-up to the USWNT this month, having made her debut for the senior team in November's friendly against Italy. Entering her third season with the Spirit, the defender will head to her third camp with the USWNT as she was previously called up as a training player in May 2024.

USWNT's January Friendly Schedule:

vs Paraguay | Saturday, January 24 at 5:30 p.m. EST (Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California)

vs Chile | Tuesday, January 27 at 10 p.m. EST (Harder Stadium, Santa Barbara, California)

Beginning preseason later this month, the Spirit will look to build on the side's second straight NWSL Championship appearance in 2026.

National Women's Soccer League Stories from January 8, 2026

• NC Courage Sign Canadian Goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan Through 2027 - North Carolina Courage
• Orlando Pride Acquires Defender Hannah Anderson in Trade with Chicago Stars FC - Orlando Pride
• Chicago Stars FC Acquires $70,000 in Trade with the Orlando Pride for Defender, Hannah Anderson - Chicago Stars FC
• Houston Native and Notre Dame Defender Leah Klenke Joins Houston Dash - Houston Dash
• Portland Thorns Sign University of Alabama Forward Maddie Padelski - Portland Thorns FC
• Orlando Pride and Grace Chanda Mutually Agree to Part Ways - Orlando Pride
• Four Washington Spirit Players Called up to U.S. Women's National Team for January Friendlies - Washington Spirit
• URFC Goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn Called up to USWNT for January Friendly Matches - Utah Royals FC
• Seattle Reign FC Sends Five Players to U.S. Women's National Team Training Camp for January Matches - Seattle Reign FC
• Racing's Sears to Join USWNT for January Camp - Racing Louisville FC
• Bay FC Goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz Selected to U.S. Women's National Team January Camp Roster - Bay FC
• Four Kansas City Current Players Called up by U.S. Women's National Team - Kansas City Current
• Houston Dash Duo Named to U.S. Women's National Team Roster - Houston Dash
• Riley Jackson Called up by USWNT for January Friendlies - North Carolina Courage
• Gotham FC Signs U.S. Youth International Andrea Kitahata - NJ/NY Gotham FC
• Boston Legacy FC Signs Ugandan Striker Fauzia Najjemba - Boston Legacy FC

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Washington Spirit Stories

• 2026 NWSL Championship, Presented by Google Pixel, to be Staged at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
• Washington Spirit Forward Gift Monday Called up to Nigeria Women's National Team
• Washington Spirit Midfielder Leicy Santos Called up to Colombia Women's National Team for World Cup Qualifiers
• Spirit Heads into June Break on a High Note, Wins Fifth Straight over Seattle
• Washington Spirit Returns Home for Final Match Before June Break