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NWSL Washington Spirit

Washington Spirit Defenders Whitney Church, Estelle Johnson Sign New Contracts

February 23, 2018 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Washington Spirit News Release


Boyds, MD - Washington Spirit defenders Whitney Church and Estelle Johnson have signed new contracts ahead of the 2018 National Women's Soccer League season.

Church, who was drafted No. 30 overall by the Spirit in the 2015 NWSL Draft, will play her fourth season with Washington in 2018. She appeared in 22 games, totaling 1,980 minutes of playing time on the back line during the 2017 regular season. She was named the NWSL Player of the Week for Week 20, after scoring the first goal of her NWSL career to help rally the Spirit to a 2-1 road victory over Sky Blue FC.

Johnson is also entering her fourth season as a member of the Spirit, after joining the club via trade in 2015 from the Western New York Flash. Last season, she appeared in 20 games, totaling 1680 minutes of playing time on the Washington back line. She scored the first two goals of her NWSL career, and was twice named to the NWSL Team of the Month, in both April and June.

The Spirit has also finalized its preseason game schedule, which will feature two games, both open to the public.

On Saturday March 10, Washington will return to Evergreen Sportsplex in Leesburg, Va. for the second straight year for a friendly against the 22-time women's college champion University of North Carolina Tar Heels. [TICKETS]

On March 17, the Spirit will host the first ever NWSL match played in Richmond, Va. when they face the North Carolina Courage at the historic City Stadium. Over 2,000 tickets are already out for the game in Richmond. [TICKETS]

Washington will host the Orlando Pride at the Maryland SoccerPlex in the club's 2018 NWSL regular season home opener on March 31. Last year's match-up with Orlando sold out with 5,200 fans in attendance, and another sellout is expected in the Spirit's 2018 home opener. [TICKETS]

Washington Spirit 2018 Season Tickets are on sale now at Tickets.WashingtonSpirit.com.

Transaction: Washington Spirit signs Whitney Church and Estelle Johnson to new contracts.

Whitney Church

Position: Defense

Hometown: Ashburn, VA

Age: 24 (04/30/1993)

Height: 5'5''

College: Penn State

Estelle Johnson

Position: Defense

Hometown: Fort Collins, CO

Age: 29 (07/21/1988)

Height: 5'6"

College: Kansas

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