USWNT, Washington Spirit's Andi Sullivan out for remainder of season with torn ACL

Washington Spirit midfielder Andi Sullivan sustained a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2024 NWSL regular season, the club announced on Wednesday. She has been placed on the season-ending injury (SEI) list after being stretchered off the pitch during a match last weekend and is the latest player on a long unavailable list for the Spirit. Drafted by the Spirit in 2018 out of Stanford University, the Virginia native will remain with the team during her recovery while working with the Spirit performance, medical and innovation department. 

Sullivan has been a key component in the Spirit's successful season. A starter and leader on the team, her role became increasingly more important as the D.C. side rotated players in and out of the injury report down the current playoff push. The squad was in contention for the NWSL Shield until Sunday's loss to Orlando Pride. The Spirit have already clinched a spot in the postseason but playoff seeding between teams No. 2 and No. 4 are still up for grabs if they want to host a home quarterfinal. 

Her ACL injury means that head coach Jonatan Giraldez and his staff will need to keep the player rotation in full effect with Sullivan's services no longer available. Rookie midfielder Hal Hershfelt has flourished in a dual defensive mid role alongside Sullivan and will likely take on more responsibilities in the middle third. 

Attacking midfielder Croix Bethune, a rookie sensation, was placed on the SEI list in August with a meniscus injury after setting a rookie record for most assists (10) that also matches the league record for single-season assists. She won an Olympic gold medal with the U.S. women's national team this summer. Fellow USWNT gold medalists Trinity Rodman and Casey Krueger were recently on the Spirit's injury list, though their injuries are being treated as manageable and are expected to play again this season.

The timing of the injury is of particular concern as Sullivan's increased role and level of play had earned praise and a possible return to the U.S. women's national team. She was a member of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squad but had not been a full member of USWNT camps until Emma Hayes officially took over the program this summer. She was listed as a training player for June friendlies against South Korea in June. 

Sullivan was considered a leading candidate to participate in the upcoming window. The USWNT will have October friendlies with the games serving as a post-Olympics celebration. The fall training camp roster has yet to drop, though many of the gold medal-winning Olympians will likely be named. The Stars and Stripes will face Iceland for two friendlies and Argentina for one match.