‘We accomplished what we came here for:’ Spirit draft class builds club’s confidence in transition – Equalizer Soccer

Photo Copyright Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

After two shocking trades on National Women’s Soccer League Draft day, the Washington Spirit were in possession of a total of four first-round draft picks heading into the draft, but were now without midfielder Ashley Sanchez, and defender Sam Staab. Staab was sent to Chicago in return for the third overall pick, while Sanchez was flipped to North Carolina for the fifth overall pick and cash.

At the conclusion of the draft, The Equalizer spoke to Spirit President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Mark Krikorian about the trades, where he sees the team going, and how the newly drafted players fit into the big picture.

“They’ve been such wonderful players at Washington and had such an impressive time during their tenure with the Spirit — it’s hard, right?” Krikorian said of the trades for Staab and Sanchez. “Those are never easy decisions. [We looked] at ‘what is the balance? How are we going to figure all of this out? And in the end, what’s the best going forward?’ And I think in the end we made the decisions that we thought were in the best interest of the club going forward.”