Respond to prefers-color-scheme dark in app web views

Follow section front redirects in Spectrum

Enable NLP source in PCS for load testing

Switch off the News Alerts Survey Widget when we have enough responses

Poll to determine if new LUF updates are available

Allows the winning A/B test variant to be turned on without Spectrum deployment

Show infinite scrolling sections in Assembler MultiView

Show option for NLP article summaries in Action Bar

A general feature flag for Recipe Features that aren't yet released

Feature flag for media team features that aren't yet released

Use new Orca video player for preroll plugin in Spectrum

Show the snow tracker (instead of the heat tracker) on Spectrum

In a pinch, the Nationals finally find some offense

The Capitals, a team in transition, know what they want this offseason

Is Pastis as good as our food critic thought? He sent spies to find out.

The Post endorses April McClain Delaney and Tom Royals for Maryland’s 6th District

On Press Freedom Day, little to celebrate for Hong Kong’s journalists

Young Georgians want to be part of Europe. Their government is in the way.

Teen grabs wheel when driver passes out and school bus veers into traffic

Cat climbed into Amazon return box, found alive 630 miles away

I learned to heal my sadness by cradling dying chickens 

Biden honors distinguished Americans; Trump back in N.Y. court

Trump Media auditor charged by SEC with ‘massive fraud’

Google’s empire is massive. A judge will soon rule if it’s a monopoly.

Ask Amy: My boyfriend just confessed he’s almost $20,000 in debt

Miss Manners: Is it inappropriate to reach out to old girlfriends?

Carolyn Hax: Longtime friend won’t forgive being last-minute canceled for a guy

Biden expands health insurance access for DACA recipients

The grinding familiarity of the jocks-vs.-hippies proxy fight

What’s the best bus to New York? We tested 5 for comfort and value.

Adaptive equipment is making national parks more inclusive

You asked: Do I need a passport for my cruise?

Northern Gaza is in ‘full-blown famine,’ World Food Program leader says

Confident of victory over Ukraine, Russia exhibits Western war trophies

Journalism in India is under assault

The ‘Access Hollywood’ video cemented Trump’s air of invincibility

The New York Times, alone in its outrage over access to Biden

In photos: At least 39 dead as historic flooding hits southern Brazil

Riot police and over 2,000 arrests: A look at 2 weeks of campus protests

Israel’s offensive is destroying Gaza’s ability to grow its own food

Brad Smith/ISI Photos

PHILADELPHIA — The Washington Spirit’s selection of Andi Sullivan with the No. 1 pick in the National Women’s Soccer League draft Thursday provided a fitting symmetry.

Before starring at Stanford, where she won an NCAA title last month, the central midfielder grew up in Lorton, Va., and attended South County High School. She played elite club soccer in Bethesda and McLean.

She enrolled in the Washington Freedom’s youth program as a youngster, played for D.C. United Women — the Spirit’s predecessors — and attended Spirit matches at Maryland SoccerPlex. Her mother, Marianna, coached high school and club teams for many years. Her sister, Kayley, was a forward at George Washington University and now coaches in the Spirit’s youth system.

“I loved growing up and playing in that area,” she said from Southern California, where she is in training camp with the U.S. women’s national team. “That area did a lot for me. I’m super excited to return to my roots.”

Sullivan, 22, is the first player from the D.C. youth soccer community to be picked first overall in any of the drafts involving the three women’s pro leagues (WUSA, WPS, NWSL) since 2001. The University of Virginia has had two No. 1 selections: Morgan Brian in 2015 and Emily Sonnett in 2016.

With the third overall pick, acquired in a trade with the Houston Dash this week, the Spirit claimed <a href="http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=208655761" target="_blank">Duke’s Rebecca Quinn</a>, a Canadian national team midfielder.

Sullivan and Quinn join a squad that returns U.S. national team attacker Mallory Pugh and this week acquired U.S. right back Taylor Smith and 2017 NWSL rookie of the year Ashley Hatch from the North Carolina Courage for Crystal Dunn’s rights.


<i>
    [More on Spirit’s trade of Dunn’s rights to North Carolina for two starters]
  </i>


“I am really excited for the possibilities,” said Jim Gabarra, the Spirit’s head coach and general manager. “We’re in a very good position through trades and draft picks. The ability to draft Andi is huge because not only is she a local player, but a high-quality person that could be a player we build our franchise around for years to come.”

Between winning the NCAA title and reporting to U.S. camp, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2018/01/05/lortons-andi-sullivan-wins-hermann-trophy-as-college-soccers-best-player/">Sullivan won the Hermann Trophy</a> as the best college player in the country. She has already made seven U.S. appearances and appears on pace to earn a place on the Women’s World Cup squad next year in France.

Now begins the transition to soccer as a profession and to a team that plummeted from the championship game in 2016 to last place in 2017.

“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves and just say, ‘Well, she’s our savior and she’s going to come in there and turn everything around,’ ” Gabarra said. “We also have to be aware of managing her through the stress levels of getting called into national team camps and give her time to experience and grow and learn about our league because it’s extremely challenging.”

Sullivan considered signing overseas, but, she said, “the timing wasn’t quite right and I wanted to stay in the U.S. for now. I can definitely see myself playing in Europe in the future. But I really wanted to be here in the U.S. and help grow the league and also be available for [U.S.] camp as much as possible. That was something that was important to me with [World Cup] qualifying coming up [in the fall], to be in this environment.”

Sullivan credited her family for guidance and inspiration. Her mother was her first coach at Lee Mount Vernon Sports Club with an under-9 team; the family moved to the Bay Area and she is now a director of coaching at the Mountain View Los Altos Soccer Club.

“I’m lucky to still watch her coach younger players and it’s always very inspiring to me to see her still have that influence on young girls and teaching them not just soccer skills but life skills,” Andi said. “That is something that can sometimes go unseen. I’m thankful for all see has done for me and still does.”

What her GW-playing sister provided, she said, “was seeing how passionate she was and her work rate. That is something that really rubbed off on me. If I ever worked out with her, she never let me slack off or take a moment to do anything but dig deeper. Cool to see her young in her coaching career but she brings that some work rate and passion.”

After Washington took Sullivan, the Boston Breakers drafted Sullivan’s U.S. teammate, South Carolina forward Savannah McCaskill. The fourth overall pick was also from the D.C. area: Duke attacker Imani Dorsey, The Post’s 2013 All-Met Player of the Year at Good Counsel, was taken by New Jersey-based Sky Blue FC.

In the second round, the Spirit selected Duke center back Schuyler DeBree and Mississippi State forward Mallory Eubanks.

NWSL training camps will open Feb. 19 and the season will start March 24-25. The league has yet to announce the schedule. Washington is expecting to begin on the road before debuting at home the following weekend.

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/01/16/doctor-says-trump-is-6-3-239-pounds-and-the-internet-has-so-many-athlete-comparisons/?utm_term=.29ff691b7532">Doctor says President Trump is 6 feet 3, 239 pounds, and the Internet has so many athlete comparisons</a>

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/01/15/lebron-james-rips-president-trump-as-he-praises-america-and-legacy-of-mlk/?utm_term=.9a6380feeec9">LeBron James rips President Trump as he praises America and legacy of MLK</a>

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/01/16/chris-paul-led-a-raid-on-the-clippers-locker-room-and-twitter-lost-its-mind/?tid=pm_sports_pop&amp;utm_term=.d7b2a92b447b">Chris Paul led a raid on the Clippers’ locker room and Twitter lost its mind</a>

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/01/16/chrissy-teigen-offers-to-pay-mckayla-maroneys-fine-if-she-speaks-at-larry-nassar-sentencing/?tid=pm_sports_pop&amp;utm_term=.9fafc0d66dd3">Chrissy Teigen offers to pay McKayla Maroney’s fine if she speaks at Larry Nassar sentencing</a>

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/01/16/gregg-popovich-steve-kerr-take-president-trump-to-task-on-martin-luther-king-jr-s-birthday/?tid=pm_sports_pop&amp;utm_term=.75ffcf38b78c">Gregg Popovich, Steve Kerr take President Trump to task on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday</a>

Inducted into the Virginia DC Soccer Hall of Fame, 2013

Three-time APSE finalist

Society of Professional Journalists' Dateline Awards, first place, 2023

American University, BA in print journalism, 1988

Steven Goff has covered soccer for The Washington Post since the early 1990s. His beats include D.C. United, MLS and the U.S. national teams. He has been on assignment at every men's World Cup since 1994, plus six Women's World Cups for 14 overall.

Steven Goff

The Washington Post

NWSL draft 2018: Andi Sullivan goes to Washington Spirit with No. 1 pick

name

prism://prism.query/site,/sports/soccer&limit=20

Soccer

Your source for DC United and MLS soccer news and information. Get the latest schedules, stats, rosters and scoreboards for Major League Soccer. Stay updated on the latest D.C. United and MLS news!

prism://prism.query/site-articles-only,/sports&limit=20

Sports

The Washington Post Sports section provides sports news, video, scores, analysis and updates about high school, college, and pro sports teams, including the Capitals, Nationals, Washington Football Team, United and Wizards. Post Sports also offers blogs and discussions about the latest sports news.