NWSL-Washington Spirit, Tara Rudd Agree to New Multi-Year Contract Extension
- Jonathan Turner
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
2025 NWSL Defender of the Year Signs Through 2028 with Club Options for 2029 and 2030
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 17, 2026) — The Washington Spirit have secured one of the NWSL’s top defenders for the long term, announcing a new contract agreement with 2025 NWSL Defender of the Year Tara Rudd (née McKeown). The new deal runs through the 2028 season and includes club options for 2029 and 2030, along with a signing bonus.
“I’m beyond excited to continue my journey with the Washington Spirit,” Rudd said. “This organization has believed in me from day one and I’m proud to represent this community and keep pushing to raise the standard and compete for championships with my teammates. D.C. has become my home and there’s no place I’d rather be. I cannot wait to continue to build on what we've started here and give our amazing fans a lot more to cheer for over the coming years.”
Rudd has emerged as one of the Spirit’s most consistent and reliable performers over the past three seasons. After her Iron Woman campaign in 2024, the fifth-year defender earned her first U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) call-ups and captured the league’s Defender of the Year honor in 2025.
Statistically, Rudd ranked among the NWSL’s elite defenders last season, finishing top-two in interceptions (50) while placing top-four in both blocked shots and tackle success rate among defenders logging at least 1,000 minutes.
“Tara Rudd is a Washington Spirit cornerstone,” said President of Soccer Operations Haley Carter. “The 2025 NWSL Defender of the Year and a consistent USWNT presence, she is central to everything we are building here. Her growth into one of the premier defenders in this league speaks to what she puts in every single day, and we’re proud that our environment and support system have been part of that journey. We are thrilled that Tara shares our vision for what this club can achieve, and we cannot wait to see what the next chapter looks like together.”
On the international stage, Rudd has become a regular contributor for the USWNT since earning her first senior call-up following the 2024 NWSL season. She has appeared in 10 matches for the national team and has recorded three assists from the back line.
Originally from Newbury Park, California, Rudd starred collegiately at the University of Southern California before being selected eighth overall by Washington in the 2021 NWSL Draft. In four seasons with the Trojans, she tallied 33 goals and 28 assists across 76 appearances, earning First Team All-American honors once and First Team All-Pac-12 honors twice. She was also named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team in 2017 and earned All-Pac-12 Third Team recognition in 2018.
The Spirit will open their 2026 campaign in March, beginning with Spirit Fest — the club’s annual free fan event — on March 8 at 2 p.m. at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. Washington then kicks off its regular season on March 13 at 8 p.m. against the Portland Thorns FC in the home opener at Audi Field as the club looks to reach a third consecutive NWSL Championship appearance.
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