Football star Croix Bethune got a little more than she bargained for when she threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Washington Nationals MLB game late last month, and now her football season is over.
Bethune's National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team, the Washington Spirit, confirmed the news in a blog post, with team coach Jonatan Giráldez telling reporters that the player tore her meniscus as she left the field.
“He had trouble throwing the first pitch in a baseball game,” Giráldez said. “He's not going to be available this season. That's part of life. You have to move on.”
such a beautiful moment 🥇@CroixBethune He fired the first shot. @Nationals'There's a match tonight! pic.twitter.com/C4MIWzsLLW
— Spirit of Washington (@WashSpirit) August 29, 2024
Bethune was in the game alongside several of the 2024 Olympians who were honored for bringing home the Gold medal in women's soccer. While the midfielder appeared to have a lot of fun kicking the ball out, it was clear there was an injury somewhere in the process.
The 2024 NWSL regular season concludes on November 3, with the playoff final scheduled for November 23. The Washington Spirit currently sit in second place in the league with a 12-4-2 record.