Oct 6, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda (22) defends Washington Spirit midfielder Andi Sullivan (12) in the first half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
On Friday, March 20, midfielder Andi Sullivan stepped on the field in a Washington Spirit jersey for the first time in 17 months. Her time away from soccer was due to both an ACL tear, sustained in October 2024, and then the birth of her first child in the summer of 2025.
She returned on a dramatic night for the Spirit, who played away against Racing Louisville FC. The home team took a 2-0 lead early on, but the Spirit scored twice in the second half to finish with a tie.
Sullivan’s veteran presence is surely welcomed by a team that has undergone some recent changes in the midfield, most significantly losing star Croix Bethune to the Kansas City Current in a trade that took place just weeks before the season began. Sullivan has played her entire club career with the Washington Spirit, making 103 appearances and scoring 6 goals since 2018. She has also spent significant time with the national team, earning 52 international caps and scoring two international goals.
In a conversation with Area Sports Network in February, Sullivan spoke briefly about her feelings on returning to the pitch. “It’s been a long journey, but I’m really excited to be back on the field with my teammates,” she said in an Instagram reel posted by Area Sports Network. “I really missed being out on the field. It’s been a lot of learning, about myself, about life, and I’m excited to learn more on the field.”
