Following the Washington Spirit over the past two years has been a roller coaster ride. The highs of 2016 gave way to a very rough 2017, during which the Spirit finished at the bottom of the NWSL table despite adding Mallory Pugh late last spring. This winter has seen a major overhaul, with Pugh joined by several USWNT regulars and a starter for Canada, not to mention the reigning NWSL Rookie of the Year and a new starting goalkeeper.
Is that flurry of moves enough to push Washington back up among the contenders? What should fans expect from this team in 2018?