Today, the Washington Spirit have announced the agreement of a new contract with USWNT defender and reigning NWSL Defender of the Year, Tara Rudd (nee’ McKeown) through 2028 with club options for 2029 and 2030 and a signing bonus.
“I’m beyond excited to continue my journey with the Washington Spirit,” said Rudd. “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.”
In 2024, she earned Iron Woman honors. In 2025, she was named NWSL Defender of the Year. Rudd has cemented herself as a cornerstone for her club.
“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.”
Internationally, Rudd has earned 10 appearances with the USWNT and has been a mainstay since January of 2025.
