Tara McKeown

The Washington Spirit drafted Tara McKeown, another team stalwart, in the 2021 NWSL Draft. McKeown started her professional career as a forward. In her first two seasons with the Spirit she scored four goals and had four assists. During the break between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, McKeown was transitioned to the position of center defender. In her first season at the positions she started all of Spirit’s matches, still managed to score a goal, and lead the NWSL in clearances (110). In the 2024 season, just her second as a defender, she earned the Iron Woman accolade, contributed to the Spirit’s seven clean sheets, and was nicknamed the “stalwart of the back line” by fans. In 2025 she was named to her first USWNT roster for the 2025 She Believes Cup, earning her first cap in their opening game against Colombia.