Canadian defender Gabby Carle signs new five-year contract with the Washington Spirit

By Canadian Press on December 23, 2025.

WASHINGTON — Canadian international defender Gabby Carle has signed a new contract with the Washington Spirit, keeping her with the NWSL team through the 2029 season.

The Spirit says the five-year deal is retroactive to the start of the 2025 season.

“D.C. is a special place and it’s where I want to be,” Carle said in a statement. “I’m excited to be extending my time with the Spirit and I’m looking forward to helping the team reach its goals over the next four years.”

The 27-year-old from Lévis, Que., is coming off her third season with Washington, which finished runner-up the last two seasons in the NWSL playoffs.

Carle has appeared in 83 total matches for Washington and logged more than 2,300 minutes of playing time last season across 30 games.

“Keeping Gabby with the club for the next four seasons is important for our back line,” said Spirit GM Nathan Minion. “She is one of the most versatile defenders and underrated players in our league and we’re thrilled to maintain our strong defending third for the foreseeable future.”

Carle joined Washington in December 2022 after spending her first pro season with Sweden’s Kristianstads DF. She played collegiate soccer at Florida State University, making 100 appearances while helping the Seminoles win two national championships.

Carle has won 60 caps for Canada, competing at the 2019 and 2023 World Cups and 2021 and 2024 Olympics.

Washington opens its pre-season in January before kicking off the regular season in mid-March.