-
Jeff Kassouf
Haley Carter has been appointed as the new president of soccer operations for the Washington Spirit, transitioning from her role with the Orlando Pride, where she successfully led the team to its first NWSL championships last year.
Carter’s move to the Spirit aligns with a principle shared by United States women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes during a recent panel: “If it ain’t broke, break it, because the only way it’s going to get better is by continuously pushing boundaries.”
For Carter, Spirit owner Michele Kang embodies this innovative spirit.
Carter identifies herself as a disruptor, mirroring Kang’s vision, and views the Spirit and Kang’s expanding portfolio of clubs as the ideal platform to drive change in women’s soccer.
“What Michele is doing is groundbreaking in women’s soccer,” Carter remarked to ESPN. “The investment in establishing a global ecosystem is remarkable… That type of transformative investment and leadership is exactly what our sport needs. Being part of that vision was a significant draw for me.”
The Spirit has also announced Nathan Minion as their full-time general manager, officially ending his interim status. Minion had served as the interim GM since March after Mark Krikorian’s contract, the former president of soccer operations and GM, concluded.
Carter began her new role with the Spirit officially on Monday.
She comes to the Spirit after guiding the Orlando Pride to the 2024 NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship crown, while the Spirit were runners-up for both titles in 2024 and 2025.
In Orlando, Carter cultivated a championship culture, turning a club that was once at the bottom of the NWSL into a competitive force.
She was actively involved in daily operations and transactions, akin to a traditional general manager’s role.
Carter remarked that Orlando will “always hold a special place in my heart” as “a team that demonstrated the potential of the Pride.”
However, this opportunity with Washington was too significant to decline. She has a strong support system of family and friends in the area, having attended the U.S. Naval Academy, and the Spirit position offers her a chance for professional growth.
She will lead a large technical staff that includes Minion, sporting director James Hocken, and head coach Adrian Gonzalez.
This structure will enable Carter to concentrate on the strategic direction of the Spirit and Kynisca, Kang’s multi-club entity that encompasses teams like the London City Lionesses in England’s top league and eight-time European champions OL Lyonnes.
“For me, the magic happens in leading other leaders and achieving success,” Carter emphasized.
Kang highlighted Carter’s success in transforming Orlando, along with her experience as a former NWSL player and Marine, as key factors that made her a standout candidate for the role.
“We need a level of expertise and leadership that can elevate the club to the next level,” Kang told ESPN. “It took us time to find the right person, as we evaluated many candidates in the U.S. and Europe, but she truly stood out as the best fit for this role.”
Orlando announced her departure from the position of VP of soccer operations in November following the team’s NWSL semifinal exit. While Carter did not disclose the timeline of her discussions with the Spirit, she confirmed that Pride owner Mark Wilf permitted those conversations.
Carter’s entry coincides with the ongoing situation surrounding forward Trinity Rodman, a pivotal moment that could significantly impact the NWSL landscape.
Rodman, a 2024 Olympic gold medalist and one of the NWSL’s marquee players, is set to become a free agent at the end of the month. She has received significant offers from European clubs, which the NWSL cannot currently match due to salary cap restrictions, as reported by ESPN.
“We are engaged in ongoing discussions,” Carter stated. “Trin is a top priority, not only for me, Michele, and the Spirit, but for the entire league. Michele is aware of this, as are we all.”
“Michele has made it abundantly clear that we are committed to doing everything possible to keep Trin in a Spirit jersey. We are actively collaborating with the league to explore solutions that allow us to retain Trin while balancing competitiveness. Trin is an asset; her impact goes beyond a single team. This is about retaining the NWSL’s best talents.”
This week, Kang reiterated her commitment, stating, “We are doing everything we can to retain Trin in D.C., and this is being done in partnership with the league.”
A resolution regarding Rodman’s future could emerge soon. The decision whether she remains in Washington will heavily influence the Spirit’s next steps, marking some of Carter’s first initiatives in her new role.
As of now, Carter is focused on gathering insights to outline her long-term vision for the Spirit. She aims to push boundaries for a team that has finished as runners-up for the past two years and lost consecutive NWSL Championship matches. However, she recognizes the need for a careful approach to disruption, drawing from her experiences in Orlando.
“The prudent way to step into this position is to avoid being operationally or culturally disruptive,” Carter explained. “I must start by listening and learning from the staff already in place.”
“The Spirit has a talented team and an exceptional roster of athletes, so my role isn’t to come in and reset everything. Instead, it’s about collaborating with the existing staff to identify what’s effective, align resources with shared goals, and make necessary adjustments together.”