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Washington Spirit is loading its roster with young USWNT players

The Washington Spirit on Tuesday acquired a third young U.S. national team player this offseason — and fourth since last spring — by trading into the top spot in the National Women’s Soccer League dispersal draft and claiming midfielder Rose Lavelle.

The draft was necessitated by last week’s closure of the Boston Breakers, which left 24 players out of work.

Washington was slated to pick second, but in the hours before the draft, the Spirit swapped positions with Sky Blue FC to take Lavelle. The New Jersey team also received the higher of Washington’s two first-round picks in the 2019 college draft and a second-rounder next year.