Bethany Balcer’s path to becoming a professional soccer player has become a part of Washington state soccer lore. Undrafted despite posting a prolific career at Spring Arbor University, Balcer became the first player from an NAIA school to sign a NWSL contract in 2019. She went on to score six goals and two assists and won that season’s NWSL Rookie of the Year honors. The following season, she signed a three-year contract with the club. Today, the club announced that Balcer has signed a new three-year deal.
Her initial three-year contract went through the upcoming 2022 season, with an option year for 2023.