Abiodun Joins Washington Spirit with Groundbreaking Multi-Year Contract!

PITTSBURGH – Pitt’s outstanding sophomore Deborah Abiodun has inked a three-year agreement with a 2028 option with the Washington Spirit, as confirmed by the club on Monday afternoon.

“I am incredibly excited to be taking this next leap in my career by joining Washington Spirit,” Abiodun expressed. “This represents more than just a dream; it’s a mission I’ve dedicated my heart and effort to, and I’m prepared to invest everything I can into the sport I cherish. Especially with an organization that prioritizes the advancement and growth of its players, making Washington Spirit the ideal fit for accomplishing my mission.”

Abiodun, recognized as a 2024 United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region and Second Team All-ACC honoree, contributed to Pitt achieving an overall record of 9-6-3 and a conference record of 3-5-2 following her participation for Nigeria in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

After missing six matches due to injury before the commencement of ACC play, Abiodun bounced back enthusiastically. She netted her first goal of the season during the victory against Clemson (Oct. 3) and added a brace in the Panthers’ 3-0 triumph over Syracuse (Oct. 13). Furthermore, she scored Pitt’s sole goal against No. 22 Florida State (Oct. 20) and topped the Panthers with four goals in ACC matches.

The native of Oyo, Nigeria, concluded her Pitt tenure having scored 10 goals and provided three assists across 34 appearances (28 starts). She accumulated over 2,300 minutes of play in two seasons while assisting the Panthers to a record of 17-6-1, including an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2023.

With this signing, Abiodun becomes Pitt’s second player to join the NWSL this year and the fourth over the last two seasons. Sarah Schupansky recently secured a contract with Gotham FC, alongside Amanda West (Houston Dash) and Landy Mertz (North Carolina Courage).