Two years later, Caroline Miller is back on the field in the NWSL. But she won’t be playing for the Washington Spirit. (Photo Copyright Erica McCaulley for The Equalizer)
Caroline Miller’s long journey for playing time as a professional soccer player took another twist on Thursday. Miller was waived by the Washington Spirit after a two-year battle against injuries to come back to play professionally.
The former University of Virginia midfielder was the No. 10 overall pick in the inaugural NWSL Draft in 2013, Miller only appeared in seven games that season before an ankle injury ended her season and kept her out of the 2014 campaign.
Miller played twice this season, earning only five minutes. The Equalizer’s Jen Gordon reports that Miller requested to be waived in order to obtain more playing time with another team. Miller’s road back has been taxing emotionally.
“It’s been miserable. I don’t know any other way to put it,” Miller told The Equalizer in this extensive profile. “It’s like I’d have surgery, rehab come back, think it was good and then they’d say all over again, ‘No, you’ve got to have something done again.’ I think the third time was definitely the worst when they said it because I’d come back again I was doing so well in practice and then it just started acting up again and they were like ‘Oh yeah, you’ve got to have surgery again”, so that was kind of crushing.’”
Miller’s request for a change was understood by Spirit head coach Mark Parsons.
“I want to thank Caroline for everything she has given to the club over the last 3 seasons,” Parsons said. “Caroline has worked harder than anyone to get back and play. She is eager to get minutes and this is something we can’t guarantee at this point. We wish Caroline all the best in the future and her next opportunity.”
