Kansas City Current midfielder Croix Bethune recorded her 11th assist of the season on Sunday, setting a new single-season NWSL record.
Bethune assisted Vanessa DiBernardo's 17th-minute goal that gave Kansas City the lead against her old team, the Washington Spirit. The early goal stood as the game-winner for the Current in a 2-1 victory on the penultimate weekend of the regular season.
Bethune jointly held the previous record for assists in a season with 10, which she recorded in her rookie year with the Spirit in 2024. Former Portland Thorns midfielder Tobin Heath recorded 10 assists in the 2016 NWSL season.
"I was thinking about it a lot because I wanted to break that record really bad," Bethune told reporters after the match.
"But, I mean, you can't focus on it too much or it won't happen. So, it's just kind of going with the flow of the game and making sure we get the job done."
Bethune entered Sunday's match tied with Utah Royals forward Cloé Lacasse for the most assists in the NWSL this season. Lacasse has not registered an assist in her last seven NWSL games, dating back to August.
Sunday marked Bethune's first start since Sept. 4 after dealing with a hip injury that also kept her out for the United States women's national team's recent matches against Spain. She came off the bench for 26 minutes last week for the Current.
Bethune has also scored four goals this season.
Washington transferred Bethune to Kansas City in January for $1 million total in February.
When asked after the game about scoring against her former team, Bethune said on Sunday that "the lick back is great," a slang term for getting revenge.
"I just set some goals for myself and I manifest it and by the grace of God it comes true and it happens."
Two years ago, Bethune's quest to take sole possession of the NWSL assist record was cut short by an injury that occurred away from the soccer field. She tore her meniscus while throwing out the first pitch at a Washington Nationals game in August 2024. Bethune was throwing out the first pitch after helping the United States win the 2024 Olympic gold medal in women's soccer.
Bethune now has 23 career NWSL regular-season assists in three seasons in the league.
With Sunday's victory, Kansas City will enter Decision Day (the regular-season finale) in fourth place, two points behind the Spirit.
The top four NWSL teams host quarterfinals, which begin in November. Kansas City has not lost at home this season and has only lost one regular-season game at home since the team opened CPKC Stadium in March 2024.