DiBiasi is money in the midfield for Washington

When it comes to clubs dealing high draft picks, everyone has a price. During the 2019 NWSL College Draft, Washington Spirit made a splash and spent big to acquire the third overall selection. They used that pick to add Jordan DiBiasi out of Stanford and that proved to be a wise investment.

High Pick, High Pressure?

Arriving from Stanford with that lofty draft status, DiBiasi felt more confident than she did under pressure. “It is easy to put a lot of pressure and expectations on yourself as you transition from the college game to the pros. I do my best to control what is in my power,” DiBiasi explained to BGN. “So in my rookie year, regardless of where or when I was to be drafted, I really tried to stay focused on controllables like my goals and preparation for the upcoming season. That being said, the Spirit’s actions gave me a lot of confidence that the club valued/s me, and I was really excited to develop and work in an environment with a staff who was/is committed to developing my skill.”

She scored four goals, including the Olimpico below, as a rookie and was named to the NWSL Team of the Month for May. She was pleased with the performance, but she’s definitely not resting on her laurels. Jordan said, “In general, I would describe my rookie year as a giant learning curve. The transition is tough and I am really thankful for the club and my teammates for their support and encouragement as I navigated this. I am proud of what I accomplished in my first year in the league but by no means am I satisfied. I know that I can contribute far more than what I showed last season. This offseason I heavily focused on my positioning, transitional step, and finishing so that I can be more impactful and create more in the attacking third for the team.”

Called Up By Her Country

While Jordan may not be fully satisfied with her first professional season, it was good enough to earn her the first call-up to the USWNT first-team. “I will never forget where I was and what I was doing when I got the USWNT call-up. The USWNT has been a dream and goal of mine since I was little so I was very excited and honored to get that news,” she said. “Overall, I had a great experience at SheBelieves. It was awesome to see the professionalism of the team both on and off of the field. If anything, I left camp more motivated than ever to continue with my development and process so that I can hopefully get more future call ups.”

That chance to be around the two-time reigning World Cup champions also reunited Jordan with one of her favorite players growing up: Lindsey Horan. “I grew up playing for the Colorado Rush with the likes of soccer legends like Jordan Angeli and Lindsey Horan. Growing up watching Lindsey train and getting the chance to train with her was massive for my development,” DiBiasi said. “She is a world-class soccer player and role model and I attribute much of this firsthand exposure and our friendship to my soccer success.

“I also grew up watching Barcelona and have since loved the Barca style of play. When I think of influential soccer players who I grew up aspiring to be like I would be amiss to not mention Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi.”

A Proud Cardinal Alum

When she wasn’t scoring for the Spirit or learning from the USWNT, Jordan was also able to keep up with her alma mater, Stanford University. “I joke around all the time that I need to close the yearbook on college because I found myself watching most (if not every) Stanford game this past season,” she said. “Jokes aside, the Stanford Women’s Soccer program is and always will be very special to me. I stay closely connected to the staff and girls and I was so happy and proud of them for all that they accomplished this past season.

Those accomplishments included winning the national title in a thrilling final vs. North Carolina. “It was a bit of a dramatic finish for my liking … but worth the grey hairs when Kiki nailed that final PK!  I, unfortunately, wasn’t at the championship game BUT I was cheering loudly (decked out in Stanford Soccer apparel head to toe) with my family back at home,” Jordan said.

The Million Dollar Woman

If you’ve been feeling that Jordan’s last name seems familiar during this article, you might be of a certain age to remember The Million Dollar Man, WWE’s Ted DiBiase. “I think that the first few times I started hearing the Ted DiBiase jokes I was too young to really understand,” Jordan explained. “But, I remember asking my dad who Ted DiBiase was and in middle school when I found out who he was and his legendary career, I started going along with the joke.”

“Initially, I would tell people he was my great-grandpa or something that didn’t totally add up with his age. I now joke with people and will say he is my uncle/great uncle and people typically buy it!”

While it’s highly unlikely we see her flying off the top ropes in the WWE anytime soon, Jordan DiBiasi will definitely be must-see TV in the NWSL for years to come, starting with Washington’s June 30th NWSL Challenge Cup opener vs. Utah Royals FC on CBS All-Access.

Carson A Merk

Reporting live from Sin City, I have covered both RGVFC and Las Vegas Lights FC since their inceptions. I also write profiles to highlight players from the NCAA to USL to NWSL and everywhere in between.