Ella Brockway

Trinity Rodman speaks out on the refereeing in yesterday’s Spirit-Wave game. (You probably know this, but poor officiating has been a theme across the league this NWSL season.)

“This is one of many examples…. Refs need to be better at managing these games. No words”

Rosemonde Kouassi’s happy accident lifts Spirit over Wave The forward’s cross late in stoppage time winds up in the net for the game-winner in a 2-1 victory at Audi Field.

The Spirit has made something of a habit out of late-game heroics.

Rosemonde Kouassi provided the game-winner Sunday afternoon, with a “lucky” cross that found the back of the net in stoppage time for a 2-1 win over San Diego.

Never a dull moment. Never.

hey man, deb abiodun is ridiculous

Portland 8/3 and Gotham 8/9 remain the Spirit's only games this season with the same exact starting XI.

(If you were to, say, put every XI in a Google sheet, and then alphabetize them, and then turn those columns into single cells, and then search for duplicates, this is what it would look like!)

We are now at 27 games (across all competitions) and 26 unique starting lineups. (!!)

That uniqueness often comes from just changing 1/2 players from the previous week's XI, but it speaks to the Spirit + its confidence in its depth that even with all those adjustments, it is unbeaten in 22 of 26.

a woman is sitting on a couch and saying `` not in my world . ALT: a woman is sitting on a couch and saying `` not in my world .

I spent my past life on the Northwestern Football Beat and more specifically the Northwestern Football Uniform Beat. I'm sure jersey materials have become more expensive leading to higher maintenance costs for multiple uniform sets, etc …

but … if this outfit repeating becomes a trend …

No one:

No one:

Absolutely no one:

Me: Northwestern football is repeating a uniform combo beat-for-beat (down to the helmet design) in back-to-back weeks for the first time in 11 years and that feels like a dangerous omen

I’m in it for the long game:

Taylor Swift spends more time in Kansas City -> she eventually connects with Katie Crutchfield (lives in KC) -> Waxahatchee feature on the indie rock/alt country album she eventually makes in 10 years

Finally crossing "Taylor Swift Mentions a Famous Team in Global Soccer in a Song" off the lifetime bingo board. I knew this day would come eventually

👏👏👏👏

World Cup ticket prices revealed as lucky few win right to buy first Breaking down the earliest information as the first batch of fans gained the chance to buy tickets for next summer

Ticket prices for the USMNT's World Cup opener in LA:

– Category 1: $2,735
– Category 2: $1,940
– Category 3: $1,120

Prices for the 2026 World Cup final:

– Category 1: $6,730
– Category 2: $4,210
– Category 3: $2,790

More prices and info here @theathletic.com:

Many people, watching Sunday's game: Wow, it is wild that the Spirit can start Gift Monday and bring Sofia Cantore off the bench. What an embarrassment of attacking riches

The Spirit, ahead of today's game: We can also put Gift Monday and Sofia Cantore on the field at the same time. Hehehe

During the shutdown, federal employees can take advantage of deals like:
• Free Washington Spirit tickets
• Free museum admission
• All-day happy hours
• Parties with free food and drinks

Our growing list of specials (gift link): wapo.st/3WgocR9

Different roots. Same home. ONE SPIRIT 💛

The first 200 federal employees can claim a voucher for a free ticket on a first-come, first-served basis.

After that, a limited number of $10 tickets for federal employees will be available so you can bring your friends & family!

🎟️ bit.ly/46vSPrX

A [Indiana] Fever You Can't Sweat Out (2005)

The final 25 seconds of Fever-Aces regulation playing out with anxiety-inducing TikTok-edit-esque music blasting in the background for some reason sums up the WNBA day it has been

They're calling it the longest day in WNBA history

Some NWSL weekly awards news: Sofia Cantore got Goal of the Week and Gift Monday got Player of the Week.

• Four straight weeks with a Spirit player earning POTW honors

• Eighth different Spirit player to win POTW this season (most in the NWSL)

episode graphic with match photo of Kysha Sylla celebrating with Gift Monday

🌸NEW POD🌸

WHAT. A. GAME! Annie, Ella & André review the 4-0 win over Houston that clinched a playoff spot. We discuss goals, Monday’s hat trick, the goal of the season, Anna Heilferty, and more!

🟢 open.spotify.com/episode/2LXq...
🍎 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h... #nwsl #woso #washingtonspirit

Here’s where you can find us talking about that playoff-clinching goal fest at Audi Field:

It’s a Taylor Swift Release Week *and* we got to talk about a playoff-clinching goal fest at Audi Field. Best of both worlds for me personally.

Anna Heilferty and several other Dash players just put on Free DC shirts #nwsl

After a blitzing start to her time in the NWSL, Gift Monday went the past five games without a start in league play. She was ready for her shot when it came today.

“That hat trick had been waiting for me for a very long time.”

Gift Monday makes it a hat trick Sunday as Spirit clinches playoff spot Washington remains in line for home-field advantage through the semifinals with a 4-0 victory over the Houston Dash.

Esme Morgan: “I definitely felt today that it was going to be a good day.”

Indeed it was. Thanks to a Gift Monday hat trick and a Sofia Cantore highlight-reel back-heeler, the Spirit clinched its spot in the NWSL playoffs.

More for @postsports.bsky.social on a big 4-0 win over Houston:

🇮🇹 👠 🤌

That first half sure showed how much this Spirit team has evolved this season. When the Spirit + the Dash played in the March 14 opener:

• Goal scorers were Ashley Hatch (now out) and Makenna Morris (since traded)
• Coach was Jonatan Giráldez (now at Lyon)
• Gift Monday wasn't even on the roster!

Per a quick glance, Gift Monday's hat trick is the Spirit's first in NWSL play since Crystal Dunn (also against the Houston Dash) on Aug. 1, 2015. (!!!)

Rose Kouassi had one in Concacaf W Champions Cup play this August.

It Happened: The Washington Spirit scored a goal off a short corner. What a time to be alive.

Here’s the Spirit’s starting XI for this afternoon against Houston.

Kysha Sylla gets her first NWSL start in the back line. (Morgan outside back, presumably?) Bethune, Santos, Hershfelt in midfield. Kouassi and Rodman on the wings, Monday up top.