https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/spirit Spirit en-US Sat, 24 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/spirit/washington-spirit-goalkeeper-sandy-maciver Nicky Wolcott Filling in for longtime keeper Aubrey Kingsbury, MacIver overcame a shaky start to become a key part of Washington’s success. Sat, 24 Oct 2026 09:30:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/spirit/washington-spirit-goalkeeper-sandy-maciver Sandy MacIver’s time in the United States didn’t get off to the best start.

Nearly a decade before she became the Washington Spirit’s starting goalkeeper, a young MacIver travelled from her native England to South Carolina to play for Clemson’s women’s soccer team. She had already missed about a month of practices to finish up exams at home and felt unprepared when she arrived late in the summer of 2016.

“It was definitely like, ‘Oh shit, what have I done?’” MacIver told The Sun. “I was in an apartment with three other girls on the team. I [arrive] in the evening from England, and it's like, all right, I don't have any bedsheets, I don’t have anything, I don't have a car to get anywhere. I ended up staying in one of the girl's rooms. … I already felt a bit like a deer in headlights.”

MacIver eventually settled in and started for three years at Clemson before going back to England to begin her professional career at Everton. She had already met Spirit defender Esme Morgan in England’s youth ranks before the duo briefly played together at Everton and Manchester City.

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They reunited again when MacIver joined Washington as a backup at the beginning of last season. With longtime Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury on maternity leave this season, MacIver got her first opportunity in years to be a full-time starter.

MacIver’s previous experience in the U.S., her friendship with Morgan and her first year settling in with the Spirit helped the keeper move past a shaky start and become a crucial piece of Washington’s formidable defense this season. Now, with Washington playing its penultimate regular season game on Sunday, MacIver has franchise-record 11 clean sheets on the year. Last week, she helped the Spirit shut out Gotham FC in a marquee win.

“I hadn't played consistently in maybe even three years, so there's always going to be a bit of an adjustment period,” MacIver said. “It definitely helps playing behind [Tara Rudd] and [Morgan] because they're the people that I'm closest to off the pitch. … Obviously the start of the season wasn't ideal for me, but I got a lot of support from the players and the staff.”

Sandy MacIver Spirit game (4340x2893, AR: 1.50)
After leaving the starting job at Everton in the summer of 2022, MacIver made a handful of appearances for Manchester City and Scotland but struggled to get consistent game time before suffering a rupture to her anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty in April 2024.

After joining Washington in January 2025, MacIver primarily served as a backup to Kingsbury.

The goalkeeper found out she’d be the starter this year when Kingsbury announced her pregnancy at the beginning of the preseason in February. Kingsbury had spent the last eight years as the Spirit’s starter, leaving big shoes to fill.

“Had I known before Christmas, I just wouldn't have been able to enjoy the offseason,” MacIver said. “I'd gone from a point where last season I'm pushing, I'm chasing, I'm just trying to get any opportunity that comes my way. When you know that you're gonna start the season or you're kind of in pole position, the mindset stays the same, but the pressure changes.”
Sandy MacIver AP - 26131059142838 (5163x3442, AR: 1.50)
MacIver conceded four goals in her first three games as full-time starter. But in the fourth match of the year, the goalkeeper kept her first clean sheet in the league in front of an NWSL record 63,004 fans in Denver — the first of four consecutive shutouts for the Spirit.

“There were some difficult moments as a whole team in those first few games, and that's probably difficult for someone coming in and being the No. 1,” Morgan said. “She probably took some blows that she didn't deserve to, but she bounced back.”

MacIver has looked at home in net since, limiting mistakes and producing important saves for a third-place Washington team. Her 11 clean sheets are the most of any goalkeeper in the NWSL, while her 73.7 save percentage ranks third.

“Sandy needed some time, it was her new year playing as a starter … every player needs some time to just adjust and adapt,” coach Adrián González said at a September press conference. “I think she's improving a lot. She's been doing great, and with time, she's had that composure to be able to play, to have great performances.”

MacIver’s four years at Clemson had given her a glimpse of American soccer and its culture, which made adjusting to the NWSL easier. She also benefited from familiar faces like Morgan and midfielder Hal Hershfelt, who was a freshman at Clemson during the goalkeeper’s senior year.

MacIver had the option to join another team in England when she elected to leave Manchester City but went with what she felt would be the better long-term choice in Washington. It also helped that she had visited Morgan in D.C. in 2024 and got to see the area and hear about the defender’s experience with the Spirit.

“Before there was even any chance of me coming to the Spirit, I knew that [Morgan] loved it here,” MacIver said. “She spoke highly of everyone, and so there was no doubt speaking to her that I would like it.”

Sandy MacIver Spirit team (7952x5304, AR: 1.50)Now, MacIver’s apartment is just a few doors down from Morgan’s. They spend time with teammates exploring local restaurants, going to museums or attending concerts (most recently a Pitbull show in August).


“Sandy's one of my closest friends in life, so it's been really nice to have her here,” Morgan said. “We would hang out a lot off the pitch, and because we're both social people, we would often do loads of things with the group, so she didn't need me to help settle. She was kind of the same as I was, just easy to get along with everyone.”


MacIver’s form this season has also translated to international play, where she has starred for Scotland’s national team. The goalkeeper switched her allegiance to Scotland, her father’s country of birth, after representing England as a young player. MacIver has kept five clean sheets in eight games for Scotland this year. Scotland beat Czechia 5-2 on aggregate earlier this month to progress to a two-legged play-off final against Sweden in December, an opportunity for Scotland to qualify for its second World Cup.

“I've loved my time with Scotland,” MacIver said. “How I feel playing for Scotland, if I'd felt like that playing for England, then I would have stayed regardless of selection. But how I feel like walking out onto the pitch, I know I made the right decision.”

Before then, MacIver will aim to continue her strong NWSL campaign with the postseason looming.

“It's just been nice to play football, to be honest,” MacIver said. “The big thing for me is progressing throughout the season and just learning from mistakes. … [I’m] just trying to keep [improving] on the performance before, which for the most part, I've been happy with.”]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/washington-spirit-gotham-fc Nicky Wolcott Despite recent struggles at Audi Field, Washington kept its NWSL Shield hopes alive with a 1-0 win over the league leaders. Sun, 18 Oct 2026 17:49:33 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/washington-spirit-gotham-fc As the crowd roared and fireworks filled the sky, groups of players and coaches exchanged hugs before making their way to the stands to celebrate with their fans.

That type of scene has become exceedingly rare for Washington Spirit supporters of late, as the team had lost five of its last six games at Audi Field ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Gotham FC.

So the Spirit would’ve had reason to savor a victory against any team in any manner at home. But on Saturday, Washington gave itself plenty to celebrate as it earned a marquee 1-0 win over its bitter rivals and the league leaders, clinching a spot in the playoffs for the third consecutive year and keeping its NWSL Shield hopes alive.

“It's a really nice feeling to finally stand in front of the crowd and stand in front of [the media] and have that feeling of, ‘Okay, job accomplished,’” defender Gabrielle Carle said. “We've come short so many games in a row now and I think this one was really important for us, of course to clinch [playoffs], but just as a confidence builder … this one was huge for us.”

Coach Adrián González said the Spirit’s performance was probably its best of the season, with Lucia Di Guglielmo’s 70th-minute goal lifting Washington to back-to-back victories for just the second time since the beginning of August. The result also snapped a five-game streak without a win in regulation against Gotham FC, dating back to June 2024.

“Today we wanted to feel that joy, that energy, that feeling that we are able to beat any team,” González said. “It's important for us, for the club, for the fans to have a performance like this, and also clinching playoffs for the third season in a row, it’s not easy.”

“Doing it here at home with your people against a great opponent, and also seeing where we were coming from, I think it’s huge. Everyone deserves to have a game like this — the players, the team, staff, fans,” he said.

The victory leaves Washington just three points off first-place Gotham and two points behind second-place San Diego Wave FC with two regular season games remaining.

The Spirit looked the more dangerous team from the start of Saturday’s game. The return of attacking midfielder Leicy Santos, who missed eight matches with an injury, provided a massive boost to an offense that has struggled in her absence. Santos was influential throughout a first half that saw Washington outshoot Gotham FC eight to four, with Trinity Rodman forcing a pair of key saves from Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.

Forward Clara Luvanga also made an impact in her first start for the Spirit. She blazed her best chance over the crossbar early on Saturday but provided a target for the Spirit to find directly out of the back, often winning the first ball and gradually improving her hold-up play throughout the match.

“We approached the game with a really strong aggression and that kind of set the tone,” defender Esme Morgan said. “We did a good job out of possession, being front-footed and winning the ball back in their half. And I think with the ball, we did a good job of finding the forward players.”

Mélissa Bethi replaced Santos to start the second half and made the difference for the Spirit after taking some time to get up to game speed. Washington won the ball high up the pitch and, after Gotham rebuffed the Spirit’s first attempt to play through its defense, Bethi’s clipped ball found the advanced run of Di Guglielmo, who calmly took a touch and found the bottom corner in the 70th minute. It was the fullback’s first goal for the Spirit.

“I really felt this game, and this is because of the team, because they made me feel this rivalry,” Di Guglielmo said. “My first goal today is because of all the work I did and we did during the whole season, so I'm really happy, of course, that happened today. It's kind of a dream.”

Bethi nearly doubled Washington’s lead three minutes later, hitting the crossbar from a shot just outside the penalty box. Santos and Bethi’s contributions to a strong team performance are a very positive sign for Washington, which has largely lacked a true attacking midfielder during their recent inconsistent stretch.

“She's such a special player,” Carle said of Bethi. “As you've seen on the goal, she has an eye for what's about to happen, she just sees the play develop before it's even developed.”

The Spirit’s defensive performance matched the energy of its rejuvenated offense. Washington earned its 11th clean sheet of the season by preventing a Gotham team stacked with attacking talent from producing any big chances despite handling a majority of possession.

The Spirit has struggled against Gotham since 2024, failing to score in one draw and three losses, the most notable coming in last year’s NWSL Championship.

“We haven't had the smoothest sailing at home this year, so to be able to go into some do or die games, like playoffs, and have this big win under our belt against an opponent that we have very deep history with, it feels good,” midfielder Hal Hershfelt said.

Washington will hope to ride the momentum of Saturday’s performance as it approaches its final two regular season games — at the Kansas City Current next week and at home against last-place Chicago on Nov. 1.

“It's a big statement for us to show that we can beat anyone in this league,” Morgan said. “If we apply ourselves in the right way, we can be a really, really dangerous team into these last, hopefully, five games.”]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/washington-spirit-beat-gotham-nwsl-soccer The Associated Press It was the first win for the Spirit (16-8-4) over Gotham since June 23, 2024. Sat, 17 Oct 2026 19:29:07 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/washington-spirit-beat-gotham-nwsl-soccer By Phuoc Nguyen

Defender Lucia Di Guglielmo scored her first-ever National Women's Soccer League goal and the Washington Spirit clinched a playoff spot with 1-0 victory over Gotham on Saturday.

It was the first win for the Spirit (16-8-4) over Gotham since June 23, 2024.

The road loss at Audi Field denied Gotham (16-5-7) a chance to clinch the NWSL Shield and snapped a four-match unbeaten streak.

In the 70th minute, Spirit midfielder Mélissa Bethi delivered a pinpoint lob pass to Di Guglielmo. She snuck her shot past Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger for the lead and game-winner.

Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver made two saves for her 10th clean sheet of the season.

Midfielder Leicy Santos returned from injury and started for the Spirit in her first appearance since Aug. 8.

After her contract termination with the Chicago Stars, Gotham defender Leila Ouahabi started in her debut for her new club.]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/spirit-houston-win-postseason-chances Alex Schiffer The Spirit have a chance to win the NWSL Shield, but need losses from the top two teams. Mon, 05 Oct 2026 18:06:32 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/spirit-houston-win-postseason-chances The Spirit are on the brink of clinching their third consecutive playoff appearance.

Washington defeated Houston 3–2 on Sunday to put them nine points above the playoff line with just three matches left. The Spirit currently sit in third place in the NWSL standings, trailing league-leader Gotham FC by six points and second-place San Diego Wave FC by two.

The Spirit’s next match is against Gotham on Oct. 17, which will have major playoff implications. A win or tie should secure a postseason berth for the team. Gotham FC tied Angel City 1–1 Sunday after surrendering an equalizer in stoppage time.

On Sunday, the Spirit dashed Houston’s playoff hopes, losing a one-goal lead twice before Clara Luvanga scored the game winner in the 84th minute. The loss eliminated the Dash from playoff contention.

The Spirit have four wins in their last six matches and play the fifth-place Kansas City Current on Oct. 25 before concluding the regular season against the Chicago Stars, who are last in the league, on Nov. 1.

For the Spirit to clinch the league's top record, they would need to win their remaining games, and Gotham and San Diego would both need to lose multiple matches. Both Washington and Gotham have similar schedules left, with one match against a team in playoff contention and one that isn’t, aside from the match against each other.

San Diego Wave FC has three remaining matches against the North Carolina Courage, Boston Legacy FC and Bay FC, all of which are eighth or lower in the league standings. It has possibly the easiest path to the NWSL Shield, which is awarded annually to the league’s top regular season team.

Perhaps a more realistic goal for the Spirit is clinching a home quarterfinal matchup, which is awarded to the teams that finish in the top four of the standings. The team has a five-point lead over Kansas City and is three points above fourth-place Utah, to clinch a home match in the postseason.]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/spirit-angel-city-struggles Nicky Wolcott Washington lost the fifth of its last six home games this weekend and is struggling to find its form with the playoffs approaching. Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:05:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/spirit-angel-city-struggles Saturday provided the struggling Washington Spirit a rare opportunity to capture some much-needed momentum and build on last week’s 3-0 victory in Chicago. The Spirit had won back-to-back games just once since the beginning of August, a period in which they’ve labored for goals and wins alike.

That continued against Angel City FC as Washington lost its fifth home game and failed to score for the fourth time in that stretch, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat at Audi Field in D.C. An improved Spirit performance came to nothing after Angel City substitute Maiara Niehues’ long-range strike found the top corner in the 88th minute.

While the Spirit got forward and created a few half-chances, Angel City produced a moment of quality Washington couldn’t in another gut-wrenching home defeat that all but ended the Spirit’s National Women's Soccer League Shield hopes.

Washington dropped to third place with the result and, while the Spirit remain in a strong position, the team incorporating plenty of new faces admitted it is in a race against time to fix its poor form and lack of goalscoring with only four regular-season games remaining.

“It's challenging because obviously you need time to build. You bring new players, they need time to know each other, to play together, to get training sessions and also to adjust to the competition,” coach Adrián González said. “It is a process that you need time, but right now we don't have time, and we are trying to build those connections as quick as possible, knowing that we are taking risks too because we are running out of time.”

Washington (14-8-4) has earned just 10 points in nine games across August and September this season, scoring 10 goals and conceding 12 in that stretch — a far cry from what the Spirit accomplished at this stage of their last two seasons, in which they finished second and parlayed their strong form late in the year into runs to the championship game.

The Spirit went unbeaten in nine matches across August and September last year, earning 17 points, scoring 16 goals and conceding only eight in that time. Washington also finished the 2024 season strong after returning from the Olympic break, losing just two of its last 10 games.

“It's super disappointing. This used to be a fortress for us. This is a place where we take pride in being good and offering a win or a good performance for our fans,” defender Gabrielle Carle said. “I don't think this was a bad performance today. … We're struggling to score at home, but we have the talent. We have the team to do it. We just need to figure it out.”

The Spirit are in the unique situation of incorporating players who are either returning from injury or entirely new to the team into important roles so late in the season. New signing Clara Luvanga, who started training with the team on Thursday, was the latest to make her debut after coming off the bench in the 66th minute Saturday.

The Spirit's new striker showed promise, but will have very limited time to adapt to the league and her new teammates if she’s to make an instant impact this season. Washington’s sputtering offense could certainly use one, as it has struggled to produce any consistent attacking threat outside of star forward Trinity Rodman.

The Spirit have been shut out in four of their last six home games while their starting forwards have struggled. Sofia Cantore hasn’t scored or assisted in her last seven matches, since Aug. 8, while Rosemonde Kouassi has gone without a goal contribution in her last 12 Spirit games, since May 2.

The Spirit have also started a different midfield trio in six of their last seven games since Leicy Santos’ injury, although Saturday’s group of Hal Hershfelt, Andi Sullivan and Monique Ngock played well, helping the Spirit progress through Angel City’s press and advance the ball into dangerous areas.

Ngock and fellow recent midfield arrival Mélissa Bethi have produced promising moments so far, but they haven’t had much time to develop chemistry with their new teammates. That’s been exacerbated by the constant chopping and changing in midfield, which has largely been out of necessity due to injuries and suspensions.

“[We're] super excited to get those players, and they're going to be so good for us. But I think we all understand that there's a reality that we first need to learn how to play together,” Carle said. “We all want to learn together. We just have a very short window to make it work.”

Despite its recent struggles, Washington still sits third in the NWSL standings, just one point behind second-place San Diego Wave FC. Another second-place finish would ensure the Spirit home field advantage for the entirety of the playoffs, as Washington is hosting this year’s championship game.

González also said on Friday he’s hopeful Santos will be able to return soon, which would provide a massive boost. Santos scored five goals and registered four assists in 17 matches this season before her injury.

“I think it's easy to freak out, but we're doing the right things and we're creating moments. We just need to execute those,” defender Tara Rudd said. “[We’re] just trying to stay composed under pressure and really not let the outside noise get to us. We're still in a great spot on the table right now. … Hopefully that calms us down going into the next game.”
]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/washington-spirit-chicago-stars-sept-20 The Associated Press Trinity Rodman notched a goal and an assist in a road win over the Stars. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 12:55:29 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/washington-spirit-chicago-stars-sept-20 Trinity Rodman scored in the seventh minute and added a late assist in the visiting Washington Spirit’s 3-0 victory over the Chicago Stars on Sunday.

In the day’s other National Women’s Soccer League matches, the Houston Dash edged the Boston Legacy 2-1, Angel City FC shut out the Utah Royals 3-0, and Bay FC defeated Racing Louisville 2-0.

Rodman provided an early spark, lifting a shot over Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher in the seventh minute. She sealed the win 78 minutes later, sending a lofted cross to Tamara Bolt’s head for Washington’s final goal.

Andi Sullivan doubled the Spirit’s lead from the penalty spot in the 34th minute after Chicago’s Bea Franklin was called for a handball in the box. Sullivan placed the kick into the bottom left corner.

Chicago (5-18-2) outshot Washington 5-4 despite the Spirit (14-7-4) controlling nearly 60% of possession.]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/spirit-moms-nwsl-maternity-leave Emma Baccellieri A league policy allows players to have their babies — and in some cases, their spouses — travel with the team. Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:20:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/spirit-moms-nwsl-maternity-leave Ashley Hatch was on a work trip when her baby started crawling.

The Washington Spirit forward had a match in Los Angeles, more than 2,000 miles from home, when 7-month-old Leo was graduating from a shuffling, haphazard scoot into a full crawl. But that was no problem: Leo was on the road with her, and so was her husband, Jeff. They shared the milestone as a family. And so did the rest of the Spirit, with players and staff crowding around, putting cups down on the floor to create a miniature obstacle course for the baby. Hatch felt her heart swell.

“It’s really cool to see other people love your child,” says Hatch, 31. “I feel really lucky.”

That’s been a theme for the Spirit this season.

Hatch is one of four players who have given birth in the past 15 months, joining Andi Sullivan, Casey Krueger and Aubrey Kingsbury. The babies have come along for the ride as their mothers have worked their way back from maternity leave: An NWSL policy lets them designate a child care provider who can travel with the club at no added cost to the player.

That’s become an essential benefit for the new moms and a source of delight for their teammates. (Some jokingly refer to “emotional support babies.”) As the Spirit push for a return to the NWSL Championship, they’re doing it with a bit less sleep, and a bit more collective maternal love.

“You're so happy for yourself, and then you're so happy for each other,” says Sullivan, who gave birth to a daughter, Millie, in July 2025. “Then you multiply that over and over and over again throughout the team.”
Washington Spirit Moms (7705x5137, AR: 1.50)The experience of motherhood in the league has changed significantly over the past few years. Originally, the NWSL did not have standardized contract protections for maternity leave, and it certainly did not have opportunities for paid child care on the road. With low salaries in a fledgling league, players often felt it would be impossible to plan for a baby while continuing their soccer careers.

“When I first started, there was no chance that I was going to start a family and also try playing,” says Hatch, who entered the league in 2017.

Many of her fellow NWSL players thought similarly. Those who did have children found that accommodations could vary wildly from team to team. But that shifted in 2022, when the NWSL negotiated its first collective bargaining agreement with the Players Association, including a full suite of policies around pregnancy and parenthood.

“I instantly think back to when I first got in the league, and how few mothers there were,” says Krueger, a defender who has played for a decade in the NWSL. “Now, it’s just like you look around, and every team has so many mothers.”

There are, indeed, a record number of moms on league rosters this year: There were 28 at the beginning of the season, and a few more have given birth since. The players say that is not a coincidence.
Spirit Moms, Ashely Hatch (8192x5464, AR: 1.50)Spirit Moms, Casey Krueger (6045x4030, AR: 1.50)Many of them closely watched the example set by the WNBA, which first negotiated a traveling child care provider benefit in 2020, making parenthood feel more accessible to players in that league. As the NWSL grew, the players’ salaries increased and protections expanded, making pregnancy and parenthood feel like a more secure choice. The original collective bargaining agreement from 2022 was renegotiated with added benefits in 2024. It covers everything from guaranteed parental leave to that crucial paid travel for a child care provider.

“How many occupations can you say that mothers get to travel with their kids and do what they love?” Krueger says.

Early motherhood still brings stress, sleep deprivation and scheduling challenges. The return to play is physically taxing and highly variable. But it no longer feels like quite such an existential threat to a pro soccer career.

Krueger is the Spirit’s resident veteran mom. She gave birth to her first child, a boy, in the summer of 2022. When she joined the Spirit in free agency in 2024, so did baby Caleb, coming on road trips along with his nanny.

That felt like a revelation for some younger teammates: They watched up close as Krueger balanced soccer and motherhood. She fit nursing and pumping around training, just like any player might fit a regularly needed task. She allowed them to see that a high chair could be a welcome addition to the occasional team meal. And she kept performing at a high level. In addition to her club play, Krueger is a fixture on the U.S. women’s national soccer team; she gave birth for the first time in between winning bronze at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and gold in Paris four years later.

“She was just a huge inspiration to me,” Sullivan says of Krueger. “And there are other incredible moms, both in the league and on the national team, who made it possible even when it was really, really difficult. They turned around and fought to make it easier for us and safer for us, and I think seeing them do that then made me want to do it, too.”

Krueger gave birth to her second child, a daughter named Calla, in March. And she was joined on maternity leave by a trio of first-time moms in Sullivan, Hatch and Kingsbury.
Washington Spirit Moms (7480x4987, AR: 1.50)Spirit Mom, Ashley Hatch (6406x4271, AR: 1.50)Their pregnancies were spaced over the course of a year. (Not intentionally, they are quick to say: “We didn’t plan this at all,” Hatch laughs. “We all just happened to be ready about the same time.”) Sullivan and Hatch have returned to play. Krueger has resumed practicing with the team and is targeting a full return this season. Kingsbury, their veteran goalkeeper, is still on maternity leave after giving birth to son Carter in July, but she has made several appearances at the team training facility, baby in tow.


Just as they’re in slightly different phases of physical recovery, their babies are in slightly different phases of early childhood, which has been an unexpected blessing.

“We help each other every day,” Krueger said. “It’s really cool to have that. Because it can be pretty isolating, so it’s really special to have that here with a group.”

It has been an especially poignant shared experience for Sullivan, Hatch and Kingsbury, navigating motherhood for the first time and doing it together. They are the longest-tenured members of this roster: All three landed on the Spirit during the same week in January 2018. They have watched the club pass through different coaches and owners and facilities. They have won a championship together and lost a championship together. They have supported each other as they have bounced on and off the national team.

Now, after going through so much of their early adulthood together, they are going through one more big life change on the Spirit.

“We've been through a lot,” Sullivan says. “So we've gained a really good understanding of one another. … It’s just a very kind of peaceful thing, because you know you're not the only one, and it's just another way in which we're going through something together.”

Hatch and Sullivan have both designated their husbands as their child care providers for team-related travel. (While men’s soccer culture traditionally has “WAGs,” or wives and girlfriends, they joke about their “HABs,” or husbands and boyfriends.) The benefit has been crucial, they say, especially when it comes to nursing and pumping.

“Getting to bring her, and bring someone to take care of her, is really important,” Sullivan says of having her daughter on road trips. It has been fun, too.

“Before having Leo, Jeff would stay home and I would go on a trip and come back,” Hatch says. “Now, the whole family’s going, and it’s like, wow, this is a little weird.”
Washington Spirit Moms (8192x5464, AR: 1.50)Washington Spirit Moms (7741x5160, AR: 1.50)After a decade of traveling as a pro athlete, she’s realized there was plenty about the experience that she took for granted, but it’s all completely new to her husband. “It makes it exciting,” she says. “It’s just really cool to create those memories together as a family.”

And as a team.

“With Caleb, I always say, like, he doesn't realize how lucky he is,” Krueger says of her firstborn. “The girls show so much support for him, and the same with all the other kids, with Millie, and with Leo, and now with Carter. It's so special to have that many aunties.”

The babies have become much-loved members of the squad. “It just brings a fun energy to everything,” says defender Tara Rudd, who does not have children of her own but hopes to someday.

“Obviously, it makes things so much easier logistically for the mother, but it’s fun for the team, too,” says Rudd, who has long sat in front of Sullivan on the team bus and loves that her seating arrangement now means sitting in front of Millie, her “best friend on the bus.”

Eventually, the mothers say, they can’t wait to explain this to their children. Look at everyone you met. Look at the games you saw. Look at everywhere you went. All before they could walk. Or, as it turns out, right as they started to crawl.]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/washington-spirit-nwsl-goals Nicky Wolcott Second-place Washington was shut out Sunday for the third time in its last five home matches. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:10:10 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/washington-spirit-nwsl-goals Not long after the disastrous final moments of Sunday’s meeting with Boston Legacy FC, in which a narrow 1-0 deficit ballooned to a 3-0 loss in a matter of minutes, Washington Spirit midfielder Hal Hershfelt reflected on her team’s apparent inability to put the ball in the back of the net.

“I feel like a lot of our goals are from individual brilliance, because we have individually brilliant players,” Hershfelt said. “But I feel like it's getting to that point in the season where teams are figuring that out. We need to mix it up and work with each other in attacking moments.”

The Spirit entered Sunday’s game with plenty to feel good about. After a tough August stretch saw Washington go four games without a win, coach Adrián González’s team seemed to be getting back on track with back-to-back victories. It entered the weekend sitting in second place in the National Women’s Soccer League table, only two points behind Gotham FC in the race for the NWSL Shield. Boston came to D.C. in 14th place with the league’s third-worst defense, a perfect visitor for a team looking to maintain momentum.

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Instead, the Spirit’s recent attacking troubles were on display again as it struggled to create any clear-cut scoring opportunities in front of an eager home crowd at Audi Field. With the loss, Washington (13-7-4) fell five points behind Gotham and back into the thick of a tight playoff seeding race.

The Spirit’s only real chances came late in Sunday’s match, after Aïssata Traoré gave Boston a lead in the 81st minute. Not only did the Spirit fail to find an equalizer, it gave up a stoppage-time brace to Amanda Gutierres to seal the team’s worst home defeat since April 2025.

“We need to be better, of course, especially attacking-wise, connecting and trying to create chances,” González said. “Tough one, but as always, good learning. And I do prefer this now than obviously [at the] end of the season or in a potential playoff. We need to learn, we need to be humble and we need to accept it.”

The Spirit struggled to maintain possession while attempting to play through Boston’s press, and when it was able to get forward and find players in dangerous positions, they couldn’t execute the final ball. Washington produced just three shots on target, all of which were straight at experienced Boston goalkeeper Casey Murphy, and was shut out for third time in its last five games at Audi Field.

“They were very patient in a high block, and we probably didn't shift them left to right as much as we could have done to then open them up,” defender Esme Morgan said. “The moments where we did and we were able to find players in the pocket or Hal through the six, we were then able to progress a bit better, but then didn't really capitalize on those moments.”

Washington’s 33 goals in 24 league games is only the ninth-most of 16 NWSL teams, and its attacking output has slowed, with just 11 goals in its last 11 matches. The Spirit has been heavily reliant on Trinity Rodman to score and create goals this year and has struggled recently with other key attacking options out injured and a few newcomers forced into bigger roles.

Rodman is already up to 10 league goals and six assists, accounting for nearly half of the attacking production for a team that’s boasted a broader distribution of scoring in recent years — no individual player has notched more than 10 NWSL goals in a season for the Spirit since Crystal Dunn scored 15 times in 2015.

Forward Sofia Cantore and midfielder Leicy Santos have both netted five NWSL goals this year while midfielder Rebeca Bernal, who joined Manchester United on a transfer earlier this month, and forward Claudia Martínez, who returned on Sunday after missing two games with a lower leg injury, have scored three times. Defender Tara Rudd is the only other Spirit player to score multiple NWSL goals this year.

Despite the team’s scoring woes, González has still seen Washington get into dangerous positions in recent weeks and believes the team knows how to play to its strengths.

“Right now we are not in a momentum where you need to change the way that you create chances or you need to start implementing new things,” González said “Of course, we are always open, but I think it's a matter of knowing what we have and just exploring that.”

While the Spirit got into positive areas at times on Sunday, specifically early in the match when winning the ball high up the pitch, finding the back of the net has proven to be a challenge, especially while bringing new players into the fold and managing the return of others, like Martínez and Ashley Hatch, an experienced attacking option.

Monique Ngock and Mélissa Bethi, who joined the Spirit this summer from French league sides Fleury Merogis U.S. and Nantes, respectively, earned their second starts for their new club in midfield and have shown individual moments of quality — especially Bethi, who scored the 80th-minute winner against Portland and won a penalty kick in the 70th minute against Boston that was overturned after video review — but the duo still need time to develop chemistry with their new teammates.

“They're great players, and they give us a lot in the midfield and in an attack, but sometimes maybe they're not on the same page as the people who have been here for years,” Rudd said of Ngock and Bethi. “Those relationships come in training and playing together and knowing each other on the field and what your tendencies are.”

Washington also recently signed 21-year-old Tanzanian striker Clara Luvanga from Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr to a four-year contract, a move that could bolster its front line.

The Spirit doesn’t have an endless amount of time to form new connections as it approaches the business end of the season, but Washington remains in a strong position in the league table with six regular season games remaining. The Spirit will have a great opportunity to bounce back on Sunday when the team travels to take on the last-place Chicago Stars, who have conceded a league-high 54 goals in 24 games this season.
]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/washington-spirit-soccer-bay-fc Alex Schiffer Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Bay FC was the team’s first win in more than a month. Sun, 30 Aug 2026 23:41:20 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/washington-spirit-soccer-bay-fc With little room to spare, the Washington Spirit earned its first win of August on Sunday.

Washington defeated Bay FC 1-0 for the team’s first victory since July 29, behind Paige Metayer’s 45th-minute goal. The win kept the Spirit in second place in the NWSL standings at 40 points, with Utah and San Diego both tied for third with 39 points. Gotham FC leads the league with 45 points.

The victory also keeps the Spirit undefeated against Bay FC in their seven meetings.

Washington had struggled since defeating Utah 1-0 on July 29. The Spirit lost 1-0 to San Diego on Aug. 2, 4-3 to North Carolina on Aug. 8 and 1-0 to Orlando on Aug. 23, with an Aug. 16 tie with Angel City FC accounting for the team’s lone point in the standings prior to Sunday.

The Spirit’s slide coincided with a surge from Gotham, which has posted four wins and two ties since July 29. That stretch allowed Gotham to overtake Washington atop the league standings.

Sunday provided Washington a good opportunity to get back on track: Entering the match, Bay FC had just one win in its previous six contests. But the California-based squad earned Sunday’s first real chance, as Karlie Lema’s shot hit off the crossbar in the 40th minute.

Shortly after, the Spirit got on the board. In the 45th minute, Trinity Rodman took a quick feed on the left side of the field and maneuvered her way through a pair of defenders and into the box. Rodman’s left-footed shot hit off the crossbar and landed on the goal line, but officials let play continue and Metayer scored off the rebound. It was the midfielder’s first goal of the season.

A few minutes before the goal, forward Ashley Hatch went down with an injury and was subbed off for Mélissa Bethi. Hatch was in her third game with the team after returning from maternity leave on Aug. 16. The Spirit did not provide an update on Hatch’s status after the match, but she was seen leaving the field in a walking boot.

With two months remaining in the regular season and the winless streak now in the rearview, Washington will face a schedule that should allow them to stay within striking distance of Gotham. After a match against the Portland Thorns, who are currently fifth in the NWSL standings, the team’s next four meetings are against Boston, Chicago, Angel City FC and Houston, all of which are currently outside the league’s playoff race.

This story was updated to include details on Ashley Hatch’s injury.]]> https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/top-draft-picks-dc-sports-ranked Scott Allen From Kwame Brown to Bryce Harper, top picks haven’t always panned out as expected. Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:10:00 GMT https://www.washingtonsun.com/sports/top-draft-picks-dc-sports-ranked With the Washington Wizards on the clock as owners of the No. 1 pick in next week's NBA draft, fans are buzzing over the potential for A.J. Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson or Cameron Boozer to elevate the franchise.

But D.C.’s pro sports teams haven’t always been so lucky when presented with the top choice. For every superstar like Bryce Harper, there has been a bust like Kwame Brown — plus a handful of athletes largely lost to history, including a defenseman labeled “the next Bobby Orr” who lasted just two seasons in Washington.

To capture it all, we ranked every first overall pick in D.C. sports history — including top picks made by D.C.’s MLB, NBA, WNBA, NFL, NHL, MLS and NWSL teams.

(Note: We left off Nationals shortstop Eli Willits (drafted in 2025) and D.C. United defender Nikola Markovic (2026) because they are still in the early stages of their careers, as well as running back Ernie Davis, who was traded immediately after Washington selected him No. 1 in the 1962 NFL draft.)

15. Kwame Brown (2001 NBA draft)

"We don't know what this kid is capable of doing, that's the beauty of why we drafted him,” Michael Jordan, the Wizards’ president of basketball operations, said after he made the 6-foot-11 Brown the first high school player taken first overall in the NBA draft. “We don't know. In a couple of years he may be a star."

Brown, who didn’t become a star, was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in August 2005 and played for six teams over his final eight seasons in the league. Pau Gasol and Tony Parker, who were selected third and 28th in the same draft, became Hall of Famers.

14. Jason Moore (1999 MLS draft)

The former Virginia midfielder appeared in 16 games and started 12 as a rookie for D.C. United during the 1999 season, which culminated in the franchise’s third MLS Cup in four years. Moore was traded to Colorado the following February and was out of the league by 2004.

13. Greg Joly (1974 NHL draft)

Washington General Manager Milt Schmidt hailed Joly as “the next Bobby Orr” after the expansion Capitals made the Canadian defenseman the first pick in franchise history two days shy of his 20th birthday. After two injury-marred seasons in Washington, Joly was traded to the Detroit Red Wings.
Freddy Adu AP - 04072102093 (2000x1467, AR: 1.36)12. Freddy Adu (2004 MLS draft)

The most hyped American soccer prospect in history became the youngest-ever pro athlete in U.S. team sports when he made his debut for D.C. United as a 14-year-old in April 2004. Adu, an attacking midfielder who grew up in the D.C. area after his parents relocated from Ghana, scored 11 goals in 87 appearances for United before he was traded to Real Salt Lake in December 2006. He never lived up to the outsized expectations for him while playing for more than a dozen teams across three continents over the next 15 years.

11. Rick Green (1976 NHL draft)

The Canadian defenseman played six seasons in Washington before being included in a franchise-altering trade that sent him to the Montreal Canadiens for Brian Engblom, Doug Jarvis, Rod Langway and Craig Laughlin.

10. Harry Gilmer (1948 NFL draft)

A leg injury limited Gilmer to one game as a rookie after Washington made the former Alabama quarterback the No. 1 overall pick in a draft that saw future Hall of Fame QBs Bobby Layne and Y.A. Tittle selected third and sixth, respectively.

9. Jeff Burroughs (1969 MLB draft)

The high school slugger out of Long Beach, California, made his debut with the Senators in 1970 but became a star after the team relocated to Arlington, Texas, and was rebranded as the Rangers in 1972. Burroughs was named American League MVP in 1974 after hitting .301 with 25 homers and a league-leading 118 RBI.Also,

8. Alecko Eskandarian (2003 MLS draft)

The former Virginia standout scored two goals to earn MVP honors in United’s most recent MLS Cup victory in 2004. An all-star in two of his four seasons in D.C., Eskandarian was traded to Toronto FC in 2006. Concussions led the forward to retire after the 2009 season.

7. Crystal Dunn (2014 NWSL draft)

After finishing third in rookie of the year voting in 2014, the versatile forward scored a league-leading 15 goals across 20 regular-season games and was named MVP in 2015. Dunn helped Washington reach its first NWSL final in 2016.
Chamique Holdsclaw AP - 99050702909 (1688x976, AR: 1.73)6. Chamique Holdsclaw (1999 WNBA draft)

The Mystics used the only No. 1 pick in franchise history on the two-time Naismith Player of the Year from Tennessee. Holdsclaw was named rookie of the year in 1999 and was an all-star in each of her first five seasons with Washington.

5. Andi Sullivan (2018 NWSL draft)

A local product who graduated from South County High School in Lorton, Virginia, Sullivan has spent her entire career with the Spirit. The midfielder and longtime captain led the franchise to its first NWSL title in 2021.

4. John Wall (2010 NBA draft)

With Irene Pollin, the wife of the franchise’s late owner, Abe Pollin, representing the Wizards on stage at the 2010 NBA draft lottery, Washington overcame long odds to secure the No. 1 overall pick.

After a dazzling freshman season at Kentucky, Wall earned five all-star nods and led the Wizards back to relevance before injuries derailed his career. The point guard’s buzzer-beater against the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the 2017 Eastern Conference semifinals is one of the franchise’s few highlights since winning the NBA title in 1978.
Bryce Harper debut AP - 120428025098 (5184x3456, AR: 1.50)3. Bryce Harper (2010 MLB draft)

One year after Harper appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 16-year-old, the Nationals drafted him out of the College of Southern Nevada. He was named NL rookie of the year in 2012, NL MVP in 2015 and made six all-star teams with Washington. Harper became a free agent after the 2018 season and signed a 13-year, $330 million deal with the division rival Philadelphia Phillies, with whom he’s still chasing his first ring.

2. Stephen Strasburg (2009 MLB draft)

Harper has had the better career, but Strasburg gets the nod here for his role in delivering the Nationals their first World Series title.

After a dominating career at San Diego State, the right-handed pitcher made his MLB debut at Nationals Park on June 8, 2010, striking out 14 over seven electric innings. Strasburg signed a seven-year, $245 million contract extension with Washington after being named World Series MVP in 2019, but injuries and surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome limited the three-time all-star to eight more big league appearances before he retired in 2024.

1. Alex Ovechkin (2004 NHL draft)

“If you are second, you are second,” Ovechkin said after the Capitals, following their worst season in 26 years, won the 2004 NHL draft lottery and made the 18-year-old Russian forward the top pick. “If you are first, you are first. I always want to be first.”

Twenty-one years later, Ovechkin broke a record that was considered untouchable, moving past Wayne Gretzky and into first place on the NHL’s all-time goals list with his 895th career tally.

A three-time MVP who helped lead the Capitals to their first Stanley Cup title in 2018, the remarkably durable Ovechkin, who turns 41 in September, is undecided about whether he will return for a 22nd season.
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