Angela Salem’s Quick Transition from Retired NWSL Star to Washington Spirit Assistant Coach
The Washington Spirit entered 2022 wanting to make sure that its extraordinarily challenging and triumphant 2021 season wasn’t just a flash in the pan. And one major addition to the team has caught the attention of observers around the NWSL. You won’t find this person on the Spirit’s roster. Angela Salem isn’t a player, but…
The Stunning End of the Hernán Losada Era at D.C. United
When news trickled out that D.C. United had fired head coach Hernán Losada earlier this week, the reaction was nothing short of shock. The Argentine coach’s tenure ended just hours after a 3-0 win in U.S. Open Cup play over lower-level side Flower City Union. The change comes at an unusual time for United, who…
The Washington Spirit Expects to Defend Its NWSL Title
Washington Spirit defender Sam Staab doesn’t have much to say about her goals and expectations for the team this season. It’s really quite simple. “We’re gonna win again,” Staab says. “That’s about it.” It’s the prevailing thought throughout the franchise. Last year, the Spirit overcame a tumultuous season to win its first NWSL title. With…
Spirit Coach Kris Ward Uses a Player-First Philosophy In Search of a Second NWSL Title
Washington Spirit head coach Kris Ward brings the same mug with him to every match. On one side is a sticker with the word “BELIEVE” in blue letters on a yellow background. On the other side, another sticker reads, “Be curious, not judgmental.” Both are references to the hit Apple TV series Ted Lasso, about…
Spirit Rookie Tinaya Alexander Took the Long Road to Pro Soccer
Outside of the United States, the idea that an athlete could attend college on an athletic scholarship because they excel at sports can seem like a foreign concept. But the common American practice of combining academics and athletics presented Tinaya Alexander with an opportunity to leave the United Kingdom and come to America. Now, the…
Michele Kang Officially Owns the Washington Spirit
Washington Spirit supporters’ group Rose Room Collective had a two-word response in the form of a Lord of the Rings meme to news of the Spirit’s new ownership: “It’s done.” After a highly contentious and public ownership battle that lasted months, Michele Kang has been named the new controlling owner of the Spirit and takes…
Tori Huster Hopes Spirit Will Resolve Ownership Situation Soon
One of Tori Huster’s nicknames on the Washington Spirit is “OG 23.” She wears No. 23 on the field, and the 32-year-old midfielder has been with the Spirit since the beginning and brought a steadying veteran presence during a tumultuous 2021 season that improbably ended in triumph, as the Spirit won its first NWSL title.…
The Washington Spirit Won an Improbable NWSL Title. More Challenges Lie Ahead.
A few days before the NWSL championship match on Nov. 20, Washington Spirit co-captain Tori Huster received a group text message from her teammate, goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe. The message, Huster says, contained a list of all the adversity they endured throughout the season: The “home” opener moving to Houston due to construction at Segra Field…
Trinity Rodman Displayed Her Greatness in NWSL Title Game Win
Washington Spirit wingback Kelley O’Hara knew immediately the hype around Trinity Rodman was real. “I still remember the first practice with her back in preseason,” O’Hara said. “And I just remember being like, ‘This girl is gonna be really good.’” There were several months between that first look and Saturday’s NWSL championship game, during which…
Spirit Head to the NWSL Final With Improved Defense, Rising Stars, and Team Chemistry
There were various points in the Washington Spirit’s 2021 campaign that seemed to spell doom, but Sept. 16 may be the date that sticks out most. On that day, the NWSL announced that the Spirit would be forced to forfeit a second straight game due to violating the league’s COVID-19 protocols. Amid a tumultuous season…
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