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Interview: Ashley Hatch

Ashley Hatch forward of Washington Spirit/ JWS
Ashley Hatch forward of Washington Spirit/ JWS

Ashley Hatch plays as a forward for the Washington Spirit of the NWSL. Selected by the North Carolina Courage with the second pick in the 2017 NWSL draft, Hatch was named the 2017 NWSL Rookie of the Year as she helped the Courage win that year’s NWSL Shield. Below, she spoke with Just Women’s Sports about what makes her a unique forward, why she thinks Washington’s owner is setting a new standard, and her own potential future with the USWNT.

First off, how has coronavirus impacted both your life and your training?

The virus has unfortunately prevented us from starting our pre-season and is preventing us from getting together to work out and practice. It has impacted my life just like it has everyone else’s life. It has forced me to stay home and get creative with how I spend my time and how I get my workouts done. I have been preparing all off-season for this season so I’m just looking at it like a little extension to my prep and using this time to focus on some things I want to get better at.

The Washington Spirit seems to have built out a really young core over the last few years, and you have a lot of high-ceiling rookies coming in. Can you speak to what it’s like to be a part of that? 

Like you said, we have a lot of incoming rookies and a lot of people who are transferring over from either other teams or are coming over from overseas. It’s kind of weird cause I feel like I’m still one of those young players, but I’m not. Like, this’ll be my fourth season in the NWSL. But it’s super fun and it’s exciting to have a lot of young players because they’re all so eager to learn and to play and compete. And I think that just adds to our culture as a team. And off the field, because we’re all in a similar age group, it’s easy for us to get along.

The team has been in a bit of a rebound the past couple years. What has that been like and what are your goals going into this season? 

It’s been quite the ride. I mean, this will be my third season now with the Spirit and this will be my first time having the same coaching staff for consecutive years. I mean you’re always getting used to new players, but getting used to a new coach and coaching staff and style of play is very challenging to do year after year. But we were successful last year compared to the year before, and so I think this year we’re really excited because we already have that foundation and those standards have been set.

You yourself have gotten better every year you’ve been in the league. What are your personal goals going into this season? 

That’s a good question. I mean, I don’t really think my goals have ever changed. As a forward, as I’m sure every forward would tell you, you want to be the leading goalscorer on your team. You want to be the leading goalscorer in the league. You want to be helping your team by scoring goals and contributing to wins. And obviously, making the national team is something that I think every US player is striving for.

What kind of opportunities have you had with the national team so far? 

I have two caps with them, and then I’ve been in a few camps, so I’m a camp-goer, I guess you could say, but it hasn’t been consistent. I think I’m doing well in the league and just continuing to push myself there I think will help my case for more opportunities. It’s something I can continue to work toward.

The front line for the national team right now is loaded, but most of those players are on the older end, relatively speaking. You’re only 24. There’s going to be opportunities. Do you ever think like, I could be in this next batch of forwards? 

Hmm. It’s in the back of my mind, definitely. But I don’t know. I try to just focus on what I’m doing here with the Spirit. Thinking that far into the future isn’t going to help me, whereas I think focusing on where I am right here, right now, will help me be prepared for whatever happens. Like you said, it feels like there might be an opportunity coming by, but in the meantime, I just want to stay focused so I can make sure that when any opportunity does come, I’m ready and I’ve put in a good case for myself.

As a forward, your game seems pretty unique, especially for the league. You’re taller and you’re strong, but you’re also very much a skill player. Do you also see that as a unique combination? My sense is the league tends to have forwards that play big, strong, fast and straight ahead. 

That’s a good observation, and I thank you for the compliment. Before I transitioned to playing forward, I was an attacking center mid in high school. And so I was pretty crafty and had some good ball skills, which I didn’t want to lose as a forward, where a lot of times it is straight run and gun or just being strong on the ball and having a god strike. And if you’re good at those things, you’re going to be a good forward. But I think playing center mid growing up, I was able to keep a little bit of that and integrate it into my game as a forward. Sometimes it is hard because coaches want me to be a traditional nine and post up player, but that wasn’t my style growing up, so it’s something I’ve had to learn. But I would rather try and learn that than have to try and learn how to be a crafty player at this point.

Looking back at your rookie year, what stands out to you? 

I think that my rookie season, I just learned so much about the whole professional world, how to be a professional athlete, how to take care of yourself, how to play the game, how to improve, how to deal with contracts and all these other things that we’re never a part of my life before. I feel like my rookie season, I was kind of just like a sponge. I really sucked it all in. And I learned a lot from the veterans on the team and the girls who have been doing it a while. I also came to understand the business side of it, because even though I had a good season and I really enjoyed my time, I knew they didn’t want me back at the end of the year. They had to do what was best for the club and that was to trade me. So I feel like I kind of got thrown into the world of professional soccer really fast.

But with each different team I’ve been a part of, and each different club that I’ve been able to play for, I’ve learned, you know, what it takes to successfully run a club, especially from the owner’s perspective. I mean, Steve [Baldwin], our owner now, has done tremendous things for our club. He’s made such a difference in just the year that he’s been our owner. It’s exciting for the future of not only our club but the NWSL because owners like Steve kind of set that standard.

What do you think Steve’s done that’s been especially beneficial? 

He’s always high energy, and he has high belief. There’s no wavering in that. He just goes out there and represents us, and he’ll literally talk to anyone about money and sponsorships. He does a really good job of getting things in the works and getting us better sponsorships. He’s not afraid of people saying no, but a lot of people have said yes. I think he has like, no joke, five meetings a day with potential sponsors and current sponsors. And not only is he working on our sponsorships, but he’s doing a lot for the league as a whole in terms of finding partners.

He makes you excited to be a part of this movement for the Spirit. His efforts show you just how much faith he has in us as players and as a program. We have to hold ourselves to a higher standard, because we know Steve is going out to vouch for us. He treats female athletes like the athletes they are, and we know he’s going to fight for us.

You live cross country from your husband for half of the year while you’re playing. How do you two handle that part of the professional athlete experience? 

It’s definitely hard, but we just make it work and it’s kind of like a normal part of our lives now. I think it helps that he’s super, super supportive and is one of my biggest fans. It makes me so happy when he’s like, Oh my gosh, I can’t wait for this season to start, I just want to watch you guys play again. He’s just so invested and really enjoys it. And I don’t think, honestly it would be possible for us to have this long distance relationship if he wasn’t that way. So it’s definitely hard, but being with someone who’s supportive and who you truly love makes it doable.

US Tennis Stars Advance as Wimbledon Field Narrows

Italy's Jasmine Paolini celebrates her first-round win over Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships
World No. 4 Jasmine Paolini fell in the second round of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships on Wednesday. (Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)

The 2025 Wimbledon Championships wrapped its second round on Thursday, with the grass court Grand Slam seeing just 15 of the tournament's 32 seeded players advance to the Friday and Saturday's third round.

A full half of the WTA's Top 10 players did not survive the week, with 2024 Wimbledon finalist and world No. 5 Jasmine Paolini joining four first-round star exits by falling to unseeded Kamilla Rakhimova in a three-set, second-round battle on Wednesday.

At the same time, unseeded fan favorites like Japan's No. 53 Naomi Osaka and England's own No. 40 Emma Raducanu secured third-round spots at the London Slam, joining top surviving contenders like No. 4 Iga Świątek and defending Wimbledon champion No. 16 Barbora Krejčíková.

Notably, a full five US players managed to move ahead, tied for the largest national contingent still standing at the tournament.

Led by 2025 Australian Open champion No. 8 Madison Keys, the US group also includes No. 10 Emma Navarro and No. 12 Amanda Anisimova, as well as unseeded players No. 54 Danielle Collins and No. 55 Hailey Baptiste.

With matches against Świątek and No. 7 Mirra Andreeva, respectively, Collins and Baptiste have a tough third round ahead — though Navarro's battle against the 2024 champ Krejčíková arguably headlines Saturday's slate.

US tennis star Emma Navarro eyes a return during a 2025 Wimbledon match.
US star Emma Navarro will face 2024 champ Barbora Krejčíková in Wimbledon's Round of 32. (Rob Newell/CameraSport via Getty Images)

How to watch Wimbledon this weekend

While world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is still holding strong in the dwindling field, this year's Wimbledon play is proving that the London Slam is anyone's to take, as the grass court humbles even the sport's top stars.

Expect the twists and turns to continue as tennis's best battle for spots in Sunday's Round of 16.

Round-of-32 Wimbledon play kicks off at 6 AM ET on Friday, with live continuous coverage of the tournament airing on ESPN.

Finland Opens Women’s Euro 2025 with Upset Upset Win Over Iceland

Finland's Katariina Kosola and Emma Koivisto celebrate a goal during their opening 2025 Euro match.
Finland earned a surprise 1-0 win over Iceland in their 2025 Euro opener on Wednesday. (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

The 2025 European Championship is officially underway, as Euro action kicked off with a group-stage upset on Wednesday.

Though the 2025 UEFA tournament's opener was a sweltering affair amid a European heat wave, world No. 26 Finland prevailed, earning a 1-0 upset win over No. 14 Iceland in Group A.

Finnish winger Katariina Kosola played hero, curling in the winning goal in the match's 70th minute — just 12 minutes after Iceland midfielder Hildur Antonsdóttir picked up the competition's first red card.

"The result is important for our confidence," Kosola said after Finland's first major tournament win since the 2009 Euro. "It was the kind of goal I have been practicing a lot."

"It's terrible to lose and we feel frustrated," said Iceland head coach Thorsteinn Halldórsson. "It is an even group and we knew Finland were good, but our first half wasn't good enough."

Elsewhere, No. 16 Norway closed out Wednesday's slate on top of Group A, taking three points by defeating host No. 23 Switzerland in day's second match.

Led by captain and 2018 Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg — who pulled the match even with a second-half strike — Norway battled to a 2-1 comeback win, despite the Swiss side outshooting and out-possessing the Norwegians.

Spain jersey hang in lockers ahead of the team's 2025 Euro opening match against Portugal.
Reigning World Cup champions Spain will open their 2025 Euro account against Portugal. (Aitor Alcalde - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

How to watch this week's 2025 Euro action

Group B steals the 2025 Euro spotlight on Thursday.

While No. 13 Italy snagged a 1-0 opening win over No. 20 Belgium to kick off the day, 2023 World Cup champions and tournament favorite No. 2 Spain will face No. 22 Portugal at 3 PM ET.

Friday's Group C slate will pit No. 12 Denmark against No. 6 Sweden at 12 PM ET, before No. 3 Germany contends with No. 27 Poland at 3 PM ET.

Closing out the first group-stage matches will be arguably the toughest draw of the 2025 Euro pool.

Saturday's Group D slate features major tournament debutants No. 30 Wales against the No. 11 Netherlands at 12 PM ET, with No. 10 France taking on defending champions No. 5 England to cap the day at 3 PM ET.

Live coverage of 2025 Euro matches will air across Fox Sports platforms.

USWNT Caps Summer Friendlies with 3-0 Canada Shutout

Yazmeen Ryan, Michelle Cooper, Claire Hutton, Mandy McGlynn, and Izzy Rodriguez and the rest of the USWNT huddle after their July 2025 friendly win over Canada.
The USWNT finished the summer international window with 11 goals, conceding none, across three matches. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

The world No. 1 USWNT ruled the pitch on Wednesday night, shutting out North American rivals No. 8 Canada 3-0 to finish the international window on a high note.

Catching the Canada backline sleeping, US midfielder Sam Coffey opened the scoring at the 17-minute mark before 19-year-old Claire Hutton claimed her first-ever USWNT goal by heading in a Rose Lavelle corner kick in the game's 36th minute.

Houston Dash forward Yazmeen Ryan then padded the US tally in the waning minutes of the match, finding the back of the net just eight minutes after subbing onto the field.

Despite fielding a young roster, the US overpowered a veteran-heavy Canada side in almost every category, topping their Northern neighbors in shots, shots on target, possession, and — most notably — set pieces.

Canada ultimately couldn't match the game's mental pace or physical battle, as the USWNT scored all three goals off dead ball situations — a free kick, a corner kick, and a throw-in.

"It's not about the opponent," US head coach Emma Hayes said after the match. "It's about what we do, and I felt that was extremely dominant."

With Wednesday's contributions, the USWNT finishes the summer window with 11 goals scored across the three friendlies — and zero goals conceded.

The US now enters an extended break before reconvening for another as-yet-unannounced friendly series in October — but players will be expected to perform in the meantime.

"I said to the players in the end in the huddle, if you want to compete to win the biggest things, it's not what you do here that matters," said Hayes. "It's what you do when you go back to your club."

Seattle Storm Looks to Climb the WNBA Standings in Weekend Gauntlet

Seattle Storm star Nneka Ogwumike high-fives teammates as she's introduced before a 2025 WNBA game.
The No. 5 Seattle Storm will face No. 4 Atlanta and No. 3 New York this weekend. (Soobum Im/NBAE via Getty Images)

The 2025 WNBA regular season returns on Thursday night, with teams at the top of the league standings looking to prove their mettle against close competition across the long holiday weekend.

The No. 5 Seattle Storm have arguably the toughest weekend assignments, taking on the No. 4 Atlanta Dream on Friday before tackling the No. 3 New York Liberty on Sunday.

Four middle-of-the-pack teams will look to close in on a double-digit season win tally while the league's frontrunners strive to maintain their advantage in this weekend's slate:

  • No. 7 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 8 Indiana Fever, Thursday at 7 PM ET (Prime): Though still without star Caitlin Clark, the Fever hope to harness their 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup victory momentum against an Aces side tied with Indiana with an 8-8 season record.
  • No. 5 Seattle Storm vs. No. 4 Atlanta Dream, Thursday at 7:30 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): Seattle will look to make strides against a strong Atlanta side while putting last Sunday's stinging 84-57 loss to up-and-comer Golden State in their rearview.
  • No. 6 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 1 Minnesota Lynx, Saturday at 8 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The rising Valkyries must face a Lynx side hunting redemption, as the league-leaders look to bounce back from their stifling Tuesday Commissioner's Cup upset loss.
  • No. 5 Seattle Storm vs. No. 3 New York Liberty, Sunday at 1 PM ET (CBS): With injured Liberty center Jonquel Jones still sidelined, the Seattle Storm will have a chance to steal a weekend game against the reigning champs, as New York struggles to re-find their footing.

With the 2025 WNBA All-Star break looming, early top performers must keep standards high if they want to hold the line when the season crosses the midway point.

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