The Washington Spirit climbed to the top of the NWSL standings on Sunday, downing Boston Legacy FC 2-1 on the road at Centreville Bank Stadium. It was the club's ninth win in 15 matches this season, prevailing despite a late effort from Boston's Sammy Smith.
Spirit defender Tara Rudd broke the deadlock in the 25th minute. Leicy Santos whipped a ball into the penalty area, and Rudd rose to nod it over Boston Legacy goalkeeper Casey Murphy.
Then, just six minutes later, Trinity Rodman made it 2-0. Gift Monday played Rodman in behind the back line, and the forward finished calmly for her seventh tally of 2026.
Sammy Smith Scores Late Goal for Boston Legacy FC
Still, Boston's NWSL expansion side wasn't done. The hosts pushed forward after halftime, and Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver had to come up big on multiple occasions.
Sammy Smith finally pulled one back in the 88th minute. Smith collected a pass from Emerson Elgin on the left side of the box and slotted a sharp finish into the far corner. But Washington held firm through stoppage time to seal the result.
What’s Next on the Washington Spirit Schedule
With the win, the Spirit sit atop the standings at 30 points, level with Gotham FC but ahead on goal difference. Next on the Washington Spirit schedule: a home match against Denver Summit FC at Audi Field on Sunday at 7 PM ET (Victory+).
Meanwhile, Boston Legacy will face the KC Current at home on Saturday at 5 PM ET, live on ION.
NWSL expansion side Boston is on the board, ending a five-game losing streak — and earning its first-ever point — in last night’s 2-2 draw with North Carolina.
The Legacy scored two early goals behind Alba Caño and Sammy Smith, before nearly ceding all three points to North Carolina as the Courage battled back.
Dani Weatherholt registered a second-half goal and Golden Boot co-leader Ashley Sanchez found the equalizer, before North Carolina saw a crucial late-game penalty ultimately called back by VAR.
Last in the NWSL standings, Boston has struggled to convert performances into results, though Wednesday’s run showed signs of competitive life.
“Everything is coming together, it just takes time and we have to take it one day at a time, one game at a time,” said Smith. “We got our first point and that’s a step in the right direction. Now we’re just fighting to get our first win.”
“I think the most important thing to do right now is recover well the players,” added Legacy coach Filipa Patão.
“They have two, three days to recover before the next game and I think what we saw here was exactly this. In the second half we lost a little bit of intensity in our game and this can make all the difference inside the game.
How to Watch NWSL Expansion Teams Boston Legacy vs. Denver Summit
Boston returns Sunday, hosting fellow expansion team Denver at 3 PM ET, live on Paramount+.
Team USA is coming in hot, releasing their full 232-player 2026 Olympic roster as the largest US contingent in history gears up for February's Winter Games in Italy.
"Right and left, we have just so many people able to get on the podium at these Games," said speed skater Erin Jackson, as she gears up to defend her 500-meter gold medal in her third Olympic appearance. "I'm really excited."
Between the men's and women's events, 98 of the participating US athletes are returning Olympians, including 33 previous podium finishers — 18 of them gold medalists.
Even more, seven members of Team USA are entering their fifth Winter Games, including decorated alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, hockey captain Hilary Knight, snowboarder Faye Thelen, and bobsled teammates Kaillie Armbruster Humphries and Elana Meyers Taylor.
"I think my age is a big advantage actually," Vonn told reporters. "I have been in that start gate more than anyone else that's in the starting gate."
Meanwhile, the 134 fresh faces will look to have an immediate impact on the Olympic medal table for Team USA, including athletes like 20-year-old Stanford soccer defender and US cross-country skiier Sammy Smith and 15-year-old halfpipe freestyle skiier Abby Winterberger — the youngest member of the 2026 US roster.
How to watch Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics
The 2026 Winter Olympics officially kick off in Italy on February 6th, though a few events — including curling and women's hockey — will get underway on February 4th and 5th.
Full live coverage of the 2026 Olympic Games will air in the US across NBC platforms.
Team USA will see 97 skiers and snowboarders representing the red, white, and blue in Milan next month, with US Ski & Snowboard tapping a wealth of veteran experience for the 2026 Winter Olympic roster on Thursday.
All-time winningest FIS World Cup skier Mikaela Shiffrin will compete in her fourth Winter Games, with the 30-year-old two-time Olympic gold medalist hunting hardware in her preferred slalom event after failing to medal in Beijing in 2022.
At the same time, 41-year-old skier Lindsey Vonn is also mounting a dramatic comeback, participating in her fifth Olympics after winning multiple downhill medals on this season's World Cup circuit.
Also returning to the Olympic stage will be 25-year-old halfpipe star Chloe Kim, who is officially clear to return to competition after a recent shoulder dislocation put her Milan plans to become the first snowboarder to win three straight Olympic gold medals in jeopardy.
Alongside the deep veteran talent on the roster, US Ski & Snowboard is sending 48 athletes to make their Olympic debuts next month, including 15-year-old halfpipe freestyle skiier Abby Winterberger and 20-year-old two-sport talent Sammy Smith.
Smith, a Stanford sophomore and starting defender for the 2025 College Cup runner-up Cardinal soccer team, will compete in cross-country skiing for Team USA in Milan.
Considering 15 of the 25 US Olympic medals at the 2022 Beijing Games came from ski and snowboarding, US snowboard program director Rick Bower noted that, "In many ways, making this team is even harder than [competing in] the Olympics themselves."