The NWSL returned from its summer break with a bang this weekend as the Washington Spirit continue to climb the table.
A tight 2-1 win over the Houston Dash on Friday pushed them even higher in the league standings. Star Spirit forward Trinity Rodman played hero for her side, scoring the opener in the 50th minute before overcoming Houston forward Kate Faasse’s equalizer with a stoppage time game winner.
"Honestly, in the actual box, I don't even know what happened for it to get through," Rodman said of her winning goal. "I just know that once we got scored on, I was just like, 'we've gotta go.'"
NWSL Standings Shake Up After June Regular Season Break
The win launched Washington into third place in the NWSL standings. That shift reflects a momentum reset league-wide after the NWSL took the entirety of June off from regular season play due to the 2026 World Cup.
No. 4 Utah suffered their first loss in 10 games on Sunday in a 3-2 thriller against No. 14 Chicago, while No. 7 Gotham couldn’t back up their Challenge Cup win in a 2-0 loss to No. 1 San Diego.
"It's a long [season]," said Gotham manager Juan Carlos Amoros. "Today we lost a battle, but we are ready for the war."
The Washington Spirit made two roster moves Monday to shore up depth for the second half of the 2026 NWSL season.
The club locked in forward Tamara Bolt through 2027 and kept defender Madison Haugen on board through December.
Trinity Rodman and the Spirit Build Momentum After the NWSL Break
Bolt originally came to Washington ahead of its 2025 campaign but spent that year gaining minutes on loan in the USL Super League. Now back with the Spirit, the Brazilian forward has worked her way into five matchday squads this season.
Haugen, for her part, arrived on a short-term deal during NWSL preseason when several veterans stepped away for maternity leave. She has yet to see the pitch but gives the coaching staff another defensive option as games come quickly after the break.
"We're confident in the group of players we have together, and our midseason roster moves reflect that," sporting director James Hocken said.
The moves reinforce a roster already built around attackers like Trinity Rodman. If the Spirit can keep their NWSL stats trending upward, a second-half push for the playoffs looks within reach.
Washington will next host the Houston Dash at Audi Field on Friday, July 3rd.
Gotham FC has already set an NWSL record before the first whistle at Citi Field.
The reigning NWSL champions announced Wednesday that ticket sales for July's Queens Classic have passed 29,000, breaking the New York City attendance record for a women's sporting event. Coco Gauff previously held that mark, when 28,144 fans witnessed her 2023 US Open title run.
NWSL Aims for Historic Night at Citi Field
The Gotham FC match will also be the first professional women's sporting event hosted by the Mets' home stadium, and the first NWSL game played within New York City limits.
To mark the milestone, the club launched a 24-hour flash sale with tickets priced at $28.14 — a nod to the old record.
Still, the draw goes beyond the venue. The standalone showcase is a 2025 NWSL Championship rematch between Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit. USWNT teammates Rose Lavelle and Trinity Rodman are set to lead their squads yet again with kick-off at 8 PM ET on ESPN.
Pregame festivities include a 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal watch party, a live recording of the Welcome to the Party podcast featuring USWNT legends Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach, and Footy Fest hosted by World Cup champion Sam Mewis.
In addition, the first 7,500 fans through the gates at Citi Field will receive a commemorative Rose Lavelle bobblehead.
DC is stepping back into the soccer spotlight, as the league officially tapped the Washington Spirit’s Audi Field to host the 2026 NWSL Championship.
The title match returns to the East Coast for the first time since 2022, when Portland beat Kansas City to lift a third NWSL trophy at Audi Field.
“Washington, DC has become one of the premier destinations for women’s soccer, with an incredibly engaged fan base, a vibrant soccer culture, and a community that continues to champion the growth of our game,” said Commissioner Jessica Berman.
The Spirit became the fourth women’s club in the world to average 15,000+ fans per match last season, with the 20,000-seat venue already selling out three of the team’s first five home games this year.
“DC shows up for women’s sports like few cities in the world,” said Spirit CEO Kim Stone. “A fan base this passionate deserves events like this.”
The Championship airs in primetime on CBS for the fifth straight year, with tickets on sale this summer — and presale access signups open now.
Liga MX Femenil triumphed over the NWSL this weekend, as Mexico’s Club América downed Gotham and Washington en route to the 2026 Concacaf W Champions Cup title.
After dismantling Gotham 4-1 on Wednesday, América faced the Spirit in Saturday’s continental final. The Mexican side built on an intense attacking output to secure the 5-3 win.
Club América forward Scarlett Camberos won Player of the Tournament. She scored four goals in two games — including the championship’s final strike.
"It's been a great experience for the team," said Washington head coach Adrián González.
"It's always hard, because you put a lot of effort… I couldn't be prouder. I think we are going to learn from this and I am sure that we are gonna keep getting in finals and for sure we will win finals in the future."
Club América Moves to 2027 FIFA Champions Cup with Concacaf Win
The NWSL and Liga MX Femenil are now tied 1-1 for all-time Champions Cup trophies, as regional competition spreads within the women’s game.
The win advances América to the 2027 FIFA Champions Cup. The global tournament kicks off in Miami, despite no US teams qualifying.
A new team will lift the Concacaf trophy, after defending champion Gotham fell to Liga MX Femenil’s Club América 4-1 in last night’s Champions Cup semifinals.
Former Gotham forward Geyse notched three assists on the night, while former Angel City and Bay FC forward Scarlett Camberos racked up a hat trick while silencing the Bats’ defense.
“It was a very difficult game for us,” said Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amorós. “I have to give a lot of credit to my players. They gave absolutely everything they had in those conditions.”
The NWSL will have one representative in Saturday’s final, as Washington got past Pachuca 1-0 to advance to the club’s first continental final.
18-year-old Paraguay international Claudia Martínez continued her quality Spirit debut, scoring the game’s lone goal in the 81st minute off a multi-pass team sequence.
Washington faces a Club América side riding high, after downing Monterrey to win a third league title in front of 6.8 million viewers last week.
Where to Watch the 2026 Concacaf W Champions Cup Final
The Champions Cup final kicks off Saturday at 9:30 PM ET, live on Paramount+.
The 2026 Concacaf W Champions Cup is heating up, as NWSL sides Gotham and Washington kick off the regional tournament’s semifinals tonight in Mexico.
2024/25 winner Gotham faces 2026 Liga MX Clausura champion Club América, before the Spirit battles Pachuca on its home field.
Tonight’s winners advance to Saturday’s final, with the eventual Concacaf champion qualifying for the global 2027 FIFA Champions Cup in Miami.
Last year’s final featured the best of both top-flight North American leagues, as Gotham took down Tigres to claim the inaugural title.
The Bats have yet to lose a game in Concacaf competition, carrying a 7-0-3 record across the continental competition’s first two editions.
“It’s obviously fantastic to be here again,” said Gotham manager Juan Carlos Amoros. “That’s where we want Gotham to be… We want to be at the international stage.”
Where to Watch 2026 Concacaf W Champions Cup Semifinals
The Champions Cup semifinals kick off tonight at 7:30 PM ET, live on Paramount+.
The NWSL is starting to show its true colors, as No. 2 Washington and No. 3 San Diego square off this weekend in a cutthroat race to the top of the table.
The teams are tied on points with 18 apiece, trailing No. 1 Portland by just one point. However, Washington holds a +9 goal differential.
The Spirit also has an advantage on recent form, riding an eight-game unbeaten streak that features five straight wins. The team is finding its footing after a slow start to the season — and according to the players, it’s all thanks to a plastic coyote named Jose.
"We’re so excited," Spirit star Hal Hershfelt said after a recent win. "Maybe it’s because of our good luck charm, but we’re pumped."
Washington will aim to contain San Diego’s young firepower, as the Wave leans on assists co-leader Dudinha, rookie scoring leader Lia Godfrey, and midfield wizard Kenza Dali to break down the Spirit defense.
“We have what I would say is a really whole squad,” San Diego assistant coach Becki Tweed said. “We can use people in different ways and it’s then about deciding and adjusting during the game.”
Where to Watch Wave vs Spirit in NWSL Weekend
San Diego hosts Washington tonight at 10 PM ET, live on Victory+.
The No. 2 Washington Spirit is riding high, overcoming a slow start to register a fourth straight win in Saturday’s 4-2 victory over No. 12 Orlando.
Spirit forward Sofia Cantore tallied two goals in the match’s first six minutes to mark the quickest brace in league history. Later, Claudia Martinez added a second-half strike while star Trinity Rodman notched her third goal in as many games.
“I’m so proud of this team, I think they’ve done amazing,” said manager Adrian Gonzalez afterwards. “Sometimes you just need to suffer.”
Washington has now racked up nine points in eight days.
However, the Spirit still trail No. 1 Portland by four points in the NWSL standings. The Thorns recorded a fifth straight result in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Chicago.
20-year-old Portland midfielder Olivia Moultrie notched a goal and an assist in her 100th club appearance, becoming the youngest player in league history to accomplish the feat.
“I can’t believe I’ve hit 100 games — it doesn’t feel like that at all,” Moultrie said. “I get to show up and do what I love every day and it doesn’t feel like a chore.”
How to Watch the Washington Spirit in NWSL Matchday 9
Washington returns on May 10th, kicking off against Seattle at 7 PM ET on Victory+.
The Washington Spirit made a statement on Friday, taking down reigning Shield winner Kansas City 4-0 behind a Trinity Rodman goal to headline an NWSL slate full of lopsided scorelines.
Spirit forward Leicy Santos notched a brace in the Rowdy Audi rout. Later, star forward Trinity Rodman picked up her season-first goal and assist, before striker Claudia Martinez sealed the deal in the 75th minute.
“Once we got into our groove and got the goals going, it was gonna keep going,” Rodman said, helping extend Washington’s unbeaten streak to five games.
The Current’s early struggles continue, as last year’s winningest club sits tied for the season’s worst goal differential in 14th place in the NWSL standings.
“It’s been a tough start to the year, a tough schedule, tough fixtures, and we’re finding ourselves,” said first-year manager Chris Armas. “But I think there’s a lot of belief in what we’re doing here.”
“Games like this happen,” said midfielder Lo Labonta. “It’s a long season, so hopefully we can turn it around next week.”
How to Watch Washington Spirit Star Trinity Rodman This Week
Trinity Rodman and the Spirit return on Wednesday, hosting Louisville at 7 PM ET (Victory+). However, Kansas City will have to wait for its shot, taking on North Carolina on Saturday at 6:30 PM ET, live on ION.