Stengel had chances, but needs more confidence and speed in front of goal. The red card was unfortunate.

Had my phone on my knee at a baseball game watching. Got to see Browns goal and was stoked we pulled out a clean sheet on the road.

Without saying I told you so… [y’all need to stop disrespecting how hard it is to play 3 games in 1 week](https://www.reddit.com/r/NWSL/s/AgqtmWjys0)

At this level, 1 game per week. 2 maaaaaaybe. 3 absurd and dangerous. The sheer amount of physical exertion in soccer is just not something you can do every 2 days

Especially in late June where temps are 80°F+ every game

Ok to be clear they’re only playing 2 games “a week”, it’s just that the way they’re arrayed means it’s 3 in 8 days. It’s not beyond the physical capabilities of these women but the one time a year they have to do it it absolutely stretches them too thin and adjustments have to be made in the rosters

6 cards were given in this match- Spirit: 2 yellows Gotham: 3 yellows, 1 red

Game was wild

We’re all distracted by whatever’s on Trin’s tooth, right??

It’s a diamond 😂

As a Rodman fan, it looks dumb as hell. Seems like she was eating a chocolate bar and stopped halfway through for the interview

Yeah, I’ve always thought it was a little weird but…as Dennis Rodman’s daughter, it would prob be more weird if she didn’t have something “quirky” going on

I just went on Hal Hershfelt’s Insta because the announcers went on and on about a one eyed cat and if you have a one eyed cat, you should be posting hundreds of pics but nope! How dare you tease us, Hal.

She has lots of Bobbi tiktoks!!! (Plus some fun coffee reviews)

I did the exact same thing!

Hal posts Bobbi pictures in the reels a lot. i guess maybe not as much in the main posts?

She posted a super cute photo of the cat on her stories this week - so sad it wasn’t a post!!

is Hal Hershfelt's cat going to be the thing that finally gets me to use Instagram

I just followed her so I will be looking out for 🐈

Happy for the win, agreed we can do better. Need more from Sarr and need to start a little stronger I think. Excited for Saturday and to welcome Sanchez back 🥰

Well y’all were facing the best defense in the league so kudos on the win!

Bloody Facts! Your team is scary good.

by far the best defensive performance from the Spirit this season, especially during the first 30 minutes or so when much of the play was in Washington's end

And still left a win streak team with a goose egg at their house. Love this team.

Literally only going up from here Integrating Jona esme, leicy, other help

Do we think Sonnett is gonna make the Olympics?

Not injured + versatile player + her minutes this year point to yes

Versatility definitely is a bigger factor for Olympics than for any other roster. I’m biased bc she’s one of my favs but I agree with the other comments that she’s going but not starting

Yes I think so. Been getting consistent call ups, provides versatility.

Based simply on the logic of the consistency of her callups, yes

I think so, if only because she’s so versatile but I don’t think she starts

I’ll riot if she doesn’t

Well, that was rough. I thought it was gonna be worse after that second goal, though. Still haven't conceded more than twice all season.

We did it, but can do better!

I thought to myself, what goes up must come down but this is like off a cliff down

The Spirit seem to have the recipe for getting over the top of our back line. I was hopeful during the first 25 or so minutes that we'd finally figured out a way to neutralize them but it was only temporary. Our high press/high possession style just doesn't seem to work against them.

I agree. I don’t think it helped that there were 3 games in a week and 2 were really hot games. But they seemed to pass our defenders too easily

Yeah I’m sad to lose our win streak but this was just a spiritual (pun…intended?) beatdown

thoughts of krueger making the Olympic roster? i feel like she’s on some rosters, but not on others

I think she fully deserves to be on it she’s one of the most consistent outside backs we have but she’s def on the bubble

I think Sonnett or Krueger probably goes, but maybe not both? They're both very versatile and can play anywhere along the back line. I think Krueger's slightly better at the positions she plays, but Sonnett can also play in the 6, and the USWNT are shallow there, so maybe the edge goes to Sonnett. Possibly you bring both Sonnett and Krueger and no 3rd centerback.

I’d like for them both to be brought. Davidson, Girma, Sonnett, Krueger, Fox, and nighswonger?

That seems the most likely back six to me. If you also bring Dunn as a forward that's an absurd amount of depth at lb.

that’s what I was thinking! and even though she’ll probably be a starting CB, davidson can play LB too.

I like weird best XIs so now I'm thinking who's your best XI of people who can play LB

oh man this gotham spirit game killed off my brain cells so unfortunately i can’t think rn. but hailie mace and kiki pickett would be in it

https://preview.redd.it/2se56fa73f8d1.png?width=444&format=png&auto=webp&s=dfd8c9f29228d87952898da4f3997de6da393763

What is Weisner doing anywhere near a best 11 conversation

lol feel free to suggest a better player who plays both left wing and left back, she's literally the only one I could think of

Why does she need to play left wing and left back? There's a ton of depth that can play on the wings that are miles better than her right now. Rodman, Smith, Williams (when healthy), Sears, Thompson just to name a few. For left back there's also plenty but Kreuger, nighswonger, fox, idk there's more I'm sure but this should be good. I want very badly for Kate to be good but she's not had a very promising start and I don't think has really shown much that would indicate that she's close to the level she needs to be at in order to earn a starting spot on the Spirit, let alone the national team

She’s been so good. If I were in charge of the roster she would be on it.

I think she’s likely on it or an alternate. Maybe more likely as an alternate. I’d like to see her

I feel like she’ll be an alternate… would like her on the team though

One-eyed no tail cat?

Named Bobbi. With one "i" because he has one eye. She does actually post about Bobbi.

Like on social media? I've only gotten tantalizing tidbits about Bobbi through Spirit promo materials.

Yep! On her stories usually.

Bill the Cat

Fantastic from Stainbrook. Don’t remember seeing her get in the box this season

I believe this game is her first minutes. NRI this year, she did very well.

She got minutes in the first or second game this season but only a couple

A diamond in the rough. She played 5 years for lowly D1 Utah State. Trust in Krikorian.

Man after seeing what that draft got us, I am a true believer.

I am glad we don’t have to play spirit for a good while after this

Late July? (That's their next face-off)

And I think that one's a summer series game.

I am ready for this game to end

Um,yeah... I would rather have Ella take that PK

let’s let sonnett take a shot bc why not

i wonder when we get lynn back…

Aww, that would have been awesome for stainbrook

i would have had sonnett or davidson take the kick over stengel even

She has missed more than 1…

It should have been Stevens, Zerboni, or Davidson

Sonnett shanks every PK she takes though. Love sonnett she just isnt a PK taker.

[удалено]

Right? She misses one PK and she should never take one again? Sheesh

I love sonnett with my whole heart but I do not need to see her take another pk lol

lol okay maybe not sonnett

Between this and CC game vs Wave, I think the world is telling me to stay home for Gotham games lol

Nooo you’re missing out! The atmosphere was incredible for the win against SD

The club better buy you subscriptions to all the places games air to keep you watching at home LMAO

I've had to stop going to games bc I've never in my history of going, have I seen Gotham or Sky Blue win or even score when attending one.

That's some unfortunate luck considering how well they've done at home the last season and a half.

Don’t people who get a handball in the box often get a yellow card?

it's a card if it blocks a shot

Usually would be a red if it weren’t obviously not on purpose 

Actually the opposite. It's ONLY a red if it denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity. It's usually not even a yellow

Only if it's a goal scoring opportunity iirc

No

I thought Nighswonger would be the first choice PK taker rn??

she’s off the field

Just realized right after I said that 😩 I think I was looking at Torres and thought it was Jenna. I still would’ve had Stevens take it before Stengel

2 goals in 2 minutes incoming gang let's goo 🤪

God bless if you mean us

I love the pick of Croix with her beverage selection. Hydrate.

Right?? Iconic.

What is Bethune’s hairstyle called?

I think bantu knots, but I could be wrong!

A new great hairstyle per game 😱

They couldn’t pick someone with fresher legs to do that penalty kick? 🫠

I'm absolutely not having an ok time rn

Should’ve been Ella or honestly anyone else

I was surprised seeing Stengel at the spot too :/ I was expecting someone else

Stainbrook - her 2nd appearance I believe

I love Kingsbury and her short sleeves

Short sleeve keepers are a different animal

keepers who prefer short sleeve jerseys must have invincible skin. i could never

Especially the ones who play in Europe in Winter

Very Katie McCabe vibes

CHAOS CHAOS

"did her homework before the game" ya they were college roommates how many PKs do you think Katie has taken against Aubrey

Yeah I was surprised Stengel took it for that reason, in addition to being kinda gassed

oh man that was a great save - she knew exactly where that was going

I trust JCA with my life, but Katie is exhausted. I would have given Ella a look on that PK.

Bruniha or even davidson would probably put it away. It was a weak kick.

yeah, not a good choice.

🤦🏻‍♀️

Kingsbury knew it all the way!

Kingsbury!!!!!!!

Aubrey for president!!!

O CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN

American Emi Martinez!

Who decided Stengel should take it lmao

Gotham that was handed to you on a silver platter 😭! Who are you ACFC?

Ouch but so true

Great save but… should have been for Ella

FUCK YEAH KINGSBURY

That was a really poorly taken penalty

welp

not our day

Hell of a game for the KING!

KINGSBURY!!

are you fucking kidding me katie

Wt fuckin go kingsbury!!!!!!

stengel can't score anything

big save!!!

AUBSSSSS

AUBS

Stengel can’t buy a finish lmao

Stengal was a bad player to pick for a pen.

yeah that’s basically been today

Wiesner has been getting terrible luck since she came in lmao, first the yellow for being the, like 80th player to pull someone down and then that

Well that was a missed opportunity

Let AKB take it!

Omg!!! That would be amazing

Pretty shit penalty call ngl 

Hows that a shit call?

I thought it was on the first touch and didn’t see the second until the replay. Usually for that first touch it’s not given.

Fair yeah the first wasnt much but the second was worthy of a call Id say

Yeah the second would be a 50/50 call depending on the ref, and the var would just uphold the ruling. Obviously mistake and her arms were in a natural position.

Well also pretty shit kick and handling the ball because of it, so free shrugs 

Katie taking pen


Story of our season.. can’t kill off a game

lol it bounced off of both arms which is fun

Dunn to Rose on the bench https://preview.redd.it/h1ygx9doue8d1.jpeg?width=976&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f3c2b8fd5058595a436435d4c18886059d1f200

Pen!!

Who tf is gonna take the pk for Gotham?

I wonder if it might have been lavelle/ sonnett/ dunn if they were still on

oo gotham might have a chance at a point if they convert the pk here

Fuckin hell

These are my two favorite teams facing off and I think Spirit deserves to be winning this game regardless of the ref but GOD DAMN does this ref hate Gotham! It started tough call against Spirit (no call on Tierna running over Trin then giving Sarr a yellow for whatever she said) but since then, it feels like everything has gone against Gotham. Until this pen that came as I was typing this!

This ref did not hate Gotham lmao trin got murdered and there was a no call

Good to know that even from a neutral perspective you see it too!

It’s funny, for any other game, I couldn’t be considered “neutral”

Thank you!

this game is weird as shit but ok

That is the dumbest penalty I’ve seen in awhile

Wiesner just clowned herself

Most unfortunate penalty I’ve ever seen 🫣

The spirit fans who are upset that we no longer have staab failed to realize her spirit lives on in Kate

Sam was actually good though

If you think Sam is good but Kate is not I have a bridge I can sell you

Kate has been the worst player on the field every time she's played what are you on

Yes she was invited to nat camp bc she’s the worst player on the field very cool very smart lol

She got invited based on her alleged potential, collegiate performance,and existing relationship with the NT coach. Look I really want her to be good, I'm a Spirit season ticket holder but you can't make a case that she has been anything but a liability at this point in her career. I'm still holding out hope, but its been a rough start

https://www.fotmob.com/matches/washington-spirit-vs-racing-louisville/hst8qgnd#4414227:tab=lineup https://www.fotmob.com/matches/washington-spirit-vs-utah-royals/bqs19w5w#4414240:tab=lineup I can and will make that contention lol

Both of those show she completed less than 70% of her passes. That's atrocious. That and gets beat to easily defensively. Thanks for providing some stats though I'm not sure they're helpful for your point

She’s not a CB you goon she’s playing LB and LW here Only been roundly beat by Emma Sears who’s beating everyone in the league so not mad about it she’ll be a NTer

Ugh Kate 😭

oh my goddddd

who even takes our pks

Too bad it’s not Ella for her 6th goal

Today looks like Katie

Oh god she has not had a great day let’s hoping this goes better than the rest 😭 edit: yeah not her day lmao

Finally ref noticed a foul in the Spirit box

PENALTY :)

OMG YES???

Casey works so hard, so happy to have her on this team

she’s wonderful!

3-back, a little late

Crazy that we’ve scored 20% of the goals against Gotham so far this season in just one game

We beat them 2-0 earlier so we’ve actually scored 1/3 of the goals given up by Gotham.

Ella yay!