Women’s soccer in the United States has always been a high-drama stage where victory is merely a mixture of hurdles and willpower. It was no different for the Washington Spirit and Kansas City Current in their recent meeting. On that bright, sunny afternoon, the Spirit not only won 4-1; they also proved why they are one of the most solid teams in the country in the NWSL this season. This win now moves the Spirit into second place in the table, and that means a lot more than just the impressive result. It’s a statement on the team’s journey: aspirations to keep their eyes on the top and build their status into an undisputed top team – and with good reason. They boast one of the best offenses in the league with 36 goals, only the Current has scored more.
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Since the beginning of the season, the Washington Spirit has made one thing clear: they don’t mess around. In their game against the Kansas City Current, the Spirits not only faced one of the best players in the league, but also delivered a nearly flawless performance.
One of those moments was the first goal scored by Paige Metayer. But she did it even better, sprinting from the defense to the opponent’s penalty box and finishing with a precise shot. This was Metayer’s first professional goal that wasn’t scored by a header – a performance that will definitely be remembered. It was not only a play that opened the scoring, but also a message: The Spirit wanted to attack from the start and not give the opponent any room to breathe. And they did.
Having big individual stars light up the scene is nothing new in soccer, but the Washington Spirit have shown that the power of a team can be even stronger. With players like Trinity Rodman, Casey Krueger and Leicy Santos, who excelled at the 2024 Olympics, this team showed an enviable unity that made the Spirit’s dominance over the Kansas City Current possible.
Another highlight was the interplay between Croix Bethune and Ouleye Sarr. Bethune, who already has ten assists this season, seemed to have Sarr in his sights wherever he was on the pitch. Sarr’s goal, his eighth of the season, was the result of a finely tuned partnership and strategy combined in execution. This pairing looks to continue to wreak havoc on opposition defenses and the stats prove it.
One of the brightest young stars in the women’s game, Trinity Rodman once again showed why many consider her to be one of the best young players of her generation. A stunned Kansas City native Adrianna Franch could only stand and watch as Rodman scored her 10th direct goal contribution of the season. It’s truly incredible to see such a young player reach historic milestones and etch her name alongside those of Sam Kerr and another towering young talent, Sophia Smith.
Although the Kansas Current continued to fight to get back into the game, taking a 3-1 lead through leading scorer Temwa Chawinga, the Washington Spirit were undeterred. Santos scored her first NWSL goal a few minutes later with a quick, deliberate move that sealed the Spirit’s victory and ended Current’s hopes of a comeback. Santos, who also provided an assist, proved she is a player who can be an all-around player – crucial when it matters most.
With this comfortable win, Washington Spirit sits comfortably behind the unbeaten Orlando Pride in the NWSL table. Another nice fact is that Spirit has won every game this season in which they led at halftime – a statistic that shows the maturity of the team and their ability to control the game.
Even if you can only imagine it, the Washington Spirit would be one of the most exciting teams in this year’s NWSL. The team has found the perfect balance of youth and experience, with a pool of young, talented players like Trinity Rodman and experience pouring in from all ranks. This cocktail – coupled with a winning mentality – makes the Spirit one of the main contenders for the title.
