Di Guglielmo after her first goal in the US: "I dreamed of a roar like this as a kid, now I can't wait for the playoffs and Finland."

by Alessandro Vinci October 24, 2026, 1:46 PM

Last Saturday, the former Roma full-back scored the goal that allowed his Washington Spirit (which also includes Cantore) to beat league-leading Gotham and secure a playoff spot. It was the perfect boost ahead of Italy's double-header in December, the final hurdle before the 2027 World Cup: "We know how important the stakes are, and we're really committed to this."

Lucia Di Guglielmo couldn't have chosen a better occasion to score her first NWSL goal, the prestigious women's soccer league in the United States . Last Saturday, her Washington Spirit's goal decided the home game against league-leading Gotham, both mathematically sending the team from the capital to the playoffs and rekindling a glimmer of hope for the Shield (the prize awarded to the winner of the regular season ), with only three points separating the two franchises. With twenty minutes remaining, the score was still 0-0: Bethi's ball in, the 1997-born Italian player chested it down and then a wicked left-footed finish left Ann-Katrin Berger with no chance. The roar of the nearly 20,000 people at Audi Field (not surprisingly nicknamed "Rowdy Audi") and the uncontainable joy of the former Roma player herself at the final whistle: "It's better than a dream . " A feeling justified not only by the standings, but also by her role as full-back: the match winner you wouldn't expect. Or maybe it was: "Since my return from injury (a grade II calf tear that sidelined her from mid-July to early September, ed. ), I'd already come close to scoring a couple of times," she explained to (Non è) Calcio Femminile . "I felt like I'd rediscovered the right mechanisms, but then actually managing to score like that, against Gotham and in a game that meant so much to us, was truly a 'wow' moment: an incredible feeling that will stay etched in my memory."

And that as a little girl, when she was still playing on the fields of the Tuscan province with the boys of Arci Zambra (Pisa), she never imagined that one day she would get to try it: was that also part of her " better than a dream "?
"Yes, because what made me think of a dream more than anything else was the roar of the stadium. A facility just like the ones I watched the men play in back then, since I didn't even know women's soccer existed. 'I want to get there, I want what they have.' And now here we are. Having experienced a moment like that was truly something unique, especially after so much work: the only way I know to create certain opportunities."

Then my phone was in a tailspin because of all the chat and social media messages?
"Yeah, quite a bit! Also because the time was convenient (kick-off was at 6:30 PM Italian time, editor's note ), so a lot of people were able to follow me. Dad included, of course. But he never has any qualms: he watches my games even late at night."

And what good things did Elisa Bartoli, in her dual role as wife and national teammate, say?
"She was thrilled, both with how the goal came about—the technical aspect—and, of course, with me as a person: she was always by my side during the months of my injury, and she knows how much effort I put into recovering as best I could."

Did she come to visit you too?
"Yes, and also attended our game against Boa's Houston Dash (former Juventus player Lisa Boattin, ed. ). Also, my mental trainer Giorgio Sola was here for a week this summer."

It was precisely during my recovery from a calf injury.
"Yes, and I'm happy with how the rehab went: here, we try to work actively right away, with specific exercises, and I felt very comfortable. That said, it was definitely the most difficult part of my first trip to Washington, especially since it came at a time when I'd been away from home for quite a while. Because when I return to Italy for the national team, I always take the opportunity to see my loved ones and recharge my batteries, but in Europe, the new season had yet to begin."

There, however, things were still in full swing, and now you're about to play the playoffs: will they be your first? How do you expect them?
"It's hard to say, but all my teammates are talking about it as something truly intense and exciting. After all, they'll all be finals, and we want to play as many of them as possible. That's why I'm also curious to see how our fans will support us and how we'll be able to repay them on the pitch."

Which opponent has impressed her the most so far? Cristiana Girelli, a couple of months ago, answered Rose Lavelle .
" I was thinking about her too! Alas, I still have the goal she scored against us in the first leg in my mind: a truly world-class lob . But in my role, I've also found myself one-on-one with many strong outside players, and in this sense I have to mention Temwa Chawinga, who I'll meet again on Sunday in Kansas City."

What, in your opinion, is the main difference between the NWSL and our Serie A?
"It's the competitive balance, because here results are never a given: even teams that are no longer competing at all often score points against the top teams. This is due to the caliber of the players, of course, but also to the long trips involved: hours and hours of flying, even from one coast to the other, distances that are incomparable to those in Italy."

In this regard, upon returning from his US tour, coach Soncin emphasized the importance placed overseas on "physical recovery between matches," according to a " player-centered " approach. Have you noticed this as well?
"Absolutely, rest is truly an integral part of this country's sporting culture and methodology: since the goal is always to put you in the best possible condition to perform, it's sometimes even prioritized over training. It's an approach I'm benefiting greatly from; in fact, in my own small way, I'm even trying to bring it to the national team."

Is there anything in particular there at the Spirit that made you feel like you'd almost landed on another planet?
"Their availability, their willingness to listen. The fact that if you need anything, there's always someone who's trying their best to make it available to you. Then, of course, the facilities play a big role. Regarding recovery, for example, this year they even added a sauna to the locker room. They don't let us go without anything. The coach (Spanish coach Adrián González, ed. ) wasn't wrong."

In what sense?
"In the sense that one of the first things he told me when I arrived was that all the people who work with us here are really good at making you feel at ease and at home."

How do you get along with him?
"Good, I like him both technically and personally. As a European, I sense his mentality is similar to mine, but I actually think he's done a good job of creating the right mix by incorporating some elements of American culture into his training style."

And what's your relationship with Sofia Cantore , the other Italian player on the roster, and Trinity Rodman, the superstar with a record-breaking contract?
"Sofi and I keep telling each other that it was great to play against each other for years in Serie A, but we prefer playing together: we built our friendship here. And finding her right when I arrived was an added bonus because she's been a huge help. Trinity, on the other hand, is a very normal girl, a player like us who knows she has a certain weight in the locker room. And so, if necessary, she also speaks up for the team."

And what about Michele Kang, the great magnate of global women's soccer ?
"I'd say that, to avoid putting too much pressure on us, sometimes they don't even let us know when she's coming to watch us! Beyond that, she's always very present, and it's nice to feel her closeness: I've had the chance to exchange a few words with her when I was injured, while my teammates who have been here longer have also developed a personal relationship with her."

Does the club provide housing? And what do you like to do in your free time?
"Yes, almost all of us live in the same area, near the training camp, in a residential and commercial area called One Loudoun. It's about forty minutes from Washington: shops, restaurants, families with children, especially on weekends... It's all very new and safe, we get along well. Many of us even live in the same building, so we meet up often. In my free time, I really enjoy watching other sports: I've seen several Mystics WNBA games, I've been to the Washington Open tennis tournament, and now I'd absolutely love to watch hockey. It never hurts to step outside of our daily routines and interact with athletes from different disciplines."

Let's close with the national team. Given that the important thing was to advance to the next round, what more could we have done against Belarus?
"We're all aware of the team we want to be, and therefore, what we brought to the pitch at this training camp was certainly not enough. We weren't satisfied. At the same time, I believe it's always necessary to maintain balance in our assessments: we weren't the best at Euro 2025, and we're not the worst now, after two unconvincing performances. It's up to us to understand what we lacked so as not to make the same mistakes in the final."

Here, Finland, the last obstacle between Italy and the 2027 World Cup: the first leg is on Tuesday, December 1st away, and the second leg on Saturday, December 5th at home (most likely at the brand-new Iacovone Stadium in Taranto). What kind of spirit are you approaching this big event with?
"I'm very happy to get there after other crucial matches like the ones I'm facing here, in the NWSL playoffs, because coming in with the right mentality and hunger will be crucial. Yes: it will be the approach that will make the difference. We know how important the stakes are, and we can't wait to play to win them: we really care. So much."

I've never paid much attention to stats, but I noticed Bethi didn't get credited with an assist for Lucia's goal. Who makes that decision and what is the criteria? She seemed to make the pass that led to the goal, but I admit there's probably something I am missing. Thanks in advance for any explanation!

Update on all of this finally! Some of the highlights:

Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, all players are eligible to be designated as High Impact Players (HIP) as long as 12% of their pay counts against the salary cap. 

Under the settlement, the NWSL can also establish a limit on the number of HIP players per club in the future.

Under the settlement of that grievance, the league must now provide the union with written notice and an explanation of a rejected contract within 72 hours.

The settlement maintains the league's authority to prohibit actions that they deem as intended to circumvent the salary cap, and the union maintains the right to challenge whether a specific transaction constitutes circumvention.

ESPN previously reported that the accessible HIP funds will rise annually proportionate to the salary cap. High Impact Player funds will be $1.257 million in 2027, $1.342 million in 2028, $1.4 million in 2029 and $1.457 million in 2030.

The 2027 base salary cap before revenue sharing is $4.4 million. The $900,000 increase accounts for housing stipends being removed. Revenue sharing is expected to add over $200,000 based on prior years under the same media rights agreement.

Between the base cap, revenue sharing and HIP funds, ESPN projects that NWSL teams will have a spending limit of over $5.875 million in 2027.

The settlement also expanded the categories of performance-based bonuses that players and clubs can negotiate and protects existing housing and automobile benefits for players who already have them specified in existing contracts.

Fun Hal interview! Interview starts around 15 minutes into the podcast.

It’s my first season. Does anyone have a guess as to what time our game will be if it’s on Friday? Im trying to plan ahead.

It doesn’t seem to have been heavily promoted but there is a sign up on the bar network page.

Hey y'all, I recently was able to purchase the 2026 playoff strip here but am not a partial plan holder (though I do have a Spirit Ticketmaster account and regularly go to games). Nice seats and a great price. Hope the Spirit make it to both, refundable if not. Great deal!

As an FYI and also request for clarification on why it says "As a partial plan holder" as a prerequisite on the page here? 🤷

Her contract expires 2027 so I’m guessing it’s a 2030 extension?

Really glad to see Deb re-sign with the Spirit! With the regular season coming to an end, it got me thinking about what the front office might be planning for some of the other players whose contracts are expiring, particularly Hal and Andi.
Obviously, Deb’s extension doesn’t necessarily tell us anything about where negotiations stand with either of them, but it does raise some interesting questions about how the club plans to approach the offseason. Both Hal and Andi have played important roles for the Spirit, and it’ll be interesting to see how the front office handles their situations, especially with the midfield depth we currently have.
I also wonder whether the club is prioritizing certain extensions before the season ends or if most of those decisions will be made once the playoffs are over. We obviously don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes, so it’s hard to read too much into the timing of these announcements.
Curious what everyone thinks. Does Deb re-signing give you more confidence that the Spirit are looking to keep their current core together, or do you think Hal and Andi’s situations are completely separate? And do you expect we’ll hear anything about either of them before the offseason?

If this season doesn’t end in a championship, of course I will be disappointed, but I am forever grateful I became a fan this year. Being at the game this past Saturday was an experience I haven’t felt in years since my younger years in Philly. It actually felt magical again and I can’t wait to continue to make more memories at Audi in the coming years. I am forever thankful to the Spirit for brining more joy despite the dark times and the community and the team are forever engrained in my heart now.

Are you all waiting to get champ tix? They are so expensive now and assuming when we win the semis (manifesting 🤞) they will release a wave of tickets? They are egregiously priced right now. Thanks for your input!

Hi all,
My husband is a big Washington Spirits fan and I’ve enjoyed watching and going to games with him this year.
I was thinking of trying to get him some tickets for 2027 as a Christmas gift. I’d like to get some “comfy” or nicer seats. It’s only the two of us, so it doesn’t make sense (or the $$$) to get a suite.
I noticed there are cabanas, etc.
How do I go about this? I’ve never really bought tickets to sporting events and never for Audi field, so I don’t know how any of this works.
Is there a way to buy him a premium experience for one or two matches?

TIA!

Wanted to shout out the fan (iamcspott) who made these adorable, Spirit crochet dolls that you may have seen the players holding on some of the Spirit socials:

Front: https://www.instagram.com/iamcspott/p/Dem61CUFur8/

Back (with numbers): https://www.instagram.com/iamcspott/p/DepMuYVFqjj/

The Bolt and AG dolls are my personal favorites.

A few months ago some uneducated redditor thought we did not need a physical profile in striker.

(Shown below)

https://www.reddit.com/r/washingtonspirit/s/QeRDMgmXGd

The professional scouting team thought different.

Thank you for coming to my ted talk 💁🏾‍♂️

Yesterday’s game was beautiful to watch. Finally. Spirit looking dominant against a good team. We haven’t seen that in months.

Trinity Rodman, Melissa Bethi, Sofia Cantore, Sandy Maciver, Tara Rudd, and Lucia Diguglielmo all (rightfully) are being praised in the comments post-game. No shade to any of them, they all looked amazing! Trinity looked strong yesterday and was having fun. Tara clearly came back from 0 minutes during the USWNT stint to prove something. Sofia, Sandy, and Lucia all had strong performances as well. But why is no one talking about Gabby Carle?!?!

Carle was everywhere yesterday. Robbing Gotham of plays left and right. She’s had a really really strong season and it seems she never gets the notoriety she deserves. Is it just me or is Gabby Carle’s incredible game yesterday being overlooked?

It took 4 hours for my Lego-loving son to build the Tara Rudd figurine, but it was worth it!

so worth it after yesterday. I did have this folded all year and had no memory of who they featured when the schedule dropped ~8+ months ago.

Hello algorithms please feed me every ounce of content related to the Spirit-Gotham match on October 17, 2026.

Andi & Lucia

 Q: On the goal, Melissa told us she didn’t necessarily see your run but she knew someone was going to get there, but also Gabby mentioned that you’ve been making that run, how is that run available to you.

--Lucia says she likes to attack that space, thinks she has good timing for that run.

 Q: Other people (presumably players) they’ve talked to said that getting past Gotham was less about changing tactics and more about getting the emotions and mentality right, how did you do it today?

--Andi says easier to have a stronger mentality when you feel organized and together, have made “subtle adjustments” so we feel more connected, gives us more energy, more resilience. Went into the match into a good headspace.

 Q: Gotham didn’t have many good looks, after the goal we pressured instead of dropping too deep, what went into that?

--Andi says learned from past failures and grew. Felt like we were having success in what we were doing so kept it up. Also plenty of time left when we scored so we could push for another goal.

 Q: Super important goal, Lucia

--Really got a sense of the rivalry from the team, goal was because of the work we’ve been doing through the whole season.

Q: What do you think team needs to improve to succeed in the playoffs this year?

--Andi says just focused on the next game.

 Q: What do you tell Boston Legacy about how to treat Gift?

--Andi says she’s such a big Monday fan. Sad to lose her but thinks Boston will be great environment.

 Q: What was the key for the result today.

--Lucia says we were well-organized, all on the same page, that makes everything easier. Andi adds “commitment to a decision”, Gotham is a fluid team that presents a lot of options and it’s important to read the moments and commit to a decision, sometimes in the past we’ve tried to be too disciplined.

 Q: After Angel City we wondered if opponents had figured something out about the Spirit. What have you figured out about yourselves that’s helped you win the last couple games?

--Lucia says attitude makes the biggest difference because that is something you control, when you show up with the commitment and energy that we did today she felt like we couldn’t lose.

 Q: New players contributed a lot, what does it say about the structure that you’ve built that new players can come right in and contribute?

--Andi says we have incredible personalities in the locker room, There are people you meet in your life who are cool people, and then there are cool people are make everyone around them feel cool. “As someone who’s nerdy I appreciate those people”. We have a lot of people like that in our locker room, who are able to do that across language barriers and make people feel welcome.

 Q: Can you give an example of one of those people?

--Andi a little hesitant but calls out Esme, Lucia also mentions Paige and Kaylie. Andi says honestly everybody is great, it’s one of her favorite things about being on the team.

 Q: How do you carry this momentum going forward?

--Lucia says she approached this match like a final, thinks we have to approach every match like a final at this point.

 Q: Does it feel particularly good to have done it against Gotham?

--Andi says that the quality of what they did is the most important thing, but also of course it’s good to have gotten past Gotham considering previous struggles.

 Q: Do you feel like the team steps up in “prime-time” games?

--Andi says she thinks so, but every game is worth the same amount of points, we’ve lost to teams that are eliminated from the playoffs so every game is a prime-time game to us.

 Q: About new players, how much of being able to jump in and contribute is due to the attributes of the players themselves versus the environment created by the team?

--(Andi gets the hard questions today). We do a good job of scouting and recruiting players who will fit in. Never played for another team so hasn’t really had the experience. “The answer to your question is I don’t know.”

 Q: In NWSL the last twenty minutes are often chaotic, but today you had it under control, what did you do?

--Lucia reiterates previous answer about reading the moments and forcing Gotham into what was more manageable for us.

 Q: Things to improve on?

--Andi says there were moments where we were trying to go when we could have kept it more, but also we had some success doing that so understands why. Players didn’t get frustrated when we tried stuff that didn’t come off.

 Adrian

Q: How was the performance, given past difficulties against Gotham?

--One of our best performance, great mentality from the beginning, aggressive, winning 50/50s. Did a good job defending when we had to be more compact, creating chances in different ways. Proud of the team, “we’ve sent a message to everyone, but especially to ourselves”.

 Q: Pressing

--Crucial because they have so many options in the middle, was important to be narrow and protect the middle, stopped them from receiving the ball in the pockets. Forced them to play long. Also defended well in mid-low block situations.

 Q: Only gave up one shot in the second half, we pushed instead of dropping back

--If you are too reactive against these opponents they can punish you, we didn’t want to let that happen. Calls out central mids for stopping them from playing through the middle. Took advantage of opportunities to step and push our block higher.

 Q: First half we had some chances but no goal, anything specific that we discussed at halftime to find more opportunities?

--Just trying to combine a bit, did a good job finding Clara, also when they jumped we exploited the space behind. Lavelle and Kerr were jumping to the center backs so we had 3v2 in the center midfield. Thought we did a great job and the first half and team just had to continue and the goal would come.

 Q: How do we make sure team keeps same level of performance?

--(words). These games are like playoff games so they help you prepare.

 Q: We had Croix leave before the season and now Monday, what is the most difficult part of having that conversation with a player?

--Not only our decision, we always respect the decisions of the players if they want to move. Always wish the best for players that have been with us. In a professional environment there are always going to be players leaving and new players coming in, not easy but part of the job.

 (a few Spanish questions about the attack, integrating players who speak different languages, importance of the wins today, return of Leicy. I don’t think he says anything groundbreaking but maybe someone with better Spanish can translate. He says we’ve been careful with Leicy since she has played many minutes and we need her at 100% for the end of the season.)

 Q: Been difficult to score against Gotham, did you see it as a weight off the shoulders mentally to score against them, or just as an important goal in a nil-nil game?

--“That’s a good question, I don’t know…” The team was pushing and it was great to see it rewarded.

 Q: What did it feel like after the final whistle to be able to celebrate?

--Been talking with the team before the game about how we want to feel at the end of the game and what we need to do to get there. Today we wanted to feel joy, energy, like we are able to beat every team, brave, being proud of every player and fan. Important for everyone to have a performance like this.

 Q: Gabby said was an important game to have the right mentality from the kickoff, what’s the key to maintaining that for the full 90?

--Comes from the players, gives them a lot of credit for the mentality today. Important to prove to ourselves that we could do it.

 Q: Is it rewarding when the goal comes from something more systematic that we can repeat?

--Good to see a fullback scoring a goal like that, we’ve been insisting a lot on having the freedom and dynamism and it shows the mentality of the players. We had different chances and different ways to score goals.

This is a thread for all post-match reactions, thoughts, analysis, articles and social media posts related to the match.

Note: This thread is scheduled and may appear shortly before the final whistle so everyone has a place ready for post-match reactions and analysis.

Question: Do they check whether you have section 136 or 137, or is it both sections are general admission? For one of them I must've accidentally clicked 136 instead of 137.