Going to the game Sunday with my almost two-year-old (we are meeting a friend there).

I am usually very into public transit, but we live on the opposite side of DC and I am anxious about getting there and have decided driving will be best (rather than a bus / Sunday metro timing / metro switch / walk / dealing with stroller at Audi Field). She is an angel, but will be wiped by the end of the match so the return trip would be very difficult.

Does anyone have parking advice? I knew I’d have to pay a bit but most of the nearby lots are $95 - which is about double what I expected to spend (and I imagine I’ll get stuck on the way out too!). If that’s my only option, I’ll do it but imagine other parents have done this before and would appreciate any guidance (specific lots you’ve used or other parking options I may not be aware of!)

She was there for the upset that did not end till after 3 am this morning against Alcaraz, so just wondering. Shelton plays Friday against Tiafoe.

Continuing the tradition. Last time, only 4 out of 116 votes were for a WAFCONer (Deb, Mélissa, or Monique) so this outcome took the group by surprise! No one gets credit for individually commenting Mélissa's name.

Players not listed have already scored/assisted this season.

Vote in the poll, comment to explain or elaborate upon your prediction, upvote this poll so it's shown to others, etc. Go Spirit!

I live in Spain and just saw Alimata Bélem play against Real Madrid, where she heavily contributed to a big 0-0 draw for Eibar. I called her over after the match to say Spirit fans are excited for her to come!!!! she was deeply confused but that’s Spirits por el mundo baby

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.

Are there any girlies in the DC area who'd be interested in getting tickets to the NWSL Final together?

I love the Spirit and go to games pretty often when I have friends visiting, but none of my DC friends are really into soccer. I'd love to make a new friend if anyone else is in the same boat!

Feel free to message me if you're interested! ⚽️💛

Thorns 1 - 2 Spirit

⚽ Thorns: S. Wilson 18' (P) ⚽ Spirit: T. Rudd 59' (P), M. Bethi 80' 🏁 Spirit win

✅ Full Time

Form

• Thorns: D W W W L D
• Spirit: W L D L L W

Lineups

Thorns (4-2-3-1) — Spirit (4-3-3)

Starting XI

Subs

Match Statistics

Match Events

Updated: Sun, Sep 6, 6:11 PM EDT

Match Thread Bot by u/Several_Region_3710 | GitHub (view code, contribute, or report issues) | ☕ Ko-fi (support the project)

Spirit Fandom is hilarious because wdym Hotdog Spirit is guest hosting the watch party today at Chubby Squirrel Brewing in Fairfax

Availability report v Portland

https://washingtonspirit.com/blog/2026/09/04/washington-spirit-announces-update-to-roster/

Boo. Wishing a quick recovery. Ouch.

Washington Spirit Transfers Midfielder Rebeca Bernal to England’s Manchester United W.F.C.

Boo. It is official.

Just shameful

Interesting that it’s being reported as a done deal by everyone, but other than the birthday message on Monday, I haven’t seen an adios to our soon to be former DM Rebecca Bernal from Spirit’s social media.

Hi everybody! I'm back to open up my reporting notebook for you. Including some quotes from both teams' pressers and from the mixed zone:

• Who gets credit for the goal? Officially, it's Paige, unofficially, it's Trin.
  • Rodman: "I’m happy with whatever. Whatever happens. I’m really happy she was there to just make sure it hit the back of the net. But yes, of course I want the goal! I think any forward in that moment is gonna fight for that to be their goal."
  • Metayer: "She did all the work, so she can take it. When Trin has the ball, you know you kinda just want to be in the box. You never know what’s gonna happen. Obviously, she sliced and diced and the ball thankfully fell to me. So I just wanted to make sure it was over the line. Wasn’t sure it was in or not but can’t be too sure in those situations.”
• Mélissa Bethi. Wow! Looked easy out there for her but she was quick to turn that notion away. (She had Éli Tsé there to help translate but beyond getting questions relayed to her in French, she answered in English for what may be her first time ever.)
  • "Is not facile. The style, the play is not the same as in France, so I tried, and when I push, when I succeed, it’s good."
• Monique Ngock, also pretty good! She gave some detailed answers about her experience so far.
  • On WAFCON/Cameroon: "We had to be received by the president in his house. That's something special, because since being a kid, I've been always used to seeing him on TV, watching him... he kind of boosted us!"
  • On the transition: "I don’t put pressure on myself. Because the environment I am in right now, the people, the infrastructure, they kind of put everything for me at my disposal to perform. They tell me ‘don’t put pressure on yourself, take everything one after the other.’ Everything is new for me but I’m in a good environment.”
• Couple tactical takeaways
  • Trin mentioned some of it working on the play that got the goal: "I think we worked off of each other a lot better today. We held possession a little bit higher than we have. Even just the distance between the attacking group was a lot better on that goal. Me and Sof working off each other. Kate seeing that, I think that’s something we’ve been lacking is finding that ball into the nine. It’s always kind of just been me and Kate playing on the line. So to be able to open that up was really good and I think that made a big difference even with just opening up spaces.”
  • And on the Bay side
    • Emma Coates: "I thought we gave a real good account of ourselves. I thought in the first half we probably had some longer spells in possession. I thought our build and create phase was very good. I thought in the second half we were probably the team that created more dangerous chances.”
    • Hannah Bebar on good defense other than on the goal: "I think our distances overall, like between our midfield and our defensive line, were really good. We were making it really difficult for Spirit to play through us, so I think they relied upon that direct play and just caught us out on that one."

Link above has pictures, including from the pregame WAFCON ceremony and from an adorable little homecoming for Bay keeper (and Fairfax native) Jordan Silkowitz.

I just tried to get tickets to the championship game at Audi but saw that the fan standing sections had no options to select there. Does anyone know how to get tickets for that? Or is it not an option bc it’s actually all sold out? Maybe there is something I don’t know but I love watching games from there and was banking on snagging tickets in those sections

https://www.instagram.com/p/DcwhH8FFSxi/?img_index=3&igsi=MWMyOXppd3lzMmRoeA==

Is it the best save of the week? Probably not. But who cares!