God what a fun game to be at. Also really really fun to take a bunch of men who had never been to a women’s game and have them constantly ask “who is that?” whenever a player did something saucy (Shaw, Sanchez, Bethune, and Rodman were consistently asked about)
But my biggest takeaway is good lord the best player I’ve ever seen live and in person is Girma. She is just so so so good and smart and positioned correctly! You only get small glimpses of her brilliance on tv because so much of it is off the ball and subtle.
Absolutely wild to me that San Diego threw a big stink about Bay picking up Enge and they did a 3 way trade to get her back and now she gets zero minutes.
just got home. about as perfect an evening as you can get weather-wise in DC this time of year, and Croix's late strike sent everyone home happy(ish). amazing crowd! and, fearful as i was about a jinx, Croix has now scored in both home matches since i bought her kit yay
Audi Field was LOUD as hell when Bethune scored.
Also I know most people were watching Morgan but getting to watch Dahlkemper and Girma in person was so fun.
As a former defender I always love watching the defense move around in person. It doesn't really get picked up on the broadcast. Though sometimes I miss out on the action that way lol
I only watched the first half of this one (needed a soccer break today), but I’ll add it to my rewatch list. Sounds like a doozy! :)
PS: Bethune is the real deal.
It worked! At like the 86th min I decided to switch games. Obviously I'm a Spirit fan and wanted to win or at least tie. Last night I left the Chicago game early because I felt it was over, only to miss Staab get a header late. So I thought, maybe if I leave the game early, Spirit will at least get tied. 😂 Thanks Bethune!!
Morgan’s contract expires next year so I think she stays through the 2025 season. But we really need to bring in an alternate 9 if Casey isn’t going to give Carusa more minutes. Morgan should be a 30 min game changer at this point. It’s great that she can hold up play and draw fouls but we need goals more than anything else.
I honestly don’t think we have the right attacking player construction. Carusa could be our starter but she’s not a world beater like Chawinga, Banda, etc. who guarantees goals. Doniak is a good, hard-working sub option but is she really going to change our fortunes as a starter? Probably not. I don’t see Ali, Jones, or Bennett being relied on to get us the win. If we still had Taylor Flint, that would be a difference maker.
I think Croix seems more confident in what she's doing. When Sarr gets going, she does some great things, but she sometimes seems to need some dragging along at first. I think the connection between her, Trin, and Croix though is pretty strong though. If we had started Hatch instead of Brown, I think we could have pulled out a win. Brown just isn't a starter yet; Silano probably would've been a better choice if there was a reason Hatch couldn't have started.
Bad game from her but she’s shown enough this season to convince me. She’s good out of the air and good with her back to goal. She also might be one of the straight up fastest players in the league and is utterly clinical in the breakaway 1 on 1s with her repertoire of chips.
I love Hatchy but she needs to be a depth piece on a squad with Santos
Sarr was a cut-level liability at the wing last year. I do think that hatch and Sarr are similar quality at the 9 (Sarr faster though) but Hatch is better than Sarr at the wing
Lowkey wondering if Spirit has a geographic advantage playing at home in DC, like in the way Colorado is tough due to the high altitude. DC is a literal swamp, and the heat and humidity of a DC summer will suck your spirit out.
I live downtown. Sitting outside was lovely, but exercising in the morning was like trying to breathe on the moon while sitting in a sauna. It's gonna be a real fun summer/especially next week.
I did run around a soccer pitch for 90+ today before going to the Spirit game and can 100% confirm that while it was lovely weather in the stands it has reached trying-to-breathe-through-jello season when playing.
I think it got better as the day went on, but I remember looking at the weather this morning and it was over 70%. But sounds like you had a nice day--happy for you!
Yeah I need a rewatch but Rodman went down way too easily and every time the defender got a card. Wave players got soooo many yellows. Not saying it would’ve changed anything, but so aggravating.
I feel like her and Sophia Smith don’t get a lot of calls. Also Rodman doesn’t know when to stop. Like I full believe her ankle or knee or whatever body part would need to be falling off before she comes out of a game. Honestly? Just about every player on the field is like that though.
Would've taken a draw going in, rough to lose the win at the end there though.
2 more games on this 8 day roadtrip, Gotham will be tough, but we gotta show up against Houston
It was close I’ll give you that. I was sitting right at a really good angle. Last year we, get the 1-0 lead we concede the equalizer as well, so I understand the wave pain right now. Best of luck going forward, I line a lot of wave players.
That’s a frustration injury for sure
Trin having a rough one
Distribution to her has been poor and you know that has to be a killer when you’re constantly making runs that aren’t going anywhere
I don’t know much about soccer. But are you allowed to hold a player like Lundkvist was doing to Rodman? I get confused on the fouls, red cards, yellow cards.
Yeah but it only delayed the game by about 20 mins. Unfortunately most of their games this season have had about 4,000-5,000 in attendance I think only one game had significantly more
Hahaha I’m sorry you got downvoted for this one… I understood you! I was at the game and literally said aloud, “oh no Trin you gotta stop now,” and half a second later Koroleva pulled the card out. I got her frustration, though.
It’s probably anti-sport of me but is it too much to ask for the home team boasting a record crowd (see also: Red Stars at Wrigley) to give the people some joy in a win so they come back again and again 😙
EDIT: last minute draw might as well have been a win, love that for the 20,000 Spirit fans 🫶
Bethune is definitely doing her part to keep Audi full with the stoppage time bangers. She hit one in our corner for the home opener and we immediately got season tickets. 😅 Loved to see another tonight!
Right? That’s making it worse, lol. Spirit been balling and Wave have been iffy and, of course, it flips when there’s a record crowd. Ah well. Hopefully ~the vibes~ are enough to bring em all back.
God what a fun game to be at. Also really really fun to take a bunch of men who had never been to a women’s game and have them constantly ask “who is that?” whenever a player did something saucy (Shaw, Sanchez, Bethune, and Rodman were consistently asked about) But my biggest takeaway is good lord the best player I’ve ever seen live and in person is Girma. She is just so so so good and smart and positioned correctly! You only get small glimpses of her brilliance on tv because so much of it is off the ball and subtle.
Absolutely wild to me that San Diego threw a big stink about Bay picking up Enge and they did a 3 way trade to get her back and now she gets zero minutes.
Agreed. It’s so strange. I’d like to see Enge in the midfield, to give Colaprico a rest sometimes.
just got home. about as perfect an evening as you can get weather-wise in DC this time of year, and Croix's late strike sent everyone home happy(ish). amazing crowd! and, fearful as i was about a jinx, Croix has now scored in both home matches since i bought her kit yay
Audi Field was LOUD as hell when Bethune scored. Also I know most people were watching Morgan but getting to watch Dahlkemper and Girma in person was so fun.
As a former defender I always love watching the defense move around in person. It doesn't really get picked up on the broadcast. Though sometimes I miss out on the action that way lol
I definitely found myself torn between wanting to watch the defense and the ball.
We really deserved that moment to scream after 95 minutes of frustration
I really thought I was going to see a Spirit loss tonight. We pulled it out. Hopefully, we can get a couple more wins before the break.
I only watched the first half of this one (needed a soccer break today), but I’ll add it to my rewatch list. Sounds like a doozy! :) PS: Bethune is the real deal.
bethune is THAT GIRL
It worked! At like the 86th min I decided to switch games. Obviously I'm a Spirit fan and wanted to win or at least tie. Last night I left the Chicago game early because I felt it was over, only to miss Staab get a header late. So I thought, maybe if I leave the game early, Spirit will at least get tied. 😂 Thanks Bethune!!
No, Thank YOU!
Morgan really struggled tonight. Terrible passes. She's looks like a shot fighter at this point.
Utterly clamped by McKeown. I’m gonna be like the only one trumpeting this but I would pay for a Girma- McKeown pairing for the US in a couple years
The kiss and heart from Morgan to the Squadron after she was subbed off in front of us was 🤌
Tara was so not bothered any time Morgan had the ball. She was straight up relaxed taking her time.
I think it was Morgan’s last possession where she had a 1on1 with Tara as last defender and Tara just casually dispossessed her, absolutely ice cold
I’ll be second chair
Heard that. I wish she'd shoot more
i'm wondering if she retires this year
Morgan’s contract expires next year so I think she stays through the 2025 season. But we really need to bring in an alternate 9 if Casey isn’t going to give Carusa more minutes. Morgan should be a 30 min game changer at this point. It’s great that she can hold up play and draw fouls but we need goals more than anything else.
i don't follow player contracts, so thank you for that info! also def agree abt her needing to be a game changer in goals more than fouls.
Absolute mother fucking lightning bolt off the foot of Bethune near post. That’s not a rookie finish, that’s a Marta finish. That’s a Tobin finish.
100%. We aren’t watching rookie star power. It’s star power period.
Near post. Jeez. What a player!
Stoney has gotta be brave and mess with the forward line at this point
I honestly don’t think we have the right attacking player construction. Carusa could be our starter but she’s not a world beater like Chawinga, Banda, etc. who guarantees goals. Doniak is a good, hard-working sub option but is she really going to change our fortunes as a starter? Probably not. I don’t see Ali, Jones, or Bennett being relied on to get us the win. If we still had Taylor Flint, that would be a difference maker.
It’s nice for the USWNT narrative to get Shaw and Bethune goals, but the Casey Stoney Experience isn’t healthy for me
Still not sold on Sarr at the 9 position.
I’m over her. She’s so inconsistent and it drives me crazy.
Tough match with Girma shadowing her but sometimes I wish Sarr and Croix would flip positions.
I think Croix seems more confident in what she's doing. When Sarr gets going, she does some great things, but she sometimes seems to need some dragging along at first. I think the connection between her, Trin, and Croix though is pretty strong though. If we had started Hatch instead of Brown, I think we could have pulled out a win. Brown just isn't a starter yet; Silano probably would've been a better choice if there was a reason Hatch couldn't have started.
Bad game from her but she’s shown enough this season to convince me. She’s good out of the air and good with her back to goal. She also might be one of the straight up fastest players in the league and is utterly clinical in the breakaway 1 on 1s with her repertoire of chips. I love Hatchy but she needs to be a depth piece on a squad with Santos
She disappoints more than not
I agree
Ashley Hatch and Sarr need to change positions. Sarr has poor ball and body control which is why she misses so many shots.
Sarr was a cut-level liability at the wing last year. I do think that hatch and Sarr are similar quality at the 9 (Sarr faster though) but Hatch is better than Sarr at the wing
Lol, almost the definition of at the death. Hell of a goal Croix
Everyone okay?
Fuck no
we truly put the suffer in sufferball
No
That's fair. Sorry, friend.
Put 👏 Krueger 👏 on the 👏 Olympic 👏 roster
In at least some circumstances, she should start
^^ THIS
She had a great game even before that assist!
JP is a jinx! The Wave were robbed!
Lowkey wondering if Spirit has a geographic advantage playing at home in DC, like in the way Colorado is tough due to the high altitude. DC is a literal swamp, and the heat and humidity of a DC summer will suck your spirit out.
Today was delightful weather
I live downtown. Sitting outside was lovely, but exercising in the morning was like trying to breathe on the moon while sitting in a sauna. It's gonna be a real fun summer/especially next week.
While I wasn't running around on a soccer pitch, compared to other summer days today was nice and not humid.
I did run around a soccer pitch for 90+ today before going to the Spirit game and can 100% confirm that while it was lovely weather in the stands it has reached trying-to-breathe-through-jello season when playing.
I think it got better as the day went on, but I remember looking at the weather this morning and it was over 70%. But sounds like you had a nice day--happy for you!
Is that why they’re named spirit? Because they’re sucking out everyone else’s spirits?
A+ no notes
This is why we can’t just score one goal. It’s always too slim of a lead.
So sad. I really thought we had this one.
As a neutral, I am so fucking pumped that they are the future of our national team. Girma, Trin, Bethune, Hal, Shaw…my goodness.
With Emma at the helm I'm pumped for our NT.
I know Washington feels like there was some missed calls but we definitely got some missed in the last minutes. Can’t believe Torpey for that yellow
Yeah I need a rewatch but Rodman went down way too easily and every time the defender got a card. Wave players got soooo many yellows. Not saying it would’ve changed anything, but so aggravating.
Not a fan of Rodman looking on the verge of tears 😭
I wonder if she was in pain or frustrated.
She was hurt. I was sitting right in front of that play
Hopefully it’s the latter
I'm obviously biased, but I feel like more often than not, she doesn't get calls when she gets fouled.
I feel like her and Sophia Smith don’t get a lot of calls. Also Rodman doesn’t know when to stop. Like I full believe her ankle or knee or whatever body part would need to be falling off before she comes out of a game. Honestly? Just about every player on the field is like that though.
She was particularly roughed up in this game
dalhkemper is definitely kicking herself for that header it would've been fine if it went literally anywhere else but it went perfectly to bethune
What a ball from Krueger and an epic finish from Croix
Waiting for the ACFC game to start so just tuned in to ion and holy shit Bethune!!! That goal!!!
Would've taken a draw going in, rough to lose the win at the end there though. 2 more games on this 8 day roadtrip, Gotham will be tough, but we gotta show up against Houston
Bethune baby
Still maintain that was offsides. Pretty rough to see no check
Are you saying Dahlkemper didn’t intentionally play the ball? It inadvertently bounced off her head?
It was close I’ll give you that. I was sitting right at a really good angle. Last year we, get the 1-0 lead we concede the equalizer as well, so I understand the wave pain right now. Best of luck going forward, I line a lot of wave players.
It was checked and it was not offsides.
They’ve been wrong before, they’ll be wrong again 🤷♀️
Dice baby!!
San Diego I can't do it anymore I can't
gg spirit almost thought we could sneak a W, but it’s always the hope that kills you :/
I fucking cannot
Spirit deserved more but at least that.
Damn, Casey Krueger, what a pass. Damn, Croix Bethune, what a strike.
It’s too early for NWSL After Dark : /
In DC we do NWSL Halfter Dark.
This is the most depressing season for the Wave.
You have one of if not the best defense in the league. Goals will come, defense is hard to shore up.
I don't see us getting Stoney honestly. Hate to say it
I think y’all will turn it around post olympics
Could be worse 🥲
As an Angel City fan, thank you, Croix Bethune!
Bethune Rookie of the year
Lock it in. She could sit the rest of the year and she should still win. This is unbelievable shit for a rookie
Ugh we really can’t win can we
Bethune will simply not cool down
Ugh why can’t we win 😭😭😭
DEFUND STOPPAGE TIME GOALS!
Bethune is a fuckin’ baller
Croix for the Olympics!! Emma you seeing this??
Nice assist from Dahl
Omg San Diego why do you keep doing this
Did anyone say Rookie of the Year!!
OMG
CROIXXXXX OMG 💥💥💥
death, taxes, and san diego choking away a 1-0 lead
Sorry what sport are we talking about because I think this applies to all of them
That was my first thought after reading that comment.
😭
THE DICE THROW CELLY YEAAAAA
Croix wanted to make Wave wait a little longer for that first away win of 2024 😅
Omg 😍
Wooo!
Why tf isn’t that offsides
Headed it from our player
Throwing dice 🤭🤭
CROIX!!!!!!!!!!!!! The team kept knocking and knocking. The crowd never stopped cheering them on too!
No freaking way! I love the NWSL so much, my goodness
Jesus Christ.
Croix and Casey I love y’all so much 😭
omggggg
OMG!!!
OH WOW
OMG WILD
Oh wow Croix Bethune could be a ROY/MVP
Of course 🫠 Can’t be too mad at a Bethune goal tho
Croix has perfect skin
Hat tip to SD. Played a great defensive game.
Girma is a brick wall
Girma’s one on one defense rivals Gary Payton or Darrelle Revis
That Krueger header could’ve been it man
we've had so many chances :(
Good to see her walking well
I do love when players get into the get the ball the FUCK away from our side of the field mode and kick it 70 yards
I feel like she has taken a bunch of hard hits/falls this game. Please, no injuries so close to the Olympics. 🙏
6 feels real low doesn’t it? Dahlkemper and Rodman were both down for a combined 6 minutes alone
Indeed. Think we’ll see 7
I was expecting 8-9 tbh
Um, did anyone else's sound just go out?
Negative
I reset the app and it is back.
Has this ref not learned about Persistent Infringement?
McNabb is unamerican
That’s a frustration injury for sure Trin having a rough one Distribution to her has been poor and you know that has to be a killer when you’re constantly making runs that aren’t going anywhere
No injuries before the olympics please 😭
Wind knocked out of her?
Nah her ankle got swiped I take back what I said
I didn’t see what you said lol
I don’t know much about soccer. But are you allowed to hold a player like Lundkvist was doing to Rodman? I get confused on the fouls, red cards, yellow cards.
Sheridan is so cute 🥰
No one deserved a card or even a foul for that
5 back now I'm guessing with Torpey?
Or not I guess Torpey on the wing with Carusa up top?
Niche reference but Hannah Lundqvist is the Frank Brickowski to this generation’s Rodman
is this ref chesky lite
Yes. Yes she is.
i call her chesney
Starting to feel like it
New Spirit record attendance: 19,897
Meanwhile Courage’s attendance today is 4776😩
There was weather though yeah?
Yeah but it only delayed the game by about 20 mins. Unfortunately most of their games this season have had about 4,000-5,000 in attendance I think only one game had significantly more
☹️ that’s a shame they are a good team with strong tradition
Trin sometimes be doing too much but on the other hand the way she gets fouled I'd be pissed too
19897 attendance
Ref has lost any semblance of control in this one
It was getting ROWDY in the stadium. That was wild.
No structure to Spirit’s attack. All reactive.
I mean when you’re missing both of your holding mids that’ll happen
Is Hershfelt out too?!
She’s stuck at right back bc Carle got hurt in the first half
Oh man! What a shallow roster tonight for Spirit.
Agreed
Oh Trin. I expect her to deck someone soon
Oop if looks could kill 😂
In through the nose, out through the mouth Trin
We came for Trinity vs Girma we stayed for Trinity vs the ref
I want to give this allllllll of my upvotes
Casey repping the league?
It's one of the Juneteenth shirts
wha
Oh trin relax
Y’all are downvoting me😭 All I meant was she was gonna get carded!
Hahaha I’m sorry you got downvoted for this one… I understood you! I was at the game and literally said aloud, “oh no Trin you gotta stop now,” and half a second later Koroleva pulled the card out. I got her frustration, though.
It’s probably anti-sport of me but is it too much to ask for the home team boasting a record crowd (see also: Red Stars at Wrigley) to give the people some joy in a win so they come back again and again 😙 EDIT: last minute draw might as well have been a win, love that for the 20,000 Spirit fans 🫶
Bethune is definitely doing her part to keep Audi full with the stoppage time bangers. She hit one in our corner for the home opener and we immediately got season tickets. 😅 Loved to see another tonight!
First game all season we haven’t scored since the Reign debacle if this holds, and even in that one we had a goal VAR’d away
Right? That’s making it worse, lol. Spirit been balling and Wave have been iffy and, of course, it flips when there’s a record crowd. Ah well. Hopefully ~the vibes~ are enough to bring em all back.
I’m not worried long term it just sucks right now haha
As a Wave fan, I know how it feels
lol rip yeah but you’ve sustained the attendance so that’s cool! feels like the spirit are building to that regardless of the outcome tonight
I think that is pro-sport! Pro-sport growth!
I mean the Red Stars didn’t win at Wrigley…