Key Transactions
The Spirit’s most recent transaction came just under a month ago, inking 2021 draftee Tara McKeown to a two-year contract on May 15. A product out of the University of Southern California, McKeown joined the side after finishing her final spring season with the Trojans following her selection at the 2021 NWSL Draft at eighth overall.
Recent Form
The Spirit sit just behind the Pride in the NWSL standings, sitting at second in the table with a 2-1-1 record through the first three weeks of the campaign. Both of Washington’s victories have come in the past week, taking a 2-1 victory over Houston at BBVA Stadium last Wednesday before battling to a 1-0 win at OL Reign on Sunday.
Who’s Hot
Ashley Hatch leads the Spirit with two goals through their first four contests, followed by Ashley Sanchez with one finish to her credit. Three members of the side have recorded an assist in the campaign in Tori Huster, Trinity Rodman and Natalie Jacobs, while goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe currently sits in fourth in NWSL with 13 saves on the year.
Head-to-Head
Sunday will serve as the third time the Pride and Spirit have faced off in the calendar year, with Orlando sitting unbeaten against Sunday’s opposition in 2021. The Pride took a 1-0 victory in NWSL Challenge Cup play on April 21 at Exploria Stadium thanks to a game-winner from Sydney Leroux, followed by a 1-1 draw in the season opener for both sides on May 16 in The City Beautiful.
Rasmussen College Fun Fact
Alex Morgan has scored in four-consecutive matches for the Pride after the NWSL reverted Sunday’s game-winning finish to the U.S. WNT forward as opposed to teammate Marta. With that, Morgan could match a personal record on Sunday in the nation’s capital if she were to score in her fifth-consecutive match, a feat she reached in the 2017 season from Aug. 5 to Aug. 26. With the goals, Morgan became the first player in NWSL history to score a goal in each of their first four matches of a season.
