The 2019 Washington Spirit season found themselves on the outside of the playoffs, looking in. They lost six matches by one goal and missed the playoffs by only four points. A team that, in the early years of the NWSL, played at the top of the table and made it to within penalty kicks of winning the whole thing; hasn’t made the playoffs since that loss to Western New York Flash, now the NC Courage.
Washington came into 2020 with a young team (average age of 24), midfielder, and US international Rose Lavelle anchoring the side offensively and promise for the future. All good plans fell by the wayside last season, but in 2021 the Spirit have added veteran leadership and exciting young talent. Now they have something that they’ve missed for a while: high expectations.
2020 Season
Challenge Cup: Second place – lost to the Sky Blue FC in the quarter-finals
Fall Series: Third place – 7 points
Within 8 minutes of the start of their Challenge Cup campaign, Washington showed the league their potential. Against a Chicago Red Stars side that made the 2019 NWSL Championship final, Lavelle made a perfectly timed pass to forward Ashley Hatch who cut through the Chicago backline. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher deflected the shot away, but Lavelle cleaned it up to put the Spirit ahead 1-0. They only lost to the undefeated preliminary round from the NC Courage; on their way to a second-place performance on two wins, a draw, and a loss.
In their second-to-last preliminary round match, against the Portland Thorns, Lavelle left with an ankle injury. To make matters even worse, captain and midfielder Andi Sullivan tore a meniscus in the next match, missing the rest of 2020. With Sullivan’s absence and Lavelle’s minimal time as a substitute during the quarter-finals; Washington still had a chance to move on but lost to Sky Blue FC on penalty kicks.
The Fall Series was a show of consistency and depth for Washington. They played without their captain, and Lavelle who moved to Manchester City of the Women’s Super League before the Spirit traded her rights to OL Reign. Anchoring the side was the 2019 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year Aubrey Bledsoe. In front of her, the center back combo of Paige Nielsen and Samantha Staab. All three played every minute of the four Fall Series matches. They gave up the second-fewest goals of the short campaign (4).
What the fall side lacked was the offense. Without Sullivan’s distribution and movement, Washington didn’t get into as many opportunities to score. They ended the series with the second-fewest goals scored (5). That combination of staunch defense and lagging offense earned them a third-place finish. Their $10,000 charity winning for third place went to local charity DC SCORES, a group that uses the sport to help children in need.
Offseason moves
Washington’s first offseason moves strive to continue their 2020 consistency. The center back partnership of Nielsen and Staab signed on for two years. Joining them are Fall Series regular midfielders Dorian Bailey and Bayley Feist, and forward Hatch. Others staying on for 2021 are forwards Kumi Yokoyama, who scored a goal in the Fall Series, and Ashley Sanchez, who had one assist in eight starts.
They also made two big moves to strengthen this core. The first being veteran US fullback Kelley O’Hara. Washington made an effort to bring O’Hara east, from Utah, after the 2020 Challenge Cup, but no offer enticed the Spirit enough to make the trade. O’Hara got her wish to move to Washington D.C. for $75,000 in allocation money and possible future considerations contingent on how she plays. That’s the big question with her arrival is the impact on the field. O’Hara dealt with injury issues limiting her Challenge Cup season, and in recent years it limited her NWSL minutes.
Off the field, her presence pays dividends. The two-time World Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist is a strong leader that can help a young, talented, side continue their growth.
The second move also involves a US international center back/fullback in Emily Sonnett. Former NWSL Champion winning Sonnett is a 27-year-old that’s focused on taking the place of O’Hara in the national team picture. Her acquisition did come at a price. Midfielder Meggie Dougherty Howard, multiple draft picks and $140,000 in allocation money went to Orlando for Sonnett. Howard came into her own with Washington in 2020; earning the captain’s armband twice in the Fall Series, with Sullivan’s absence. The move makes sense with the return of Sullivan from injury.
While both moves aren’t directly connected with improving their offense, the NWSL draft filled the gap.
Draft Picks
Round 1 – Trinity Rodman – Forward – Washington State
Round 1 – Tara McKeown – Forward – USC
Round 2 – Anna Heilferty – Forward – Boston University
Round 3 – Sydney Schneider – Goalkeeper – UNC Wilmington
Round 4 – Mariana Speckmaier – Forward – Clemson
Number two overall pick Rodman was set to join the Washington State soccer program. Rodman signed on in 2019 but never suited up for the Huskies. A combination of her CONCACAF U20 Championship performance, and the COVID-19 global pandemic that shut much of the country down just a week after their 4-1 championship final win against Mexico; enticed her to instead go professional. In the tournament, she scored nine goals and six assists. In the championship game, she scored two alone.
With the veteran team that surrounds her, she has a big opportunity to boost Washington’s attack.
Washington is far ahead of the rest of the NWSL with retaining their draft picks. While many players are finishing their collegiate careers, postponed from last year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Spirit have four already in camp. Joining Rodman in camp is goalkeeper Schneider, midfielder Heilferty and forward Speckmaier.
2021 Season
It’s easy to see why expectations are so high. Washington lost a dynamic midfielder in Lavelle but gained two US international defenders on an already strong backline, the return of Sullivan, who joined the April USA camp this week, and the addition of the strongest offensive weapon in the NWSL draft in Rodman.
So far in the preseason, head coach Richie Burke has put Staab, Nielsen, Sonnett, and O’Hara on the defensive backline. Although their last result, against Sky Blye FC, didn’t go their way in the preseason, Washington’s focus is likely on engraining the two new US defenders into the system. Since both are allocated players, and in the April US camp for friendlies in Europe; they won’t see a competitive match with Washington until at least the second match on April 16. Even then, it’s just three days after the US-friendly against France, so a full 90 from one or both is unlikely, depending on how many minutes they get overseas.
Rodman’s addition to the offense is the second storyline to watch out for in 2021. She has experience playing alongside top talent as a US Youth International, but will is transfer over to a top league full of international strength from around the world? Luckily for her, and Spirit supporters, she’ll be able to learn as she grows. Expect Hatch to start in the striker position, but for Rodman to gain increasing minutes throughout the year. The Challenge Cup will be a great way for Rodman, and her three fellow rookies, to get minutes in real competition.
When looking around the league, Washington comes in as one of the more consistent sides of 2020. They’ve made their strength of defense even stronger and are growing as a unit.
Washington Spirit begins their Challenge Cup schedule on April 10, against the 2019 NWSL Championship winning NC Courage. The match is live on Paramount+ at 3:30 p.m. ET. Check BWS throughout the year for more coverage of Washington and the NWSL.
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