The NWSL is back, baby! In a few short hours, the Washington Spirit will take the field in Seattle in their new yellow kits, beginning what could be a new era for the team.

For Washington, this game will be the first look at a new system under interim head coach Adrián González, who is holding down the fort until Barcelona’s Jonatan Giráldez arrives in the summer. The two are expected to implement a more possession-based, less direct style of play than the system that saw the Spirit finishing outside of playoff qualification last year. The Spirit have kept their their preseason matches shrouded in mystery, so predictions about tonight’s formation and performance are largely speculation, but with most 2023 starters returning, Casey Krueger, Croix Bethune, and Brittany Ratcliffe are likely to be the only new faces in the Starting XI.

Like the Spirit, Seattle Reign FC are going through something of a rebrand. They’ve cast off their affiliation with Olympique Lyonnais and heralded the return of their queen crest, possibly the best in the NWSL. Not all of their offseason changes have been positive, though. The Reign lost some of the star power that took them to the 2023 Championship game, when Megan Rapinoe retired and Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett left the team as free agents. Though Laura Harvey’s side have brought in some international talent to try to make up for their losses, it’s not apparent they’ve done enough to improve their attack, which already put up one of the worst expected goals numbers in the NWSL last year.

This match-up might feel familiar to fans: it will be the third year in a row that Washington and Seattle have played their season opener against each other. The Spirit won each of the two previous games, both at Washington’s home stadium and relatively back-and-forth in terms of play, as the teams forced each other off of their game plans. With the number of changes both teams have gone through this offseason, tonight’s match could be similarly tumultuous, but Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury seemed undaunted.

“Personally, I love playing the Reign. I think I play really well against them,” Aubrey Kingsbury said. “They’re a little less chaotic than some of the other teams, so I think it makes a better first match of the season. Hopefully we can ease into it and play the style of football we want to play.”

Key Player: Andi Sullivan

Already a leader on the team, this season places more pressure on Andi Sullivan as the only midfielder with more than one year of professional experience. An expert at reading the game and her opponents, Sullivan has always been key to Washington’s ability to control a game. Her performance tonight will be a good test of how quickly the team is adapting to the new system.

Watch Out For: Bethany Balcer, Jordyn Huitema

Two of Seattle’s returning attackers, Bethany “Boats” Balcer and Jordyn Huitema scored nearly 40 percent of the team’s 2023 goals between them. Whether they play as winger-and-striker or dual center forwards, Balcer and Huitema will be the dangerous tip of the Reign’s attack and pose a serious challenge for a Spirit back line that’s lost their veteran center back Sam Staab.

Challenges: Trinity Rodman will sit out this match after receiving a red card in the final game of 2023. Without her, the team will have big gaps to fill both in chance creation and scoring and, somewhat surprisingly for a forward, on defense. This match will give the team an early chance to try to work around those gaps in anticipation of later Rodman absences for international duty.

Previously: In last season’s home opener, Washington narrowly defeated the Reign, 1-0. Later in the season, the two teams played to a scoreless draw.

Seattle Reign Availability:

Out: Alana Cook (knee), Veronica Latsko (leg)

Questionable: None

Washington Spirit Availability:

Out: Civana Kuhlmann (SEI – knee), Trinity Rodman (suspension)

Questionable: None

Location: Seattle, WA

Kickoff time: 6 p.m. ET

Referee: Natalie Simon

Available TV: Monumental Sports Network 2

Available streaming: NWSL+