Washington Spirit will face English team Arsenal Women’s Football Club for the first time ever, in a friendly match this afternoon, the first in a short series of games played by Women’s Super League teams on U.S. soil.

Continuing the series, Chelsea FC will play NJ/NY Gotham FC on Monday night. The two WSL teams will then face off in Washington, DC, in a double header with the Spirit’s next regular season match on August 25.

Spirit head coach Jonatan Giráldez said games with teams from different countries and cultures would help his team improve their in-game decision making and adaptability. Though still on a mid-season break and without their full team, Washington are preparing to defend – and preferably improve – a third-place rank in the NWSL when the regular season returns. In the weeks leading up to this match, Giráldez said he has ramped up his players’ training to increase their fitness and has had them work on being more clinical in front of goal.

Important to note for Spirit fans: this game could mark the first appearance of Leicy Santos in a Spirit uniform. Santos, whose signing was announced in April, has finally joined the team and, in Giráldez’s words, is “ready to compete.” She and Gabby Carle will be recognized for their Olympic achievements before this match, but the Spirit’s US international players will not be available, instead taking “deserved holidays,” Giráldez said.

Arsenal are one of the top teams in the WSL, and like most top European teams, is stuffed with international stars, including Beth Mead, Katie McCabe, and Stina Blackstenius. They finished third in 2023-24, just 5 points behind the champs with 50 total. The biggest obstacle for Arsenal in today’s match is fitness. The team is still relatively early in their preseason, with their first regular season match not coming until September 22.

Key Player: Andi Sullivan

Still operating without her regular midfield partners Hal Hershfelt and Croix Bethune, Andi Sullivan will be tasked with holding down the midfield and keeping her team organized in the face of a superstar opponent. Luckily, Sullivan is skilled at both; her vision and ability to read a game make her a force in any Spirit victory.

Watch Out For: Alessia Russo

Even on a team of stars, Alessia Russo stands out for her goal scoring abilities. She led the team with 12 goals and 4 assists in their 2023-24 season.

Arsenal Women FC Availability: Official availability reports were not released for this match. The below list of players out for this match is based on information previously released by the team.

Out: Mariona Caldontey (excused absence), Laia Codina (excused absence), Emily Fox (excused absence), Amanda Ilestedt (pregnancy)

Washington Spirit Availability: Official availability reports were not released for this match. The below list is based on information from Giraldez’s press conference on Friday and the team’s SEI list.

Out: Croix Bethune (excused absence); Lyza Bosselmann (SEI – wrist); Anna Heilferty (SEI – knee); Hal Hershfelt (excused absence); Civana Kuhlmann (SEI – knee); Casey Kreuger (excused absence); Trinity Rodman (excused absence)

Location: Audi Field, Washington, DC
Kickoff time: 2 p.m. ET
Available streaming: DAZN