After earning the number two spot in the NWSL las week, Washington Spirit now have to defend it. The challengers, 2023 Shield winners San Diego Wave FC, are fighting to stay playoff relevant and desperate for a win in their home stadium tonight.

The Spirit had a big win last week and look to have successfully begun the project of integrating new players into the team, but they know better than to rest on their laurels. The Spirit try to stay focused on the game at hand, rather than thinking about the standings, according to Brittany Ratcliffe.

“We’re very detail-oriented, especially since Jona’s gotten here,” she said. “Things like playing the right foot, like making the right run, like making the right pass: just, like, little nuances like that, that’s what we focus on. And I think in the grand scheme of things, on Sunday, on game days, if we can do the little things right, then the big things will come.”

It’s been a rough go of things for the Wave, who struggled to adjust to changes in the league this year, and especially since the firing of coach Casey Stoney seem to have lost their identity. They’ve scored only two goals in their last five matches and are currently in 12th place in the NWSL with only three wins to their name. Spirit coach Jonatan Giráldez warned that the Wave’s weaker position in the standings could be what makes them dangerous.

“We know that they are not in the best situation,” he said. “They need to win, especially when they play at home, so we have to, you know, to be very smart in terms of exactly what we have to do, in possession, out of possession.”

San Diego also have a number of players capable of heroic individual performances, like Naomi Girma, Kailen Sheridan, and Alex Morgan. It would also be foolish to discount the new-coach bounce. The Wave are playing their second match under Landon Donovan and could experience a fresh burst of energy and camaraderie to see out their season strong.

Key Player: Rosemunde Kouassi

Rosemunde Kouassi made her NWSL debut last week and immediately made an impact on the pitch, drawing two fouls to put the Spirit in good set piece positions and winning four duels in under 20 minutes. With Croix Bethune out tonight, Kouassi is likely to get more playing time, and with the way she’s been playing and connecting with her new teammates, a goal or assist feels inevitable.

Watch Out For: Naomi Girma

Perhaps the Wave’s biggest strength is Naomi Girma, easily in contention for best center back in the world. Girma has excellent positional sense and an ability to stay calm and focused in just about any situation. Her defensive work nearly shut-out the Spirit in the team’s last match-up, and it took quick thought and action by Bethune to get just one goal by her.

Challenges: As both teams undergo changes, their performances on the field could look very different than the film on either team. The Spirit will have to be strong in their identity and prepared to problem-solve no matter what the Wave throw at them.

Previously: San Diego and Washington played to a 1-1 draw in D.C. in June.

San Diego Wave FC Availability:

Out: Kyra Carusa (thigh), Savannah McCaskill (lower leg), Jaedyn Shaw (thigh), Kaitlyn Torpey (lower leg),

Questionable: Kimmi Ascanio (lower leg), Danny Colaprico (knee)

Washington Spirit Availability:

Out: Croix Bethune (knee), Lyza Bosselmann (SEI – wrist), Anna Heilferty (SEI – knee), Waniya Hudson (lower leg), Civana Kuhlmann (SEI – knee), Chloe Ricketts (knee), Kate Wiesner (thigh)

Questionable: none

Location: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
Kickoff time: 8 p.m. ET
Referee: Joshua Encarnacion
Available TV: Monumental
Available streaming: Paramount+, NWSL+