Washington Spirit have already clinched a spot in this year’s NWSL playoffs, but they still face a tough fight through the final five matches to secure a home match, beginning with tonight’s game against Angel City FC.

Coming off of a Monday night draw with the Portland Thorns, Angel City (6-4-11) currently sit in 10th place in the NWSL standings and can’t afford to miss out on points in their final home match. Not to mention, a win against the second-place Spirit would boost the confidence of this team that has a lot of talent but has struggled to stay consistent this year under head coach Becki Tweed.

The Spirit (14-2-5) are looking to bounce back from a big loss in Kansas City last week, but there are a few factors working against them. In addition to having to travel for the second week in a row, injuries continue to pile up. Trinity Rodman, Ouleye Sarr, and Casey Krueger, among others, are all unavailable for tonight’s match. Head coach Jonatan Giráldez said all three of those absences are precautionary, and to be fair, this isn’t a bad time to give the stars some rest. But last week’s match showed that Washington still struggle to create chances when their typical starters aren’t on the field.

Key Player: Paige Metayer

Once the defensive midfield partner to Andi Sullivan, Paige Metayer has played five consecutive games at right back, and the transition is WORKING for her. Operating on Washington’s wings has given Metayer room to use more of her speed, outracing opponents both on progressive carries and defensive tackles. With Washington short on healthy attackers, look for them to rely on Metayer to create some chances.

Watch Out For: Alyssa Thompson

Since the NWSL returned from its Olympic break, Alyssa Thompson has been on another level. She’s scored five goals in her last five matches – more than doubling her career total. She’s also shown a remarkable accuracy that could make her difficult for Washington to shut down. Those five goals come from just eleven shots, seven of which were on target.

Challenges: We’ll refer you to the Availability Report, below.

Previously: Washington defeated Angel City 4-2 in May, coming back from a deficit by scoring three goals in seven minutes.

Angel City FC Availability:

Out: Jun Endo (SEI – knee), Merritt Mathias (knee), Ali Riley (SEI – upper leg)

Questionable: None

Washington Spirit Availability:

Out: Croix Bethune (SEI – knee), Lyza Bosselmann (SEI – wrist), Anna Heilferty (SEI – knee), Civana Kuhlmann (SEI – knee), Casey Krueger (hip), Chloe Ricketts (knee), Trinity Rodman (back), Ouleymata Sarr (lumbar), Lena Silano (suspension), Kate Wiesner (thigh)

Questionable: None

Location: BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Kickoff time: 10 p.m. ET
Referee: Alyssa Nichols
Available streaming: Prime Video
Watch party: The Brighton