Just over three months ago, Washington Spirit’s hopes of winning their second NWSL title were ended by Orlando Pride, who’d already bested them twice during the season. Now, the Spirit will get their chance for payback early when they compete against the Champs for the 2025 Challenge Cup.

What is the Challenge Cup?

The NWSL Challenge Cup began in 2020, one of the first “bubble” tournaments developed to allow sports to resume amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally a multi-round tournament involving all ten(!) teams in the league, the Challenge Cup has shifted over the years as the needs of the league and demands on players changed.

The current format is a one-match cup that is intended to pit the previous season’s Champions against the Shield winners. One wrinkle there: unusually for the NWSL, Orlando won both last year. As the runners-up, Washington were asked to compete against them for this year’s trophy.

What should we expect?

Just three months out from the Championship, it’s tempting to predict that what we’ll see on the field will be close to what we saw back in November. After all, both teams had little to improve on and kept their core group of players intact over the offseason. They’re also facing similar conditions: trying to figure out how to balance preseason fitness, the desire to win, and the reality of a long season ahead of them.

Some other factors make this game difficult to judge. First, defender Esme Morgan did let slip during an interview with Hey Spirits that Washington beat Orlando in a closed-door preseason game, which bodes well. On the other hand, as you’ll see below, Washington’s injured player list is more than twice as long as it was for the Championship. To help compensate, they signed three injury-replacement players in advance of this match: midfielder Meg Boade and forwards Margie Detrizio and Kiley Dulaney.

We know this team can adapt and win with limited players, but against such a tough opponent and with many of the healthy players new to the team, it’s feeling like a long shot.

How are the Spirit approaching the game?

Speaking at Spirit Fest and before the match, Spirit players and coaches agreed they are taking this game seriously, as the first trophy they’ll have the opportunity to compete for this year.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge, especially because of how last year ended,” captain Aubrey Kingsbury said. “We want to show the team that we are. We know the rest of the league will be watching, and this kind of sets the tone for the upcoming season.”

Coach Jonatan Giráldez said preseason matches have helped the team to prepare for today, though he admitted his team is still working up to full fitness after the break. Kingsbury said they’ve focused on finishing chances, being more clinical in the box, and avoided an away game drop-off in intensity in the lead-up to this match.

“We’ve created, like, a really competitive, hungry, humble culture in our club where we want to win every title that’s available to us, and that starts [today],” Kingsbury said.

Orlando Pride Availability:

Out: Amanda Allen (SEI – shoulder), Simone Charley (SEI – ankle), Luana (SEI – illness), Aryssa Mahrt (knee), Carson Pickett (foot)

Questionable: Cori Dyke (thigh)

Washington Spirit Availability:

Out: Croix Bethune (SEI – knee), Courtney Brown (hip), Emma Gaines-Ramos (SEI – knee), Rosemonde Kouassi (knee), Lyza Jessee (SEI – wrist), Paige Metayer (knee), Ouleye Sarr (SEI – back), Heather Stainbrook (hip), Andi Sullivan (SEI – knee), Kysha Sylla (knee), Kate Wiesner (hip)

Questionable: Trinity Rodman (back)

Location: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
Kickoff time: 8 p.m. ET
Referee: Alexandra Billeter
Available streaming: Amazon Prime