Washington Spirit’s campaign for the 2025 NWSL Championship begins tonight! In their first match of the year, the 2024 runners-up face a less organized opponent in the Houston Dash, but don’t expect an easy win for anyone on NWSL Opening Weekend.

The Spirit return with most of their Starting XI from the Championship match intact, although their injury problems have followed them into this new year. They made some smart moves in the offseason to fill in potential gaps, particularly in central defense with players like Narumi Miura and Rebeca Bernal, and the depleted squad earned some confidence with their win in the Challenge Cup last week. The first few matches of the season could be shaky, though, while star players work to return to full health. The early-season returns of Trinity Rodman and Croix Bethune should solve a lot of problems, though.

For more on the Spirit’s offseason moves and preparation for 2025, check out our Season Preview.

After a last-place season in which the coach disappeared mid-season and the star player asked to be traded away, Houston Dash needed to make some big moves in the offseason. This included hiring a new President of Women’s Soccer, Angela Hucles Mangano and new head coach, Fabrice Gautrat, who will be jointly tasked with turning around the team’s play and club culture. They also brought in some talented new players, like Messiah Bright and Yazmeen Ryan, to inject some creativity into their sluggish attack.

The new-look Dash haven’t had a lot of time to get organized, but they will have the element of surprise on their side. No one’s exactly sure how Gautrat’s first squad as head coach will play, and if history tells us anything, it’s that NWSL opening weekend can get weird.

Spirit center back Tara McKeown said the team was able to get some preseason match tape of Houston to study but has mainly focused their preparations on being adaptable.

“A lot of this preseason has been us focusing on adapting throughout the beginning of the game, so whether they’re doing exactly what we thought or not, being able to switch and understand how to break them down,” she said. “So going into this game, we have that mindset that we might know what they’re doing, but if we don’t, we’ll be able to figure it out and just come together as a group.”

Key Player: Leicy Santos

The Spirit will need some creativity and dynamism to spark their attack, and who better to provide that than Leicy Santos? The Colombian midfielder scored directly on a free kick in the Challenge Cup last Friday and may need to channel some more of that magic to put Washington on top tonight.

Watch Out For: Yazmeen Ryan

Anyone who’s watched the last few U.S. Women’s National Team friendlies should have an idea of how dangerous Yazmeen Ryan can be. Acquired by the Dash as a free agent, Ryan is a quick player and adept passer who Houston will be relying on to bypass Washington’s back line and create chances.

Challenges: The Spirit’s injury problem is most apparent in the forward line, with Rose Kouassi and Ouleye Sarr out and Trinity Rodman likely on limited minutes. They’ll need to rely on their depth in attack and take every chance they can to score.

Previously: Last season, Washington beat the Dash handily in both of their match-ups.

Houston Dash Availability:

Out: Heather Hinz (knee), Diana Ordóñez (SEI – shoulder), Kiki Van Zanten (SEI – foot)

Questionable: None

Washington Spirit Availability:

Out: Courtney Brown (hip), Emma Gaines-Ramos (SEI – knee), Lyza Jessee (SEI – wrist), Rosemonde Kouassi (knee), Paige Metayer (D45– knee), Ouleye Sarr (SEI – back), Heather Stainbrook (hip), Andi Sullivan (SEI – knee), Kysha Sylla (knee), Kate Wiesner (hip)

Questionable: Croix Bethune (knee)

Location: Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX
Kickoff time: 8 p.m. EDT
Referee: Matt Thompson
Available TV: Monumental Sports Network
Available streaming: NWSL+