Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals FC: Preview, time, and how to watch
Washington Spirit (5W-0D-3L) have a lot to prove tonight when they play Utah Royals FC (1-1-6) at home, a location where they’ve had a surprising number of losses this year.
It should be a contest whose outcome is easy to predict, pitting a team that’s scored 13 goals and won five matches against one whose four goals have only netted them a win and a draw. But recent performances by the Spirit have called that into question. In their past three matches, they’ve allowed nine goals, including two from Chicago — possibly the only team in the league with a meeker attack than Utah’s.
Midfielder Heather Stainbrook said the team has worked on trying to improve their performance by “kind of going back to our fundamentals, marking in the box, things like that…. We’ve been tweaking it in practice and feeling really confident, so going forward it should be… should be better.”
The Spirit should also be aided by the return of defender Casey Krueger and midfielder Hal Hershfelt from injury (although both are likely on managed minutes today) and head coach Jonatan Giráldez from suspension. They’ll still need to improve their coordination both in and out of possession to avoid the defensive mistakes that have hurt them in recent weeks.
For their part, the Royals brought some new talent into the squad this year, adding Tatumn Milazo and Bianca St-Georges, among others to a group that already included Ally Sentnor, Claudia Zornoza, and Mandy McGlynn. Despite that, they’ve struggled on both sides of the ball. They currently sit at the bottom of the league both in shots on target and goals per shot while boasting middling defensive stats.
Still, Giráldez was cautious about his own team’s chances:.
“[Today’s] going to be a good test because we know how difficult is Utah,” he said. “They like to high press. They are a combinative team. So we need to have a perfect game to have chances to win [today].”
Key Player: Rose Kouassi
The hero of last weekend’s game against Chicago, Rose Kouassi showed she has all the skills needed to be an elite attacker: dribbling, passing, positioning, and finally — finally — finishing. In just four matches, Kouassi has scored one goal and made two assists and made herself an absolute menace to opposing fullbacks.
Watch Out For: Ally Sentnor
Ally Sentnor is the strongest part of the Royals’ weak offense. The first pick of the final NWSL draft, she had three goals and four assists last season and earned the attention of the USWNT, for whom she made a big splash in this year’s She Believes Cup.
Challenges: Washington need to improve their defense to prevent more goals scored against them. Improving coordination in the box or stopping more attackers from entering it could both be effective.
Previously: The Spirit won both contests against Utah in 2024.
Utah Royals FC Availability:
Out: Mikayla Cluff (concussion), Macey Fraser (knee), Cloe Lacasse (SEI – knee), Alex Loera (knee), Tatumn Milazzo (SEI – knee), Paige Monaghan (foot), Kaleigh Riehl (calf)
Questionable: None
Washington Spirit Availability:
Out: Emma Gaines-Ramos (SEI – knee), Lyza Jessee (SEI – wrist), Paige Metayer (D45 – knee), Esme Morgan (hip), Trinity Rodman (excused absence), Leicy Santos (knee), Ouleye Sarr (SEI – back), Andi Sullivan (maternity leave), Kate Wiesner (hip)
Questionable: None
Location: Audi Field, Washington, DC
Kickoff time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Available TV: Ion
Esme Morgan out with a hip injury. That is unexpected.
Yeah, they can’t seem to bring back one player without losing another
Is Sarr truly out for the season? Seems incredible if so
She was doing some rehab in France and just posted earlier this week that she’s back in DC, which seems like an encouraging sign. I believe Giraldez was unwilling to provide a timetable at the most recent press conference.
Thanks, Annie, for always responding promptly to questions
Question for Annie, do you think there’s a legit case for Bernal being the best defender in the league at this point? The eye test from what I’ve seen of her is S tier, even if the team overall has been conceding.
I don’t know how her stats are, considering she’s been playing a couple different roles, but I think there is a case that could get stronger if she gets more time in one spot.
Oh, shit, Hal’s back!
Damn Utah hits on the counter against the run of play.
Not a great sign!
Spirit get sucker punched. Part of it is the funny old game truism, but I also am pretty much done with the 3-5-2. Basically not ideal for anything but stodgy play and direct counters for relegation threatened teams
To elaborate, I’m basically of the mind that the only good 3 back system is a 3-4-3, and that’s provided very specific personnel. If we can actually fill out the positions, I always prefer a 4-3-3. Excellent in every phase, especially if you have a DM who knows their role.
I’m stodgy I prefer a traditional 4-4-2…though the way that middle 4 is organized is variable….or a 4-4-1-1.
You can grind very effectively with a well drilled 4-4-2, but it will not win anything major.
I need more of that energy from Hatchy
Yes the Spirit level it!
Hatch whips up a batch of crazy sauce with that goal
If only DCU had a player like that….
We could probably get Hatch for the cost of a McNaughton. But obviously wouldn’t be able to register her
Now they’re cooking
Yes, this game state feels more appropriate for a home game against Utah
NM
And damn…Utah levels it…I don’t like that this is feeling like the Angel City game…
I can’t help but feel there’s a lot of confusion about roles and responsibilities through phases of play, which makes sense when you consider Giraldez is trying to survive till Rodman and Sarr are back by playing a formation I doubt he believes in
Think the solution might well be fall back into a typical 4-2-3-1, get Bethune forward, the central midfielders into a double pivot, get Krueger in second half, and try to get a grip
I think I’d agree with this. It’s why communications and passing seem to be slightly off so much of the time.
So averaging a goal every 5.5 minutes would be 16 goals by the end of 90 (not factoring in added time)…
If anyone is interested Moses Nyeman got the start tonight for Loudoun and has picked up a yellow. Miami has the 1-0 lead.
Though Loudoun just tied it.
Unfortunately fear you have to be Iniesta good to survive in the modern game with his height and physicality
It sucks seeing Bill Hamid in goal for Miami FC…..He just came out and defended a cross from Nyeman.
Damn….Utah takes the lead….
Ok, enough’s enough, gotta ditch whatever this gameplan is
The lineup doesn’t really understand what they’re doing, gotta start playing something more cohesive, even if it’s dirt simple
I especially don’t understand the use of Bethune in this setup.
Think it’s sorta lazy to just chalk it up to the backline. We have strong defenders back there. We also have decent enough attackers to beat Utah, anyway. We have concepts of a midfield.
Looks like we’re playing a 4-3-3 now, and Krueger, while rusty, is improving our control by providing real width. Still are two potential unanswered goals from turning this around, let’s hope
Gonna be a million minutes of stoppage, probably
The amount of time video reviews take in this league is beyond ridiculous.
Jona’s going to get another red card if he keeps throwing things in the technical area.
13 mins of stoppage…what is this the 2022 World Cup?
and the Loudoun game gets a minimum of 9 mins of stoppage at the end of 2nd half.
Krueger! It’s 3-3.
Unlike Will and Talonesque, I was at the match. It was crazy. Morris at right back and Boade at defensive midfielder can’t cut it. But Kruger ET al stabilized defense for second half. Having Kruger and Hershfelt full time ought to clean up defense. Plus Esme Morgan and Rebeca Bernal at defensive midfielder dropping into back line as needed.