Awards, National Team Call Ups, International Friendlies, World Cup Qualifying Results, and more: Thursday Freedom Kicks
With out a doubt, its been a huge week for the Spirit. Just on Wednesday, there was a week’s worth of news, including awards and national team call ups. Let’s get straight to it.
Three years after moving to defense, Tara the Explorer claims the 2025 NWSL Defender of the Year Award. But that wasn’t her only accolade on the day.
Two Washington Spirit Stars Named to NWSL Best XI Teams (Washington Spirit)
McKeown’s Defender of the Year status earned her spot on the NWSL Best XI First Team. Croix Bethune earned a selection for the Second XI. You can see the full 11 for both teams below.
Washington Spirit Duo Called Up to U.S. Women’s National Team (Washington Spirit)
Adding to her good day, Croix, along with Kate Wiesner, received a call up to the USWNT for the final international window of 2025. For Wiesner, this is her first call up to the senior USWNT. The US will play two matches against the Italian WNT in Florida in late November and early December.
Lining up opposite from Croix and Kate will be their teammate Sofia Cantore, who also received a call up to the Italian WNT for those friendlies.
Midfielder Narumi Miura also received a call up to the Japanese WNT for a pair of upcoming friendlies against Canada.
USA Soccercast, Episode 163: What a fun USMNT window that was! (SSFC)
Are you still basking in the USMNT’s 5-1 victory? Are you still feeling the good vibes off of a successful camp? Check out Donald’s breakdown of who did well and what still needs to be sorted out ahead of next June.
Panama, Curaçao, Haiti book final Concacaf spots for 2026 World Cup (SSFC)
Donald pulled double duty and dug in on how Concacaf qualifying played out on a historic final night. Curaçao will go to the final for the first time ever. Haiti is going to the World Cup for the first time since 1974 and Panama is going for only the second time ever. Suriname and Jamaica still have a chance to qualify through the inter-confederation playoff.
Unfortunately for the Hatian MNT and fans eager to travel and support their team,
Les Grenadiers may have much in stadium support next year due to US entry restrictions. This will likely not be the last time we hear similar stories over the next six months.
Its not a good look when MLS learns about new allegations of misconduct against an executive from the media after they already investigated. It once as it raises questions about just how thorough they were in the first place.
No person should ever be subject to such treatment. The fact that this may have been sanctioned by the team is appalling.
Angel City’s Savy King hopes CPR program will make NWSL ‘safer’ (ESPN)
Between heat issues, the continuation of matches after serious incidents, and players gutting it out though injuries, there were times this year it felt like the NWSL didn’t value player safety. Its good to see Savy King using her influence to try to make the league safer over all.
I’ll end on a bit of a palate cleanser.
I’m still a bit of a sucker for the old bit where Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” is paired with a highlight clip. In this case, where it is paired with the Scotland goal that sealed their victory over Denmark and sent them to their first World Cup since 1998, I think the pairing works really well.
What did I miss?
DC shared a teaser video of sorts on the socials last night, hinting that something is coming today. The video was just some DC traffic at an intersection with a supporter group chant over top of it. I guess we’ll see what they’re planning
What were they chanting? Was it__________?
I guess “song” would be a better description. The one that includes “Vamos United” and what sounds to me like “Buenos Noches” but I am not familiar enough with the chants/songs to know specifically what it is.
I am surprised to learn there is a Wikipedia page for this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vamos_(football_chant)
Oh wow, I would have never expected it to have its own Wikipedia page. But yep, that would be the one they used.
It’s looking like this is just a Metrobus promotion with the other mascots of the DC teams to highlight the ability to do tap-paying with credit cards on Metrobuses now (the ability to do this on Metrorail is already in place).
It’s a good initiative, but reeeeeeeeeeeally not worth the surprise build up.
Fwiw, on Facebook at least, the Mascot video was shared before the teaser video. So not sure if its going to be that or something else
Schedule drop today for 2026.
I saw that Mary Fowler story initially on Instagram, and thought, surely not. Went to look for it at more legit publications. She did in fact claim this happened to her.
The French sporting world needs to get its shit together. This sort of thing is not confined there, but focus inward and rid yourself of this attitude.
Players from diverse backgrounds have made your national teams some of the most potent, talent rich programs on the planet. Get a grip.
I’ve occasionally seen the argument lurking that, in the context of sport, it’s fair game to include racial abuse in the pantheon of shit talking and mind games for fans and players, and that’s definitively horse shit. In what universe is skin tone something acceptable to jeer?
I know this is generally accepted sporting etiquette and human decency, just had to spin out when I saw this again.
Human decency. Perfectly said.
This was appalling.
Anyone here who recently cancelled their season tickets? If yes, did you simply had to complete the online cancellation form? Asking because that is what I did a couple of weeks ago and I was kind of suspicious about how simple it was. Just want to make sure I didn’t miss a step or something.
I cancelled. Was overseas. I said just cancel me, and it was done. I saved and printed the email.
30 years, 96er, and not one wiggle from these people. No thank you. No please stay. Nothing.
Potomac lawyers, you’ve got your club seats. (apologies to any Commentariat who are indeed Potomac Lawyers, it is meant metaphorically).
Thanks. I also printed the screen confirmation. But I received no other confirmation note from the team or even acknowledgement. I remember a few years ago reading a comment about how onerous it had been to cancel season tickets, so I was suspicious about how simple it was on my end.
Goff reporting that Messi is coming! But probably to Baltimore if DCU gets it’s way. Really feels like they care more about their poorly planned dream of Baltimore FC than the team they actually own.
Don’t worry, as soon as the stadium gets build somewhere in Baltimore, they’ll begin to ignore that team too.
This has genuinely been my concern (or lacktherof) for the Next Pro team. It feels more worthwhile for guys like Turner to go play for an established team that is actually doing well rather than just hope that whenever we actually get a team that it will actually be any good.
Many comment that the decisive factor for the Spirit is their remarkable roster depth.
I’ve analyzed their current roster. The hiring of Jonaton Jiraldez on January 9, 2024 and almost simultaneous hiring of interim and now permanent coach, Adrian Gonzalez.
Since that date there have been 22 roster additions.
It’s a remarkable strengthening of the 32 player roster.
This will be several posts.
Many have commented that the decisive factor for the Spirit is their roster depth. Jonaton Giraldez was hired January 9, 2024 and almost simultaneously interior and now full-time manager Adrian Gonzalez.
Since there have been 22 additions to the current roster of 32 players.
It’s a remarkable feat.
Interim that is.
Plot Twist! DC Power have offered to Trinity Rodman. They’re apparently offering significantly more than what the Spirit are capable of offering.
Levien better get his sphincter resized for Kang’s footwear.
I am aghast at this. There is no way she would sign with them (and I’m skeptical of their willingness to pay her), but what a way to embarrass the NWSL into (hopefully) changing their policy!
Here are the new additions in the order acquired.
Krueger, Ratcliffe, Wiesner, Bethune, Brown, Hershfelt, Jessee, Bernal, Stainbrook, Santos, Morgan, Kouassi, Collins, Miura, Maciver, Silla, Abiodun, Bolt, Nankya, Monday, Cantore, Gaines-Ramos.
Ten of the 22 are on current WNT callups and six others have been called up in the recent past.
And what a geographic diversity.
USA, Mexico, Japan, Colombia, Cote D’Ivoire, Nigeria, England, Italy, Scotland, Brazil, Uganda.
The DC teaser video from yesterday was for a full schedule release today. Philly home opener and Miami in Baltimore are confirmed. Season ends November 7 against NYCFC at home
Reading too far into the promotional material provided alongside the schedule: The schedule itself has 4 players on it, Pirani, Murrel (I think? It kinda looks like a combination of Murrel and Schnegg), Hopkins, Bartlet. This implies, at least to me, they plan on keeping Pirani. Notably, Benteke is not on the schedule, but he is featured in the header image on the website for the schedule release.
This analysis would be so much easier if they would actually release the roster decisions already
Adding to this, the Ravens put out a promotional image for the M&T Bank game, and used Priani and Murrel in the image, so no Benteke again.
So what you’re saying is we get to open the season with a 6-0 or 7-0 loss of a curb stomp?
Yep, that was my thought exactly.
And the mostly top-notch clubs and universities they came from: Chicago Red Stars, NC Courage (2), Penn State, U of Georgia, U of Utah, Clemson, Gonzaga, Monterrey, Utah Valley, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City (2), FC Fleury 91, USC, OL Lyoness, U of Pittsburgh, SC Internacionale, FC Nasar, UD Tenerife, Juventus, San Diego State.
Whether a player was traded away or signed as technically a free agent, that’s an impressive pedigree.
But glory in it while you can. NWSL salary cap will force some hard decisions. Whereas Michele may still pull some rabbits out of the hat, the NWSL salary is is largely unavoidable to keep this roster intact.
#Where will Trinity Rodman end up? I’m sure that Kang will move heaven and earth to at least keep Rodman within the Kang empire. Spirit? OL Lyoness? London City Lionesses?
#Will all or any of the Soccer Moms return? Krueger? Hatch? Sullivan? With Emma Hayes having ruled Kruger out for USWNT 2027, would Krueger (3 kids now) decide to hang it up? Though she loves playing for the Spirit, would Hatch decide to move back to Utah for more family support? And Sullivan?
In truth, NWSL should have created a Beckham rule a year ago or more and raise the cap ceiling at the same time. Would that have convinced Naomi Girma to stay? Other exports to Europe?