It was a familiar feeling for many Washington Spirit fans, watching their team dominate the early match against Portland Thorns FC, playing a fun, free style of football but unable to convert their build-up into quality chances. This time, luck was not on their side, and the Spirit lost the first match of their 2026 season 0-1, after conceding a goal by Olivia Moultrie early in the second half.

The Spirit were dominant in the first half, fast-paced and fluid, keeping the Thorns largely on the defensive and playing with tactics that likely presage how they intend to play all season. Rebeca Bernal acted as a single-pivot in the midfield, freeing up Hal Hershfelt to get more involved in the attack. It was a change she enjoyed, saying after the match, “It’s always fun for me to have a little more freedom.”

Meanwhile, wing players, like Gabby Carle, cut in centrally while in possession to try to create a numbers overload and take some pressure off the wide attackers. Unfortunately, the system, at least as executed last night, failed to create a sufficient variety of attacking opportunities. In particular, González pointed out his team’s lack of runs in behind Portland’s back line.

The Thorns seemed to have figured things out by the second half, although Moultrie’s goal in the 52nd minute still felt to come against the run of play. In transition, Pietra Tordin played the ball into the box, with Moultrie running on to receive it. Tara Rudd put a leg out to try to take the ball from her but Moultrie evaded her. With Sandy MacIver rushing out to block a shot, Moultrie hit the ball across the face in the goal to score in the far corner.

Washington picked up the pace to recover and had one of their best chances just after the goal. Gabby Carle, who’d cut inside again, hit a strong cross to the post from just outside the box. Hal Hershfelt slid onto it, but her right-footed shot hit the outside of the net.

Hershfelt had another big chance in the 75th minute, after a typical star performance from Rose Kouassi. Finding the ball along the touchline, Kouassi kept it in play, skimming it just along the line and racing to keep up. She drew three Thorns defenders but was able to fight through them to pick out a now-wide open Hershfelt at the top of the box. Hershfelt aimed for the far top corner of the goal but just missed, hitting the crossbar.

Up next: The Spirit play away against Racing Louisville FC on Friday, March 20.

Three takeaways 

• Spirit debuts. Multiple players took the field for Washington for the first time, including Claudia Martinez and Tamara Bolt, but none impressed as much as Italian Lucia Di Guglielmo, who played a full 90 at left back. Teammates Trinity Rodman and Hal Hershfelt had high praise for her after the match, as did Adrián González. “She is a warrior, always fighting and competing until the end,” he said.
• Sell out crowd. The Spirit saw their seventh sell-out crowd in two years last night, with an attendance of 19,215. Rodman said that from the beginning of the match, “that was the craziest I’ve ever felt the energy,” and Di Guglielmo said she enjoyed the warm welcome.
• Captain Tara. After serving as vice captain for much of last year, Tara Rudd wore the captain’s armband for the first time last night. González has said there will not be just one captain this year, favoring a leadership group, but it appears that Rudd will take on a bigger leadership role in Aubrey Kingsbury’s absence. González also mentioned Hershfelt as part of the group, which he said will include up to eight players, who will fulfill different roles on-and-off the field.

Box Score

NWSL Regular Season –  Game 1

Washington Spirit 0

Portland Thorns FC 1 (Moultrie 52′)

Lineups

Washington Spirit (4141): Sandy MacIver; Lucia Di Gugliemlo, Tara Rudd (C), Esme Morgan, Gabby Carle (Paige Metayer 85′); Rebeca Bernal (Deborah Abiodun 85′), Leicy Santos (Claudia Martinez 71′), Hal Hershfelt; Trinity Rodman, Rose Kouassi (Tamara Bolt 85′), Gift Monday (Sofia Cantore 64′)

Portland Thorns FC (433): Morgan Messner; Reyna Reyes, Sam Hiatt (C), Isabella Obaze, M.A. Vignola; Jessie Fleming, Cassandra Bogere (Shea Harvey 61′), Olivia Moultrie; Reilyn Turner (Maddie Padelski 61′), Mimi Alidou (Alexa Spaanstra 85′), Pietra Tordin (Sophia Wilson 77′)

Misconduct Summary

Washington Spirit:  none

Portland Thorns FC:  none

Lead photograph courtesy of the Washington Spirit