Spirit players top 2026 jersey sales, Sean Nealis injury update, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks
Happy Friday! It’s looking like a beautiful day, and we have plenty of soccer ahead for the weekend. I am doing dual duty right now: finishing my Freedom Kicks and trying to keep a huge crow away from the mourning dove nest on my porch. It already got one egg! I hope the dove parents are ok.
Washington Spirit Earns Top-Performing Kit Launch in NWSL (Washington Spirit)
When the people ask for cherry blossoms, you give them cherry blossoms! In addition to having the overall best-selling jersey, the Spirit had six players in the top 10: Trinity Rodman at #1, Hal Hershfelt at 3, Tara Rudd at 4, Esme Morgan at 5, Rosemonde Kouassi at 6, and Leicy Santos at 8.
D.C. United Defender Sean Nealis Undergoes Shoulder Surgery (D.C. United)
More bad news out of the FC Dallas match: Nealis is expected to be out for six to eight weeks.
With a win finally under the Spirit’s belt and a couple weeks off until their next match, we took a swing at an early-season review over at Hey Spirits:
CONMEBOL first federation to call for Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president (The Athletic $)
Yes, because Infantino’s tenure as FIFA president has been so successful and popular, federations are already calling for his re-election despite his not announcing a run. Hooray.
How new rule is tearing apart H.S. soccer teams across America ahead of 2026 World Cup (NJ.com)
Young players will soon be required to choose between playing for their high school teams and MLS Next.
USA vs. Japan, 2026 USWNT Friendlies: Scouting Japan (Stars and Stripes FC)
The USWNT play the first of three matches against Japan tomorrow. I’m curious how Japan will perform under their interim coach and also a little skeptical of the value of three matches against the same team.
You can also consider me skeptical of this report. Cincinnati?
USMNT’s Tyler Adams (quadriceps) back for Bournemouth-Arsenal (ESPN)
Tyler Adams regaining some fitness is always good news to me.
An ailing dog, goal and ‘inappropriate’ celebration: MLS player’s wild week (USA Today)
I’m not one to get offended by a silly goal celebration, but if I’m Preston Judd’s sick dog, I would prefer to be honored in a more… honorable way.
White House wants FIFA to change transgender policy, with Women’s World Cup guarantees on the line (The Athletic $)
Sorry to share another Athletic article, but this infuriated me earlier in the week. These policy changes are wholly unnecessary and harmful to both female athletes and the trans community at large. I really can’t understand this petty hatred.
Finally, your match schedule for the weekend. For Audi Field information, we’re adding the DC Defenders back in; they play their first home match of 2026 this weekend. I’m also heeding the calls to add US Soccer and Old Glory DC games to the listing. We’ll see how it goes.
| Teams | When | Where | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loudoun United vs. Louisville City | Fri., Apr. 10 at 6:30 p.m. | Leesburg, VA | ESPN+ |
| DC Defenders vs. Houston Gamblers | Sat., Apr. 11 at 12 p.m. | Washington, DC | ESPN |
| Old Glory DC vs. NE Free Jack | Sat., Apr. 11 at 4 p.m. | Quincy, MA | ESPN+ |
| USWNT vs. Japan | Sat., Apr. 11 at 5:30 p.m. | San Jose, CA | TNT, etc. |
| NE Revolution vs. D.C. United | Sat., Apr. 11 at 7:30 p.m. | Foxborough, MA | Apple TV |
| DC Power FC vs. Tampa Bay Sun | Sat., Apr. 11 at 7:30 p.m. | Tampa, FL | Peacock |
Have a good weekend, and share more Kicks in the comments!
The Old Glory game should also be on MASN, but I’ll check that when I get home from work tonight.
It sucks that the Loudoun game starts at the same time as the coverage for the Artemis II splashdown tonight.
This is disgusting. Petr Vlachovsky who has been guilty of secretly filming the players on his womens team in the dressing room before and after matches can still theoretically coach in Europe outsde of the Czech Republic where he has a 5 year ban. Also how the hell was it not a lifetime ban period in all locations?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7167630/2026/04/07/a-coach-secretly-filmed-his-women-players-undressing-yet-he-can-still-work-in-football/
There’s not enough separation within UEFA or FIFA for the women, there should be a lot more women in charge of those spaces at an oversight level. As is, it’s just kinda dog walking toxic PR situations with no real urgency about accountability or safer outcomes.
I imagine there’s not a lot of female personhood understanding in those vital roles
Seeing this article be updated and pop up again about the best passes of all time.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7175123/2026/04/06/yamal-barcelona-atletico-pass-best-ever/
The greatest pass I can think of for DCU is Rooney’s run back, tackle, and then 50 yard dime to Lucho. I’m sorry I’d left that game early with my dad and brother, but we had to walk back to the metro station and wanted to make sure we didn’t miss the last train. That was back when the trains weren’t running after like 10 PM. What are some of the other great passes in DCU history?
Every other third pass made by Marco Etcheverry.
Etcheverry was indeed extraordinary at the languid ping
Branko Boskovic to LEWIS NEAL against Columbus.
Came to my mind.
Seems like a fevered dream.
Annie, count me as one of those people who think that playing Japan 3 consecutive games is a wise move. Here’s why I think that…
Regardless of the coaching upheaval (which may be a good thing or not–we’ll see), Japan is–next to Spain–the best technical woman’s side on the planet. First, they’ll be a good test prior to the WC (although there are other sides that would be as well–Japan isn’t unique in that regard).
Second, I think the US has two tactical situations that they have to improve their ability (and decision-making) to cope with: What happens when there is no space in the final third? What happens when the midfield is flooded–can the default US midfield manage?
I’m of the belief that a 4-3-3 with a midfield of Heaps, Lavalle, and Coffey is going to struggle against teams that are strong in possession (like Spain…and Japan). And it’s going to struggle against teams that flood midfield. Coffey is outstanding but against a Spain or Japan, I think we’re going to need two pivot players there, not just one. I think Heaps no longer fits a 4-3-3–not an A-mid, not a D-mid, not an outside mid. And Lavalle–for all her artistry–also has big off games at times (or can’t stay healthy), And when your strategy against a low block is “get the ball to Rose and she’ll do something clever” that is no strategy.
I think these 3 games against Japan with the base/core USWNT are a deliberate effort by Hayes to challenge the US by facing a team that hits us at our weak spot. And if the team struggles for 3 games because the midfield is being outplayed, it allows her to point to the Olympics and then this series and say “OK, I’ve gotta make some changes, we’re being outplayed in midfield by the best teams.” Easing Heaps out would be a tough one but I think it’s necessary–Japan will be the test. Seeing if the 4-3-3 can work against Japan–or if she needs to evolve a different approach (3-2-3-2 maybe), again–Japan will give her the evidence one way or the other.
And why 3 games against the same team? First, if the US lose badly in one game, it’s easy for players and others to just view it as “just one game.” If our midfield suffers in 2 or 3 matches, that’s pretty damning. Also, it allows her to try a couple of different schemes/tactical approaches in seeing what works best.
That’s my 2 cents anyway.
It’s actually pretty simple. Lindsey Heaps is not an effective player in the modern game, or at least not a foundational player for a top program. Frankly, she only really ever was effective in tandem with Sam Mewis, who was a generational talent as a midfield shuttler. Mewis, Heaps, and Lavelle were rotated for situations with Julie Ertz covering them.
Making her captain and continuing to act like she’s an important building block was a mistake.
At this point, not playing Coffey and Hutton together is a crime against soccer and time. Those two are so imperious that, even in their limited chances to be a double pivot together, already look like a four woman midfield all on their own. They’re also more likely to score, either one, than Heaps would be if she just loitered in the box and didn’t defend at all. They’re so good at limiting access to the backline that you can more safely play the defenders who are best at distribution, and, at that point, you just need a CF who can unlock a defense when they retreat.
Hayes definitely wanted this series to figure it out. And if she hasn’t already figured out that Sonnett is too frantic, technically deficient, and brittle to do possession defending, and that Heaps is a telephone pole… she gonna this week.
I think Sonnett is a swiss army knife. I wouldn’t use a swiss army knife as my first choice to cut. Or saw. Or file. But Sonnett–in a tournament with condensed schedules–is a valuable asset. Just not as a starter.
I agree with you about Coffey and Hutton. That tandem (Coffey-Hutton) would also allow you to play a 3-person backline with wingbacks as a possibility.
I also think we’re not going to see the Triple Espresso. I think we’ll move away from the 4-3-3 to get an extra body or two in midfield. I don’t know if Swanson will be back in time. And everyone is putting too much faith/assumption that Sophia Wilson is just a light switch that you flick on and “ta-da” she’s back as a goal scorer. They’re not giving credit to how the ladies playing in their absence were not placeholders.
Alyssa Thompson can absolutely start, for sure, but, given Trin’s health and form concerns, still think Wilson and Swanson will be too good to not play a lot when they come back online.
Sears and Sentnor, and to some extent Shaw and Cooper, are there to devastate with the five sub potential.
Sears in particular is just friggin unfair when we’ve had some other superstar run at their left back for 60+ minutes. When she receives the ball and has a second to assess, you can just feel the left side of the defense say “please don’t.”
I’m not too worried about our offensive options. I do want Hayes to not now too much to “connection to the prior era” narrative
The US Women’s Eagle XVs are in Pacific Series tomorrow at 7 PM EDT on Paramount+ as they take on New Zealand in their first match of the series. The game is at Heart Health Park in Sacramento CA.