Welcome to Wednesday. I may not live in the DMV anymore, but I still engage in the tradition of staying up late to watch election coverage. I’m pretty sluggish this morning so let’s just get straight to the headlines.

Spirit turn the page to playoffs, with familiar stakes and major absence (WJLA)

The playoffs start Sunday and for the second year in a row the Spirit will face Portland at Rowdy Audi. Can’t wait for Sunday to get here.

Emma Hayes names almost everyone to USWNT preliminary roster (SSFC)

With the Concacaf W Championship and World Cup qualifying quickly approaching and Emma Hayes announced a preliminary roster. If a player has been in the USWNT player pool or rumored to be in the player pool, then they are probably among those included on the list. Trinity Rodman and Tara Rudd represent the Spirit among the hopefuls. Hayes will cut the roster down to 23 later this month.

Women’s Nations League draw: the road to Los Angeles 2028 (Yahoo Sports)

This year’s UEFA Women’s Nation’s League will also serve as Olympic qualifying ahead of LA 2028. The winners of the four League A groups will secure spots in the Summer Games. Four players will represent the Spirit in League A. Esme Morgan and England will take on France, Austria, and Portugal. Sofia Cantore, Lucia Di Guglielmo, and Italy landed in a group with Denmark, Iceland, and Wales. Sandy MacIver and Scotland will face Germany, Netherlands and Sweden.

USMNT Injuries: Every Player Doubtful, Ruled Out of Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals (SI)

The USMNT will also be in action later this month in a pair of matches against Haiti. A number of key players are recovering from injuries and may or may not be available for the clash. With the expanded player pool from the previous international window, some of these losses may not hurt as much as they could of.

2026 FIFPRO Women’s World 11 finalists: Only two NWSL players make shortlist (USA Today)

International awards are a little funny to me. They’re always biased towards European teams or Europe-based players. Barbra Banda and AKB are definitely worthy of being on the shortlist. I do find it hard to believe that Temwa Chawinga didn’t make the list.

Data Analysis: The Most Foul-Mouthed & Negative MLS Fandoms (Action Network)

If you had told me to pick which list DC United fans would be on when discussing their team, most negative or most positive, I would have been very wrong.

Gainbridge Super League: October review (Northland Soccer Journal)

The Gainbridge Super League is reaching its final stretch and its the playoff contenders are separating themselves from those who will have to wait until next year and a clear contender for champion is emerging,

All Good Things… (The Mane Land)

Sad to see the Mane Land wind down their coverage after a dozen years of covering Orlando soccer.

I’ll end with something fun.

I always enjoy seeing the photos from the Caps annual Halloween party because they’re always fun to see. The Spirit may be in contention to challenge them for Halloween creativity.

What did I miss?