2021 Washington Spirit season

Last updated

Washington Spirit
2021 season
President Ben Olsen
Head coachvacant
Stadium Maryland SoccerPlex
Audi Field
Segra Field
NWSL 3rd
NWSL Playoffs Champions
Challenge Cup Group stage
Top goalscorerLeague: Ashley Hatch (10)
All: Ashley Hatch (11)
←  2020
2022  →

The 2021 Washington Spirit season was the club's 11th season of existence, and its ninth in the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States.

Contents

The season began with the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup on April 9, 2021 followed by a 24-match regular season. The regular season concluded on October 31, 2021. [1] The Spirit made its first playoff appearance in five years on November 7, 2021, taking down the defending league champion North Carolina Courage in a quarterfinal match at Audi Field. On November 14, Washington took down two-seed OL Reign in Tacoma to advance to the 2021 NWSL Championship Game in Louisville, KY. The following Saturday, November 20, the Spirit earned its first league title with a 2-1 win over the Chicago Red Stars after extra time.

Background

The 2020 season was the Washington Spirit's seventh season. The season was slated to begin on April 18, 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, the NWSL season was cancelled due to the pandemic. The club participated in the NWSL Challenge Cup and the NWSL Fall series which were held in lieu of the regular season. The Challenge Cup was held behind closed doors at the neutral venue of Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. The Spirit reached the Quarterfinals of the Challenge Cup, and finished in third place in the Fall Series. Combined across all matches, the Spirit had the second best record of matches played during the 2020 season.

Club

Roster

As of September 11, 2021. [2]
No.Pos.PlayerNation
1 GK Aubrey Bledsoe Flag of the United States.svg  United States
2 FW Trinity Rodman Flag of the United States.svg  United States
3 DF Sam Staab Flag of the United States.svg  United States
5 DF Kelley O'Hara Flag of the United States.svg  United States
6 DF Emily Sonnett Flag of the United States.svg  United States
7 MF Saori Takarada Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
8 FW Averie Collins Flag of the United States.svg  United States
9 DF Tegan McGrady Flag of the United States.svg  United States
10 FW Ashley Sanchez Flag of the United States.svg  United States
11 MF Jordan DiBiasi Flag of the United States.svg  United States
12 MF Andi Sullivan Flag of the United States.svg  United States
13 FW Bayley Feist Flag of the United States.svg  United States
14 DF Paige Nielsen Flag of the United States.svg  United States
16 MF Julia Roddar Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
17 FW Kumi Yokoyama Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
18 GK Devon Kerr Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
19 MF Dorian Bailey Flag of the United States.svg  United States
20 FW Mariana Speckmaier Flag of Venezuela (state).svg  Venezuela
21 MF Anna Heilferty Flag of the United States.svg  United States
23 DF Tori Huster Flag of the United States.svg  United States
24 MF Chinyelu Asher Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
25 DF Karina Rodriguez Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
27 FW Tara McKeown Flag of the United States.svg  United States
28 DF Morgan Goff Flag of the United States.svg  United States
30 DF Camryn Biegalski Flag of the United States.svg  United States
31 GK Sydney Schneider Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica
33 FW Ashley Hatch Flag of the United States.svg  United States

Management and support staff

RoleName [3]
ManagerVacant
Technical Staff Coach Flag of the United States.svg Kris Ward
Goalkeeping coach Flag of England.svg Paul Crichton
High Performance Director Flag of the United States.svg Michael Minthorne

Non-competitive

March 6, 2021Preseason Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish 0–6 Washington Spirit West Palm Beach, Florida
Report Hatch Soccerball shade.svg18' (Sanchez), 23', 39' (Feist)
Feist Soccerball shade.svg27'
Rodman Soccerball shade.svg51', 71'		Stadium: Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus
March 13, 2021Preseason Washington Spirit 5–0 IMG Academy West Palm Beach, Florida
O'Hara Soccerball shade.svg29'
Sanchez Soccerball shade.svg54' (pen.)
Feist Soccerball shade.svg64' (Sanchez), 69'
Sonnett Soccerball shade.svg83' (Sanchez)		 Report Stadium: Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus
March 20, 2021Preseason Washington Spirit Canceled Orlando Pride West Palm Beach, Florida
Report Stadium: Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus
Note: Canceled due to false positive Coronavirus disease 2019 tests at Spirit training camp.

Competitive

NWSL Challenge Cup

Standings

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 NJ/NY Gotham FC 422053+28Qualification for the Championship
2 North Carolina Courage 421198+17
3 Orlando Pride 41213305
4 Washington Spirit 411234−14
5 Racing Louisville FC 402246−22
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Results

April 101 North Carolina Courage 3–2 Washington Spirit Cary, North Carolina
3:30 PM EDT (UTC-4)
 Report
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 2,300
Referee: Alyssa Nichols (Mississippi)
April 15, 2021 (2021-04-15)2 Washington Spirit 1–0 Racing Louisville FC Washington, D.C.
7:00 PM EDT (UTC-4)
 Report
Stadium: Audi Field
Referee: Danielle Chesky (Virginia)
April 21, 2021 (2021-04-21)3 Orlando Pride 1–0 Washington Spirit Orlando, Florida
7:00 PM EDT (UTC-4)
 Report
Stadium: Exploria Stadium
Referee: Alex Billeter (Florida)
April 27, 2021 (2021-04-27)4 Washington Spirit 0–0 NJ/NY Gotham FC Washington, D.C.
7:00 PM EDT (UTC-4)
 Report Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 2,039
Referee: Karen Callado (California)

NWSL

Standings

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Portland Thorns FC 2413563317+1644 NWSL Shield
2 OL Reign 2413383724+1342 Playoffs – Semi-finals
3 Washington Spirit (C)2411672926+339 Playoffs – First round
4 Chicago Red Stars 2411582828038
5 NJ/NY Gotham FC 2481152921+835
6 North Carolina Courage 249692823+533
7 Houston Dash 2495103131032
8 Orlando Pride 2477102732−528
9 Racing Louisville FC 2457122140−1922
10 Kansas City 2437141536−2116
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions

Results

May 16, 2021 (2021-05-16)1 Orlando Pride 1–1 Washington Spirit Orlando, Florida
7:00 PM EDT (UTC-4)
 Report
Stadium: Exploria Stadium
Referee: Karen Callado (California)
May 21, 2021 (2021-05-21)2 Racing Louisville FC 2–0 Washington Spirit Louisville, Kentucky
7:30 PM EDT (UTC-4)
 Report
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 6,011
Referee: Katja Koroleva (Washington)
May 26, 2021 (2021-05-26)3 Houston Dash 1–2 Washington Spirit Houston, Texas
6:30 PM CDT (UTC-5)
 Report
Stadium: BBVA Stadium
Attendance: 2,241
Referee: Natalie Simon (Florida)
May 30, 2021 (2021-05-30)4 OL Reign 0–1 Washington Spirit Tacoma, Washington
4:00 PM PDT (UTC-7)
 Report
Stadium: Cheney Stadium
Attendance: 2,537
Referee: Samantha Martinez (California)
June 6, 2021 (2021-06-06)5 Washington Spirit 1–1 Orlando Pride Washington, D.C.
2:00 pm EDT (UTC-4)
 Report
Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 5,199
Referee: Adorae Monroy (Washington)
June 19, 2021 (2021-06-19)6 Chicago Red Stars 1–1 Washington Spirit Bridgeview, Illinois
7:00 PM CDT (UTC-5)
 Report
Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium
Attendance: 3,296
Referee: Karen Abt (Colorado)
June 26, 2021 (2021-06-26)7 Kansas City 1–2 Washington Spirit Kansas City, Missouri
7:30 PM CDT (UTC-5)
 Report
Stadium: Legends Field
Attendance: 5,157
Referee: Laura Rodriguez (Colorado)
July 2, 2021 (2021-07-02)8 Washington Spirit 0–1 Chicago Red Stars Leesburg, Virginia
7:00 PM EDT (UTC-4) Report Roddar Soccerball shade.svg33' (o.g.)Stadium: Segra Field
Attendance: 3,201
Referee: JC Griggs (Virginia)
July 10, 2021 (2021-07-10)9 Washington Spirit 2–0 North Carolina Courage Washington, D.C.
7:00 PM EDT (UTC-4)
 Report Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 4,929
Referee: Matt Franz (Virginia)
July 18, 2021 (2021-07-18)10 Washington Spirit 2–3 NJ/NY Gotham FC Leesburg, Virginia
5:00 PM EDT (UTC-4)
 Report
Stadium: Segra Field
Referee: Karen Callado (California)
July 25, 2021 (2021-07-25)11 Racing Louisville FC 0–2 Washington Spirit Louisville, Kentucky
3:00 PM EDT (UTC-4) Report
Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 6,422
Referee: Samantha Martinez (California)
August 1, 2021 (2021-08-01)12 Chicago Red Stars 3–1 Washington Spirit Bridgeview, Illinois
5:00 PM CDT (UTC-5)
 Report
Stadium: SeatGeek Stadium
Attendance: 2,534
Referee: Natalie Simon (Florida)
August 7, 2021 (2021-08-07)13 Washington Spirit 0–1 Portland Thorns FC Leesburg, Virginia
7:30 PM EDT (UTC-4)
 Report
Stadium: Segra Field
Attendance: 2,899
Referee: Katja Koroleva (Washington)
August 13, 2021 (2021-08-13)14 Houston Dash 2–2 Washington Spirit Houston, Texas
7:30 PM CDT (UTC-5)
 Report
Stadium: BBVA Stadium
Referee: Laura Rodriguez (Colorado)
August 22, 2021 (2021-08-22)15 Washington Spirit 2–1 Orlando Pride Washington, D.C.
4:00 PM EDT (UTC-4)
 Report
Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 6,002
Referee: Tori Penso (Florida)
August 29, 2021 (2021-08-29)16 Washington Spirit 0–0 North Carolina Courage Washington, D.C.
5:00 PM EDT (UTC-4)
 Report
Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 4,554
Referee: Greg Dopka (Illinois)
September 4, 2021 (2021-09-04)17 Portland Thorns FC 3–0 Washington Spirit Portland, Oregon
7:30 PM PDT (UTC-7) Report Stadium: Providence Park
Note: The NWSL declared a forfeit due to breaches of medical protocols by the Washington Spirit. Portland received a 3–0 win according to FIFA guidelines.
September 12, 2021 (2021-09-12)18 Washington Spirit 0–3 OL Reign Washington, D.C.
5:00 PM EDT (UTC-4) Report Stadium: Audi Field
Note: The NWSL declared a forfeit due to breaches of medical protocols by the Washington Spirit. OL Reign received a 3–0 win according to FIFA guidelines.
September 26, 2021 (2021-09-26)19 Washington Spirit 2–1 Kansas City Leesburg, Virginia
5:00 PM EDT (UTC-4)
 Jenkins Soccerball shade.svg8'Stadium: Segra Field
Attendance: 3,295
Referee: Karen Abt (Colorado)
October 6, 2021 (2021-10-06)21 NJ/NY Gotham FC 0–0 Washington Spirit Chester, Pennsylvania
7:00 PM EDT (UTC-4)Stadium: Subaru Park
Attendance: 9,532
Referee: Ismir Pekmic (Minnesota)
October 9, 2021 (2021-10-09)22 Washington Spirit 3–0 Racing Louisville FC Washington, D.C.
7:30 PM EDT (UTC-4)
Stadium: Audi Field
Referee: Laura Rodriguez (Colorado)
October 14, 2021 (2021-10-14)20 North Carolina Courage 1–2 Washington Spirit Cary, North Carolina
7:30 PM EDT (UTC-4) Speck Soccerball shade.svg60'
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 3,742
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk (Georgia)
October 16, 2021 (2021-10-16)23 OL Reign 0–2 Washington Spirit Tacoma, Washington
7:00 PM PDT (UTC-7) Report
Stadium: Cheney Stadium
Attendance: 4,009
Referee: Katja Koroleva (Washington)
October 31, 2021 (2021-10-31)24 Washington Spirit 1–0 Houston Dash Washington, D.C.
2:00 PM EDT (UTC-4) Rodman Soccerball shade.svg76'Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 4,542
Referee: Danielle Chesky (Virginia)

Playoffs

November 7, 2021 (2021-11-07)First round Washington Spirit 1–0 North Carolina Courage Washington, D.C.
5:30 PM EST (UTC-5) Hatch Soccerball shade.svg113' Report Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 5,379
Referee: Natalie Simon (Florida)
November 14, 2021 (2021-11-14)Semi-finals OL Reign 1–2 Washington Spirit Tacoma, Washington
3:00 PM EST (UTC-5) Le Sommer Soccerball shade.svg3' Report
Stadium: Cheney Stadium
Attendance: 5,273
Referee: Matt Franz (Virginia)
November 20, 2021 (2021-11-20)Final Washington Spirit 2–1 Chicago Red Stars Louisville, Kentucky
12:00 PM EST (UTC-5)
 Report Hill Soccerball shade.svg45+5'Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium
Attendance: 10,360
Referee: Tori Penso (Florida)

Transfers

Transfers in

DatePositionNo.NameFromFee/notesRef.
December 24, 2020MF6 Flag of the United States.svg Emily Sonnett Flag of the United States.svg Orlando Pride Trade for Meggie Dougherty Howard [4]
January 26, 2021MF16 Flag of Sweden.svg Julia Roddar Flag of Sweden.svg Göteborg Free [5]
June 23, 2021DF25 Flag of Mexico.svg Karina Rodriguez Flag of the United States.svg UCLA Bruins Free [6]

Transfers out

DatePositionNo.NameToFee/notesRef.
August 18, 2020MF10 Flag of the United States.svg Rose Lavelle Flag of England.svg Manchester City Free
November 2, 2020FW20 Flag of Jamaica.svg Cheyna Matthews Flag of the United States.svg Racing Louisville Waived
November 12, 2020GK21 Flag of the United States.svg Katie Lund Flag of the United States.svg Racing Louisville Draft [7]
November 12, 2020FW6 Flag of the United States.svg Katie McClure Flag of the United States.svg Racing Louisville Draft [7]
December 24, 2020MF8 Flag of the United States.svg Meggie Howard Flag of the United States.svg Orlando Pride Trade for Emily Sonnett [4]
December 30, 2020DF5 Flag of the United States.svg Brooke Hendrix Flag of the United States.svg Racing Louisville Free [8]
January 7, 2021FW18 Flag of the United States.svg Jessie Scarpa Flag of Sweden.svg KIF Örebro Free [9]
July 8, 2021DF4 Flag of the United States.svg Natalie Jacobs Flag of Spain.svg Real Betis Wavied [10]

NWSL Draft picks

2021 Washington Spirit Draft Picks
RoundSelectionPlayerNat.PositionCollegeRef.
12 Trinity Rodman Flag of the United States.svg  USA FW Washington State
18 Tara McKeown Flag of the United States.svg  USA FW USC
219 Anna Heilferty Flag of the United States.svg  USA FW Boston U
329 Sydney Schneider Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM GK UNC Wilmington
439 Mariana Speckmaier Flag of Venezuela.svg  VEN FW Clemson

Player statistics

Top scorers

PlacePos.No.NameCCNWSLNWSL PlayoffsTotal
1FW33 Flag of the United States.svg Ashley Hatch 010111
2FW2 Flag of the United States.svg Trinity Rodman 1618
3FW10 Flag of the United States.svg Ashley Sanchez 1416
4MF12 Flag of the United States.svg Andi Sullivan 0213
5FW17 Flag of Japan.svg Kumi Yokoyama 1001
DF3 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Staab 0101
DF14 Flag of the United States.svg Paige Nielsen 0101
MF23 Flag of the United States.svg Tori Huster 0101
DF27 Flag of the United States.svg Tara McKeown 0101
MF16 Flag of Sweden.svg Julia Roddar 0101
MF26 Flag of the United States.svg Taylor Aylmer 0101
DF5 Flag of the United States.svg Kelley O'Hara 0011
6Own Goal0101
Total329537

Assist leaders

PlacePos.No.NameCCNWSLNWSL PlayoffsTotal
1FW2 Flag of the United States.svg Trinity Rodman 1517
2MF12 Flag of the United States.svg Andi Sullivan 0303
3DF4 Flag of the United States.svg Natalie Jacobs 1102
MF23 Flag of the United States.svg Tori Huster 0202
MF26 Flag of the United States.svg Taylor Aylmer 0202
FW27 Flag of the United States.svg Tara McKeown 0202
DF3 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Staab 0112
4DF5 Flag of the United States.svg Kelley O'Hara 0101
MF19 Flag of the United States.svg Dorian Bailey 1001
MF16 Flag of Sweden.svg Julia Roddar 0101
Total318223

Clean sheets

PlacePos.No.NameCCNWSLNWSL PlayoffsTotal
1GK1 Flag of the United States.svg Aubrey Bledsoe 28111
Total28111

Disciplinary

Pos.No.NameCCNWSLNWSL PlayoffsTotal
Yellow card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svgRed card.svgYellow card.svgRed card.svg
GK1 Flag of the United States.svg Aubrey Bledsoe 00100010
FW2 Flag of the United States.svg Trinity Rodman 00400040
DF3 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Staab 00110011
DF4 Flag of the United States.svg Natalie Jacobs 10000010
DF5 Flag of the United States.svg Kelley O'Hara 11001021
DF6 Flag of the United States.svg Emily Sonnett 10000010
FW10 Flag of the United States.svg Ashley Sanchez 00300030
MF12 Flag of the United States.svg Andi Sullivan 00210021
DF16 Flag of Sweden.svg Julia Roddar 10201040
MF19 Flag of the United States.svg Dorian Bailey 00100010
DF21 Flag of the United States.svg Anna Heilferty 10100020
DF23 Flag of the United States.svg Tori Huster 10300040
MF26 Flag of the United States.svg Taylor Aylmer 00100010
FW33 Flag of the United States.svg Ashley Hatch 00200020
Total6124220323

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References

  1. ↑ "The 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup Set to Begin on April 9, 2021". nwslsoccer.com. February 1, 2021. Archived from the original on February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Roster – Washington Spirit" . Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Coaching Staff - Washington Spirit". Archived from the original on June 23, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Orlando Pride Acquires Pair of First round draft picks, Allocation Money and Meggie Dougherty Howard". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  5. ↑ Small, Jordan (January 26, 2021). "Washington Spirit sign Swedish international Julia Roddar to a multi-year contract". washingtonspirit.com. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Washington Spirit Sign Defender Karina Rodriguez to a One-Year Deal". NWSLsoccer.com. June 23, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Racing Acquires Rights to Heath, Press in Expansion Draft". Racing Louisville FC. November 12, 2020. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  8. ↑ Yates, Dominique (December 30, 2020). "Racing Louisville FC signs defender Brooke Hendrix". Louisville Courier-Journal . Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  9. ↑ Bromley, Ben (January 7, 2021). "Adrien Perez, Jessie Scarpa, and more: Freedom Kicks for 7 January 2020". Black and Red United. SB Nation. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Spirit waive Natalie Jacobs, add Taylor Aylmer and Morgan Goff". July 8, 2021.