The Washington Spirit kicks off the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season with a match against the Portland Thorns at 8 PM on Friday, March 13 at Audi Field. Here’s what to know about the team:
The Spirit Have Unfinished Business
Following a second-place regular season finish and a loss to Gotham FC in the NWSL Championship match last season—the second year in a row the Spirit finished No. 2 in the league standings and in the title game—Washington enters 2026 as a championship contender. However, the team will look a bit different. Attacking midfielder Croix Bethune was traded to Kansas City for a $1 million total transfer fee, one of the largest in league history. Fellow midfielder Courtney Brown is also gone, as are forwards Brittany Ratcliffe and Ouleye Sarr, defender Kysha Sylla, and others.
Key remaining players include defender Tara Rudd, midfielder Leicy Santos, and goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury. Perhaps more significantly, the Spirit nabbed executive Haley Carter from the Orlando Pride—which won both the NWSL Shield (regular season) and NWSL Championship in 2024 under Carter’s leadership—to be its new President of Soccer Operations. That move helped the Spirit place second in ESPN’s preseason NWSL “ambition rankings” for “franchises that are pushing boundaries,” along with …
Trinity Rodman is Back
You can’t talk about the Spirit’s success without mentioning Trinity Rodman. The 23-year-old forward has played for the team since 2021, when she was selected No. 2 overall in the draft. She quickly soared to stardom—earning Rookie of the Year honors and later becoming the youngest NWSL player to reach 50 career goal contributions (goals + assists). During her five seasons with the Spirit, she has scored 36 goals and 23 assists.
Rodman’s contract was one of the league’s biggest offseason stories. According to ESPN, she had overseas offers totalling well above what the Spirit could provide given the NWSL salary cap. Late last year, the team and Rodman reached a four-year deal worth over $1 million annually. The NWSL vetoed the contract, accusing Rodman of circumventing the cap. In response, the NWSL players’ union filed a grievance against the league.
After much discussion, the NWSL Board of Governors created a new High Impact Player Rule, allowing teams to spend extra on star players like Rodman. This landmark rule allowed the Spirit and Rodman to come to a three-year agreement that pays her over $2 million annually, making her the highest-paid player in NWSL history and the highest-paid women’s soccer player in the world.
More Games, More Fans, and (Finally!) Cherry Blossom Unis
Last year, average attendance at Audi Field increased to more than 15,000 fans per game—a four-digit jump over the 2024 season and good for third-highest in the NWSL. Beginning with Saturday’s season opener, the Spirit will host 15 home matches in 2026, the most in team history.
Twelve of those matches are theme nights, including Youth Night on May 30, Women’s Empowerment Night on July 26, and Culture Night on August 8. Matches will also feature live pregame entertainment at the Spirit Stage near the Gate A entrance, while “Spiritville” on the East Concourse will offer face painting, poster-making, and other creative activities.
The Spirit finally have cherry blossom-themed kits this year, and you can buy one to match. Hoodies, jackets, and t-shirts are also available online or at Audi Field’s Spirit Shop.
