The Washington Spirit will face off against the Utah Royals for the National Women’s Soccer League semifinal match at Audi Field on Saturday at noon.
The Spirit, who are heading into their third consecutive trip to the semis, are the No. 3 seed; the Royals are No. 7. The Spirit advanced after a decisive 4-1 quarterfinal win against the Portland Thorns on Sunday.
The last time the team won a championship was in 2021, against the Chicago Red Stars, which they defeated 2-1. A victory this weekend would send the Spirit into the championship match, where they would square off against either No. 1 Gotham or No. 4 Kansas City Current.
The game this weekend was originally clouded in some confusion over where the teams planned to face off, when it originally seemed that Audi Field would not be available due to a scheduling conflict. But the Spirit confirmed it will be hosting the semifinals at its usual home of Audi Field.
Audi Field has lived up to its nickname “Rowdy Audi” this season, as home games have had record-breaking attendance averaging 16,400—up by roughly 1,000 from last year’s record of about 15,500.
Are tickets still available?
Tickets are available on the team’s website costing anywhere from about $36 up to nearly $200. Last year, the Spirit sold out the semifinal 64 hours after the match was announced, according to the club, but fans managed to scrounge up a handful of resale tickets ranging from about $60 to more than $600.
Where else can I watch the game?
Fans can plan to watch the game from nearly two dozen bars, breweries and beer halls across DC and Virginia, called the Spirit Bar Network. Here’s a list:
In DC:
- Solace OutPost (71 Potomac Ave., SE) offers indoor and outdoor seating and is just a few blocks from Audi Field.
- Astro Beer Hall (1306 G St., NW) has plenty of space within its two levels for fans to try a menu with everything from doughnuts to fried chicken.
- As You Are (500 8th St., SE) is an LGBTQ+ and ally-inclusive space featuring a coffeehouse and lunch spot during the day and lounge at night.
- Her Diner (2004 18th St. NW) offers welcoming indoor and outdoor spaces for everyone, especially women, BIPOC, and queer individuals.
- Dacha Beer Garden has two locations, one in Navy Yard (79 Potomac Ave., SE) and the other in Shaw (1600 7th St., NW), that are family friendly and offer a seasonal food menu.
- Metrobar (640 Rhode Island Ave., NE) is a dog-friendly outdoor space with rotating food trucks. You must be at least 21 years old after 8 PM.
- Bluejacket (300 Tingey St., SE) is a microbrewery and restaurant offering Spirit-themed food and drink specials in a family-friendly environment.
- Franklin Hall (1348 Florida Ave., NW) offers 20 televisions for viewing, and more than 35 drafts and seasonal cocktails.
In Virginia:
- Solace Outpost (444 W. Broad St., Falls Church) is a family- and dog-friendly spot with an arcade room.
- Astro Beer Hall’s newest location (4001 Campbell Ave., Arlington) has a family-friendly area upstairs.
- Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company (10382 Willard Way, Fairfax) is a kid-friendly spot with an outside porch.
What should I know before heading to the stadium or watch party?
Fans can come decked out in the team’s colors of green, pink, or yellow to show their support. A couple hours before kickoff, fans often gather at Dacha Beer Garden in Navy Yard before walking over to Audi Field.
Plus: here are a few standout players to brush up on:
- Trinity Rodman is a star forward on the team, which she joined in 2021 at 18 years old, making history as the youngest player to be drafted in the history of the NWSL. She finished the regular season with 12 goals and eight assists across 30 starts, both personal bests. Rodman was named a finalist for the NWSL MVP award this year.
- Tara Rudd is a forward-turned-defender and has helped the Spirit’s defense concede the second fewest goals during the 2026 regular season. She was drafted by the Spirit in 2021 and was named the 2025 NWSL Defender of the Year. She completed her second-ever Iron Woman season, meaning she played every minute of the regular season, a title she received for the first time in 2024.
- This has been Sandy MacIver’s first year as a regular starting goalkeeper for the Spirit, which she joined in 2025, as longtime starter Aubrey Kingsbury was on maternity leave. MacIver has led the league in 12 shutouts during the regular season.
