WASHINGTON D.C . — The Washington Spirit secured a 4-2 win over Angel City FC at Audi Field in D.C., on Saturday, May 18. 

13,432 fans turned out for the Washington Spirit’s match against Los Angeles-based Angel City on Salute to Service night, boasting the fifth biggest turnout in the Spirit’s franchise program. It was also the first time in NWSL history that sisters have started in the same match, with Angel City starting Alyssa Thompson at forward and Gisele Thompson at defense. 

It wasn’t the cleanest match for the Spirit. They were out-possessed 62% to 38%, and the first half saw several momentum swings. Nonetheless, they finished their chances when it counted. 

Trinity Rodman started the Spirit off strong, finishing a cross from Ouleye Sarr to put the team ahead with an early goal in the ninth minute. Angel City tied up the match in the 20th minute after an own goal by Annaïg Butel, then quickly took the lead off a free kick that Sydney Leroux headed into the net in the 23rd minute. 

The Spirit responded in the 30th minute, with Trinity Rodman scoring her second goal of the night and tying the match for the Spirit. Defender Casey Krueger put the Spirit ahead, finishing the ball after some chaos in the box in the 34th minute. Forward Ouleye Sarr topped off the night with a goal in the 36th minute. 

A first half with back and forth momentum and six goals was followed by a more subdued, but still physical, second half. It was a particularly physical game on Angel City’s part, with five LA players (Lily Nabet, Madison Curry, Jasmyne Spencer, Gisele Thompson, and Claire Emslie) earning yellow cards throughout the match.

Rookie Croix Bethune had two assists in the match, bringing her to six assists this season and tying the Spirit’s record for single-season assists. 

“She is so clever,” interim head coach Adrián González said of Bethune when asked what the most dangerous aspect of her game is. 

Trinity Rodman noted that Bethune is “great” and that “you can’t ask for a better rookie in this situation.” Rodman also noted that Bethune “radiates confidence and comfortability on the ball… when you see that it makes you more comfortable and it makes you more confident to move off that so I think her inner confidence makes her such a great player.”

Saturday’s game was the first of a new partnership with ESPN 630 AM to broadcast Spirit matches, marking continued growth in accessibility for tuning in to women’s professional sports. This partnership came a week after the WNBA announced a league-wide charter flight program, another step towards bringing the same notoriety, attention, and compensation to women’s professional sports that men’s sports leagues have long had. 

With Saturday’s 4-2 win over Angel City FC, the Washington Spirit stands second in NWSL rankings.