The match on Sunday at Inter&Co Stadium proved to be somewhat anticlimactic, unless you were tuning in to witness the Orlando Pride celebrate their first-ever piece of hardware after nine seasons in the National Women’s Soccer League.
The highly anticipated clash between the top two teams, the Pride and the Washington Spirit, lost some of its excitement when the Pride secured a commanding lead at the top of the rankings, particularly as the Spirit’s depleted roster resembled a makeshift squad.
Without key players such as Trinity Rodman, Ouleye Sarr, Casey Krueger, Leicy Santos, and Hal Hershfelt (due to yellow card accumulation)—who collectively contribute to 20 of the team’s 44 goals—along with Croix Bethune (who has five goals and 10 assists) sidelined for the season, the Spirit entered the match trying to be the first team this season to overcome the Pride’s formidable record. They fell short.
The Pride executed their game plan effectively, resulting in a 2-0 win, and became the first team to claim the newly redesigned NWSL Shield. The Spirit, assuming they can regain their key players before the playoffs, will still have a chance to contend. However, a more pressing concern than the defeat, which leaves them in second place—just a point above fourth—was a late-game injury to midfielder Andi Sullivan, who had to be carried off on a stretcher.
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Image Source: Orlando Pride / Shutterstock
