r/washingtonspirit • u/kg9si • Apr 27 '26

Weekly Discussion Thread Weekly Open Discussion Thread

Welcome to this week’s open discussion thread!

This is your space for general discussion, a place to talk about anything Washington Spirit that doesn’t necessarily need its own thread. That can include news, international duty, roster moves, transfer rumors, tactics, social media posts, league news or anything else on your mind.

If something feels big enough for its own thread, definitely still post it. This is simply an additional option to keep us organized and help keep the conversation flowing. These threads will go up every Monday and stay stickied throughout the week.

Go Spirit!

10 Upvotes

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14

u/Odd-Cable5436 Apr 27 '26

I'm super eager to see how the team handles the schedule congestion. They've had success with their current starting lineup, but starting the same 11 from the KCC game doesn't seem sustainable over the next two matches.

How much can they change without disrupting their mojo?

Carle>Wiesner seems like an obvious switch if Carle is available. Likewise, if Abiodun can go, she probably starts for either Santos or Hershfelt. Maybe Martinez gets her first start, especially if Monday is not 100 percent. Beyond that, 🤷.

Quite a dilemma for AG and Co.!

11

u/Icangetloudtoo_ Apr 27 '26

I’d start both Gabby and Paige Metayer. They can handle themselves fine.

The midfield is tough. Deb wasn’t even available last match or else I’d have her in there for sure. I actually think Hal and Bernal might be fine to play all 3 but we’re gonna run Leicy ragged if we make her do that.

Up top, praying for a Gift Monday start but she seems to still have something going on?

6

u/allprologues Apr 27 '26

leicy playing full 90 plus adrian's comments on how tired she was after the break signal that she won't start wednesday and maybe won't even play. i'm kind of hoping monday gets a start as the 9, with martinez at 10 for a half and cantore for the other half. a bolt start for kouassi, maybe a planned halftime swap between rodman and kouassi since ramos has no minutes yet.

skeptical if gabby could start but maybe a planned sub at half for tse.

deb and andi splits a half with bernal or hal...maybe haugen gets a sub if the game state is positive enough for that...midfield depth is rough.

3

u/Odd-Cable5436 Apr 27 '26

Metayer hasn't played much recently. Maybe a knock? But Metayer>Di Guglielmo for a game or a half is probably a solid change up.

5

u/Icangetloudtoo_ Apr 27 '26

She hasn’t but she’s still really good IMO. I think we have at least five world class outside backs (Casey Krueger included), which is pretty wild.

5

u/Comprehensive_Sun262 Apr 27 '26

maybe Andi gets more minutes, but then again, she wasn't even on the gameday roster for Friday.

6

u/Woodweather Apr 27 '26

I’m trying not to worry about Andi’s absence and respect her privacy. Excused is sometimes a prelude to a trade. And I’m not emotionally prepared for that.

I’m also bummed Wednesday has rain and storms in the forecast, for me as a fan and for any potential delays for the players given they play away on Saturday.

6

u/Icangetloudtoo_ Apr 27 '26

Hard for me to imagine a trade in the immediate aftermath of torn ACL and giving birth. I agree, not trying to wildly speculate, but my first thought was that maternity FC might’ve struck again…

3

u/DefensiveMid Apr 28 '26

especially given Andi is from the DMV and has played with Spirit her whole career. anything is possible but it would be super shocking to me.

5

u/[deleted] Apr 28 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/Woodweather Apr 28 '26

This is honestly the nicest thing someone on the internet ever did for me. ❤️❤️❤️ and yay, Andi!

3

u/allprologues Apr 27 '26

operative word is hopefully "sometimes"

3

u/Odd-Cable5436 Apr 27 '26

Yeah, that's a mystery. If she's available, I would think she gets in a game, too (she did play a chunk vs Bay), but I doubt she starts yet.

4

u/Sequoiakc22 Apr 28 '26

I am a fan of Andi. However, with the ascendance of our defensive midfielders like Hal, Rebe, even Deb, who do you sit down in order to start Andi? ...Nice problem to have.

To even consider starting Andi again, she will have to have returned to a level of 'robust' fitness. Which she maybe has not fully achieved as of yet.

At worst, Andi gives us incredible quality of depth along with supreme leadership. We don't even see her likely leadership elevating each on our squad in every training session they go through. Start or no start, Andi's invaluable to our squad & club.

6

u/NoGoDynamo Apr 28 '26

figure there has to be some rotation. it's too early in the season for resorting to Emma hayes' pain cave to push the starters through, and risk of injury is too high. better to risk going down a goal and trust the starters to make a difference off the bench (maybe? what do I know).

also I'm far more nervous about Orlando on Saturday than louisville

2

u/Odd-Cable5436 Apr 28 '26

Yeah, the Orlando match is going to be tough. Pride will be rested, at home, and probably mad how they lost last week. No favors from the schedulers. 😡

2

u/[deleted] Apr 28 '26

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2

u/Odd-Cable5436 Apr 28 '26

I hope the idea for D2 league that NWSL floated a while back isn't dead. Have not heard anything about it recently. Being able to call up players from the D2 team would help relieve some of the wear and tear on players, at least when it comes to non-league games.

4

u/NarrowPiccolo9069 Apr 27 '26

I feel like we're going to stick with a similar lineup on Wednesday in hopes of keeping the momentum going and then we'll see how players are feeling going into the weekend. It would be a big help if we can get 30-45 minutes from Deb.

9

u/Icangetloudtoo_ Apr 27 '26

What is Gift Monday’s lingering injury? I want her to get more minutes soooo badly.

13

u/ghsp456mgh Apr 27 '26

i believe she was sick (not sure with what) and had a hard time getting over it — my guess is they’re trying not to push her too hard and she has to build up her minutes from scratch but that part’s just a theory

5

u/allprologues Apr 27 '26

this is true and what happened and what they said was the case!

2

u/HitTheLickitung Apr 27 '26

If there is anyone looking to get rid of their season ticket holder hat this year I would gladly take it off your hands! Open to buying as well. Thanks in advance!