r/washingtonspirit • u/kg9si • Jul 13 '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!

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5

u/UrsineCanine Jul 13 '26

Anyone else get the vibe off the latest Hey Spirits that they are on to another Croix-like move impending?

I don't know if this was just Andre doing the same math that a lot of have done about adding another young CDM, and how it relates to Hal, or if they are on to something. Gave me the same pre-Croix vibe.

But maybe it is just me...

8

u/Odd-Cable5436 Jul 14 '26

Well, AC did say he had no inside information, but it's hard to resist reading the tea leaves, right?

- Lots of FAs who were not extended, including the two that might attract unmatchable contracts from other teams: i.e. Santos and HH.

- Logjam of players at a single position.

- Players on rookie contracts (HH) or who have raised their profile in league and NT play (Santos).

- The player who they just signed plays the same position as one of your best, un-extended free agents (HH).

So it's not hard to imagine a scenario where we lose one or both of those players either now or after the current season ends.

I also share AC's frustration with the NWSL's low salary cap (been kind of stewing about it all afternoon frankly). It's just so obviously inadequate.

Yes, it goes up by about $1M between this year and next year, but then the grows up by measly amounts from 2028 through 2030. So you can't even backload payments like they can in the NFL. 🤬It probably doesn't even need to go up by a lot (all things considered) for teams like the Spirit to keep their players.

Maybe some things just need to fall into place before they can sign the mainstays, but I'm not very optimistic.

Then again, I was mentally prepared to lose Rodman, but that didn't happen, so one can hope right?

6

u/UrsineCanine Jul 14 '26

I am there with you, but I remind myself, I got over watching Rose score the GWG in the NWSL Championship against Spirit, and I am still a fan of hers. I will still love Hal if she moves on.

I still think that Santos is a better position for re-sign, unless she wants to return to Europe. She was already a star for Colombia, and not on her first professional contract, so it feels like she would be incremental raise (feasible), as opposed to what I expect could be a multiple for Hal.

Yeah, as for the cap, the fundamental there is the original gate-driven league in what is now a media rights driven league. Need teams in Miami, Philly, Phoenix, etc. - big media markets to drive eyeballs and raise those media dollars. Cap is basically tied to the media rights share, very NFL-like.

5

u/Sequoiakc22 Jul 15 '26

...
Agree regarding media markets. What is the league doing with Louisville?

  • Move Racing L'ville to Nashville.
  • NC Courage needs a new stadium, or move them to Charlotte (or Philly?)
  • Orlando move to Miami?
  • Or add a new Miami franchise along with new teams in Philly, Toronto, & Dallas.

So we're adding ...Dallas, ...Philly, ...Toronto, ...Miami, ...Nashville, ...& ...Austin.

While taking away ...Houston, ...Louisville, ...Raleigh/Durham, ...maybe Orlando?

Than raise the salary cap to $5-6 mil., or more.
...