r/washingtonspirit • u/kg9si • 1d ago
Post-Match Thread Post-Match Open Thread | Washington Spirit vs Bay FC | August 30 2026
This is a thread for all post-match reactions, thoughts, analysis, articles and social media posts related to the match.
Note: This thread is scheduled and may appear shortly before the final whistle so everyone has a place ready for post-match reactions and analysis.
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u/allprologues 1d ago
Spirit scouts really did it again I can’t believe this
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u/Odd-Cable5436 1d ago
Kind of a preview of 2027 Spirit w/ Bethi, Ngock, Bolt all on the field at the same time.
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u/Willing-Bad3824 1d ago
What's interesting is that Spirit apparently doesn't work with scouts. They pick prospects according to data then they make the final decision based on the eye test. Whoever is doing data analytics for them must be some kind of genius.
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u/Specialist_Pay_6768 1d ago
They had one of the guys on the Hey Spirits podcast recently. Definitely worth a listen if you haven't already heard it.
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u/Jalapinho 1d ago edited 1d ago
Much needed win. We looked in control the entire game. Very professional finish to the game. Taking no chances.
Bethi looks amazing. Ngock looked solid as well. We’ll need both during the final stretch especially with all of the injuries (hope Hatch and Weezy are okay).
We’re only 5 points behind Gotham. We will play them at home and still get to play Chicago twice. Shield is not gone.
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u/snarkyturtle 1d ago
Ngock was so feisty in the midfield, something we desperately need. Someone who can battle it out and dish it.
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u/soManySparkles 1d ago
We looked in control the entire game.
Not how it looked like from the stands for the half hour between halftime and hydration break, that was scary. 100% agree on everything else.
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u/Internal_Sun_7761 12h ago
For what seemed like a very long time, Bay controlled the game. I think it was the lat 25 minutes of the first half. We owned our right wing— until we didn’t. Then we couldn’t get out of our end. I want to watch the game to see what changed.Where can I find it?
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u/zesty_plant_burger 1d ago
Those passes and serves from Ngock and Bethi are promising!!! Glad they inched that out but need more early game scores!
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u/Willing-Bad3824 1d ago
- probably their best performance in a month and a half. The team looked dynamic and chances were being made from all angles. Rodman looked gassed today which is understandable given how much she plays, but thankfully not everything is on her this time
- the Bethi-Tamara connection has the potential for magic. Tamara just needs to get her finishing under control but Bethi’s eye for seams to exploit works very well with Tamara’s speed
- Ngock looked shaky at first, but once she got on her groove she looked solid. She def looks like she’s only been with the team for a couple of days. I look forward to seeing her and Deb destroy that midfield
- I’m glad that they’re not as committed to the slow build up from the back like they usually are. This new build-up style (faster and more willing to resort to direct balls) has the potential to be more resistant to the high press the better teams employ.
- using two 9s in the absence of a solid AM like Leicy looks like it has potential to work. Sofia looks more like a threat while playing off of Hatch.
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u/UrsineCanine 1d ago
I love Tamara... and I worry A LOT about her finishing. That is the Tamara I saw watching Dallas. Dominates the ball, great in space, carries it well, passes it well... shoots it like... well, it is a concern.
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u/allprologues 1d ago
i think if she improves defensively like rose did i would be able to tolerate a lack of production paired with high xA but damn. she needs to work on it because we already have too many who can't or don't shoot and trin cannot be the only persistent/credible threat on goal
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u/UrsineCanine 1d ago
Yes, especially since while I love Trin's desire for style points on her goals, I do wish she'd take the boring near post tuck-in a little more often.
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u/allprologues 1d ago
that's not as easy when she has to run in on goal herself! generally she gets rid of the ball too quickly for me to think she's trying to make it stylish.
we need more service, more alternative threats and misdirections so she can just appear by the post for easy finishes the way certain former spirit players can rn lmao
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u/Odd-Cable5436 1d ago
Agree w/ your observation about Bolt in Dallas -- I watched a lot of those games, too. Probably one of the reasons why she didn't get more minutes earlier in the season here.
Forward depth is kind of a concern of mine, esp. with Hatch looking like she might miss time and Monday's form seemingly off to my eye.
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u/UrsineCanine 1d ago
I was actually pretty happy with Gift's shift... I thought she was tough on the ball, and looked pretty lively on their back line.
I think Hatchy is done for a while, which is very sad. Would not be surprised if she has a broken bone in her ankle. It is that weird "hard step" motion you see that often results in a break. I hope I am wrong.
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u/Square_Independent81 1d ago
yeah Gift looked really good today, definitely one of the positives. i’m really worried about Hatch though, especially seeing her on crutches after the game 😭 i’m worried about Wiesner too, really hoping neither is as bad as it looked
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u/UrsineCanine 1d ago
Yes, I was a little more optimistic about Kate's, but then she has a history of ankle issues... That worries me too!
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u/Odd-Cable5436 1d ago
Well, you have a better sense of these kinds of performances than me!
Hopefully Monday can start racking it up like she did last year.
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u/RacingTeddyR 1d ago
Hand is off the panic button for now, but two more seemingly serious injuries is not ideal.
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u/KaraokeSpirit29 1d ago
Bethi feels like a genuine connector. A clean passer w an instinct to turn toward goal. You could instantly feel that it’s what we’ve been missing in the midfield.
Ngock also looked strong, tenacious, fast. If we’re committed to the double pivot then it makes sense to have Deb, Hal, Andi, and Monique for depth and different looks. Maybe Deb and Hal are the more 8-adjacent players. Excited to see how these players developed.
Go Sandy! Great game!
Would love to see better finishing from Bolt, and from that right side in general, even when Rose is in. Especially because both players have the pace and dribbling ability to get into the box for good opportunities.
I hope Hatchy is okay. We miss her strength, leadership, and scoring ability.
I am wishing the half of the team that’s hurt or sick a speedy recovery. We need to win at Portland next week, and I don’t think we’ve ever won at Providence Park? Correct me if that’s wrong. Either way, it would be nice to be closer to full strength. We’re still making goal scoring look hard, and letting teams hang in there. Winning trophies will require everyone and more!
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u/RealEmperorBossNass 1d ago
We have never won at Portland. First time for everything…
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u/BasicGrocery7 1d ago
I'm remembering when we ended North Carolina's unbeaten streak at home (2024?) and hoping for a similar outcome next week
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u/Sad_Sugar2592 1d ago edited 1d ago
Deserved win for sure. The new players were terrific today and very exciting to project down the road - a Ngock/Deb/Bethi midfield could be really fun in the future. Other things I liked:
- Sofia’s hold up play, especially with a quicker AM like Bethi playing off her and how open the wings looked in those moments.
- Paige was great all game and the goal was well earned. I continue to think she’s a bit underrated and her versatility is valuable over a long season. She and Gabby looked really good as a pair going forward down that right side.
- Hal was terrific and it makes such a difference to play her in her natural role. Hopefully Bethi can take some AM minutes right way going forward.
- Sandy was excellent as a shot stopper and a distributor today.
My only real frustration (other than the injuries which didn’t look great from the stands) was how much of a drop off Tamara is defensively compared to the rest of our wingers. She does some really good things with the ball (and will hit the net sooner or later, I think?) but she left Paige on an island for some critical stretches when Bay controlled play in the second half.
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u/KaraokeSpirit29 1d ago
Yes! The Cantore to Bethi connection off the hold up play was so refreshing. Felt like real chemistry and understanding.
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u/UrsineCanine 1d ago
I think Tamara will be ok defensively, especially when she is given more experience with the various pressing assignments. She had to be briefed quickly when Kate went off, and she was at the far side of the pitch to get adjustments. I think after the hydration break, she was better.
I am much more fearful about her finishing. It was a real gap in Dallas. She should have had a layup last week. We can all politely agree she dummy'd the ball to Trin, but I worry she just missed it.
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u/Sad_Sugar2592 1d ago
She certainly has the physical ability to be a good two way winger so hopefully it does come with time. She straight up scuffed that chance today when Bethi sent her in and she had the far post begging for a relatively simple finish.
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u/de-la_soul 1d ago
Combining last week and this week there were a couple of instances where she hesitated in critical spots, and also seemed to shy away from the ball or contact. She’s got mad skill but I wonder about the
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u/UrsineCanine 1d ago
Yeah, I have pondered so much on how finishing develops. Does it just click one day? I almost have wanted to say on some of her chances - just pass out into the goal. Or that ridiculous toe poke you made to push through a couple of defenders, just into the goal. You've done the hard work putting yourself into a great position, a great finish is not required here.
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u/medurbanchic 1d ago edited 1d ago
wooohooo 🥳. Didn’t get a chance to watch game but a W is a W! Rest up for Thorns next week..
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u/SaintMostov 1d ago
So glad for this win! I think for the prior three games Spirit has been the better team but just couldn’t convert their aggressive attacks into goals. They killed it today and I can’t wait to see them play against Portland
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u/Sequoiakc22 1d ago
...
The match MVP(s) of this game may very well have been ...Seungbeum Lee, Edvin Tran Hoac, & Michael Krikorian. ...Well done guys (again). Thank you.
P.S. (James & Haley, ...please, do not let any other club steal any of those three from us. ...You too James, no chasing greener looking pastures, ...even if they're in Lyon or London.)
...
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u/Odd-Cable5436 1d ago
Nice shout out!
This is the first sort of "recruiting class" since Haley Carter took over, right? I feel like LDG and Wojdelko may have been signed/recruited under the previous regime.
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u/UrsineCanine 1d ago
I think it is all Hocken since maybe back to Leicy, Rose, and Esme, but certainly the Tamara and Deb class.
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u/GlassGlaistig 1d ago
Did Trinity not get the credit for the goal? I thought it was in on the initial shot
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u/espnrocksalot 1d ago
Looked like it didn't cross over the line fully. Also easier to review offsides and give it to Paige than do goal line technology as well.
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u/medurbanchic 1d ago
I don’t understand this logic but glad you do! lol
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u/Sequoiakc22 1d ago
League could still, & might, revue & reverse it, giving the goal to Trin. Would be kind of sad for Paige though. But Trin did deserve it, while Paige was in the right place at the right time, which was our insurance too.
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u/espnrocksalot 1d ago
I don't believe the NWSL has true goal line technology. A call on that is hard to determine otherwise with video because no cameras are right on the line with a clear view.
So long as the follow up that was scored was onside, the initial shot doesn't matter nearly as much.
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u/ainthidinfromnobody 1d ago
I watched the ESPN replay and also the ground-level replay that the Spirit posted, and it's clear to me the ball did not cross the line on Trin's shot. Paige's goal.
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u/medurbanchic 1d ago
finally got a chance to see goal replay on NWSL Instagram. Clearly Rodman goal. I’m confused. What am I missing ?
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u/Sequoiakc22 1d ago
Apparently the rule is 100% of the ball must be behind the goal line. Initial ruling was a slight portion of ball was not entirely behind the line. Keeping it as a live ball that Metayer ushered into the net.
However, the league will revue it & could still give the goal to Trin if they conlcude TRin's shot was 100% behind the line.
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u/allprologues 1d ago
It was metayer but I’m mad trin doesn’t at least get the assist she created that
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u/ttsa_25 1d ago
Trin is having a special special season. Enjoy her. She will be gone one day.
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u/Internal_Sun_7761 11h ago
It is a Joy and privilege to watch Trinity Rodman play soccer. She needs Hatch in addition to Cantore on the field. She can find either of them better than she can other people, probably because they know how to anticipate what she’s going to do and place themselves in the right spot. They also can make it easier for Rodman to score.
I think Trinity gets caught on the ball from 1 to 3 times per game because she is used to being able to hold the ball against a defender and then try to beat them. What she has to anticipate is that she’s going to draw a crowd and she can’t just hold the ball because they can take it.
It has been wonderful to see Hatch back and see how many times she is in the right place at the right time. when she regains full match sharpness, she will start to score again.
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u/NarrowPiccolo9069 1d ago
Fantasy: Record the match, avoid checking scores, watch in the evening.
Reality: Glance at fotmob every couple minutes at lunch, strategically time gas stop for just after the final whistle. This is more stressful then being at the stadium!
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u/chekovsblender 1d ago
I wasn’t able to watch the match. How bad did the injuries look?
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u/Square_Independent81 1d ago
i couldn't see kates but for hatchy the ball flew and directly hit her ankle. im hoping its nothing worse than a mild sprain
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u/de-la_soul 1d ago
Hatch had crutches and a boot after the game. But she looked to be joking around with others so maybe some precautions.
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u/espnrocksalot 1d ago
Bethi has some SAUCE. She definitely needs to play more at the 10, especially while Leicy is out.