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Washington, D.C. (11/07/2026) – The Washington Spirit will kick off its third consecutive postseason with a quarterfinal match against Portland Thorns FC at Audi Field. Kicking off at 3 p.m. EST on Sunday, November 8, the match will air on ABC. Tomorrow’s matchday features at Audi Field can be found here.
The Spirit
The third overall seed in the 2026 NWSL Playoffs, the Spirit earned the right to host a quarterfinal match for the third straight season. As the second seed each of the past two years, Washington has hosted four postseason matches at Audi Field with all four being sellouts. Sunday’s match will be a rematch of last season’s semifinal match in DC, when the Spirit took a 2-0 win over Thorns FC to advance to its second straight NWSL Championship.
Washington finished with a final record of 17-9-4 for a total of 55 points on the table in the NWSL’s inaugural 30-match regular season. Led in scoring by forward Trinity Rodman with 12 goals, the Spirit totaled 43 goals in 2026 league play. Rodman also led the side in assists with eight; her 20 goal contributions represented the most in a single season in her six-year NWSL career.
Across its history, the Spirit has hosted six total postseason matches, holding an undefeated 4-0-2 record with both draws resulting in advancement after a penalty shootout. Washington’s first-ever home playoff match was at the Maryland SoccerPlex in 2016, a 2-1 win after extra time over Chicago. In 2021, the Spirit hosted its first playoff match at Audi Field, a 2-1 win after extra time over North Carolina.
In 2024, Washington bested Bay FC in the quarterfinal round by a 2-1 score after extra time thanks to a late equalizer from defender Tara Rudd to force the extra 30 minutes. The next weekend, the Spirit topped rival Gotham FC after penalty kicks thanks to another late equalizer, this time from rookie midfielder Hal Hershfelt, and three straight penalty saves from goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury. Last season, the Spirit took a penalty shootout win over Louisville in the quarterfinals before earning a 2-0 win over Portland in its semifinal match. Last year’s semifinal win was the first-ever home playoff match in Spirit history that didn’t require extra time.
Heading into her first NWSL Playoffs as the team’s starter, goalkeeper Sandy MacIver tallied a single season club record 12 shutouts this season. MacIver’s 12 clean sheets were also the most in the NWSL this season. Also making a debut of sorts will be midfielder Andi Sullivan who missed each of the past two postseasons as she rehabbed a knee injury and then was working her way back from maternity leave. Sullivan’s last playoff action was in the Spirit’s 2021 NWSL Championship win in which she netted the second half equalizer.
Because Utah Royals FC upset two-seed San Diego Wave FC on Friday night, both the Spirit and Thorns FC can earn a home semifinal with a win this weekend.
The Opponent
Portland Thorns FC is making its 12th all-time appearance in the NWSL Playoffs, having participated in the postseason in every NWSL season except one (2015). The club has won the most NWSL Championships in league history with three (2013, 2017, 2022) as well.
Thorns FC enters Sunday’s match in strong road form, having earned at least a point in each of its last five away contests of the regular season. Portland has not lost an away match in over three months. Also in impressive road form is forward Sophia Wilson, who tallied a league record-tying ten goals away from home in 2026. The striker has also tallied a goal in six straight road matches.
In this year’s season opener, Portland took a 1-0 win at Audi Field, ending a three-match winless stretch in the DMV. More recently, in early September, Thorns FC lost at home to the Spirit for the first time in club history. This season’s results were in sharp contrast of the past two season’s results as the home team won all five meetings across the 2024 and 2025 campaigns.
All-Time Series History
The Spirit holds a 7-16-9 all-time record in matches played against Portland Thorns FC with a -21 goal differential (33-54). This record does not include an 0-3 forfeit loss by the Spirit in September 2021. The sides have only met once before in the NWSL Playoffs, last year’s semifinal at Audi Field in which Washington battled to a 2-0 win.
About the Washington Spirit
The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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