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Washington, D.C. (08/08/2026) – The Washington Spirit lost 4-3 to the North Carolina Courage on Saturday night. After a gritty second half comeback, Washington fell to the Courage on Saturday’s Spirit Worldwide: Culture Night at Audi Field.
The Spirit struggled to gain possession and momentum at the top of the match. Less than two minutes after the starting whistle, North Carolina took advantage when Ashley Sanchez popped the ball over the shoulder of Spirit keeper Sandy MacIver. Shortly after, the Courage slipped in another goal that, after being called offside, was overturned by a VAR review. Washington continued to struggle to connect, when minutes later North Carolina found the back of the net again, furthering its lead.
The Spirit finally began to find its rhythm as Trinity Rodman dodged around Courage defenders laying the ball off to Claudia Martínez whose shot was blocked. The ball bobbled out of the final third and Andi Sullivan rocketed the Spirit’s first real shot of the game, just to the right of the net. The combination lit a fire under the Spirit’s feet as the team settled in. The first half ended with the Spirit down three goals, yet to get on the scoreboard.
The second half started with some Spirit substitutions: Rebeca Bernal on for Andi Sulivan, Tamara Bolt on the wing for Paige Metayer, Sofia Cantore up top for Claudia Martínez and Élisabeth Tsé at center back for Esme Morgan. Instantly, the match looked like an entirely different contest for the Spirit.
Kate Wiesner ran up the left side and passed to Rodman who, in true form, danced in front of a Courage defender before firing high and into the corner of the net. The goal marked Wiesner’s second assist of the season and Rodman’s single season career high ninth goal of the year. Finally on the scoresheet, the Spirit’s momentum drove the team. Less than four minutes later, Tamara Bolt chased down a deflected ball in the box and found Sofia Cantore who, after another deflection off a sliding defender, knocked the ball into the back of the net. Cantore gave the Spirit its second goal of the evening with her fifth of the NWSL season.
Washington continued to threaten North Carolina’s back line throughout the following 40 minutes before finally bringing the match level again in the 90th minute. Rebecca Bernal delivered the equalizer, getting to a loose ball in the box after a corner kick and firing it into the back of the net to the delight of over 14,000 fans in attendance at Audi Field.
Suddenly all tied up with only stoppage time to go, both teams turned up the heat in the attack. Hershfelt ripped a shot from the edge of the box that hit the far post but it was a quick transition down on the Spirit’s end of the field that decided the match. North Carolina’s Natalie Jacobs found herself open in the final third and slipped the ball low right, netting the game’s final goal minutes before the final whistle. After seven total goals, the match concluded 4-3 in North Carolina’s favor.
Next up, the Spirit will head to the west coast for its first meeting of the season with Angel City FC. Kicking off at 9 p.m. EDT on Sunday, August 16, the match will air on ESPN.
-NWSL Match Report-
Match: Washington Spirit vs. North Carolina Courage
Date: Saturday, August 8, 2025
Venue: Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. EDT
Weather: Mostly cloudy, mid-80s
Scoring Summary:
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Washington | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| North Carolina | 3 | 1 | 4 |
NC – Ashley Sanchez – 2′ (assisted by Shinomi Koyama)
NC – Evelyn Ijeh – 9′ (assisted by Ally Schlegel)
NC – Evelyn Ijeh – 15′ (assisted by Ashley Sanchez)
WAS – Trinity Rodman – 47′ (assisted by Kate Wiesner)
WAS – Sofia Cantore – 50′
WAS – Rebeca Bernal – 90′
NC – Natalie Jacobs – 90+5’ (assisted by Feli Rauch)
Lineups:
WAS: 18 – Sandy MacIver; 6 – Kate Wiesner; 24 – Esme Morgan (5 – Élisabeth Tsé, 46’); 9 – Tara Rudd; 14 – Gabrielle Carle (35 – Madison Haugen, 80’); 10 – Leicy Santos; 12 – Andi Sullivan (4 – Rebeca Bernal, 46’); 17 – Hal Hershfelt; 2 – Trinity Rodman; 11 – Claudia Martínez (27 – Sofia Cantore, 46’); 26 – Paige Metayer (16 – Tamara Bolt, 46’)
Unused Substitutes: 28 – Sara Wojdelko; 31 – Kaylie Collins; 29 – Emma Gaines-Ramos; 33 – Ashley Hatch
NC: 1 – Kailen Sheridan; 11 – Feli Rauch; 25 – Maycee Bell; 4 – Natalie Jacobs; 13 – Ryan Williams; 20 – Shinomi Koyama; 19 – Erica Parkinson (14 – Carly Wickenheiser, 60’); 16 – Riley Jackson (26 – Vilde Bøe Risa, 60’); 2 – Ashley Sanchez (33 – Hannah Betfort, 46’); 10 – Evelyn Ijeh (8 – Chioma Okafor, 82’); 35 – Ally Schlegel (7 – Lauryn Thompson, 60’)
Unused Substitutes: 99 – Madison White; 12 – Natalia Staude; 17 – Dani Weatherholt; 18 – Uno Shiragaki
Stats Summary: WAS / NC
Shots: 20 / 9
Shots On Goal: 8 / 5
Saves: 1 / 5
Fouls: 5 / 17
Offsides: 3 / 5
Misconduct Summary:
WAS – Esme Morgan – 35′ – Yellow Card
NC – Feli Rauch – 37′ – Yellow Card
NC – Vilde Bøe Risa – 75′ – Yellow Card
NC – Maycee Bell – 90+8′ – Yellow Card
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