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Washington, D.C. (08/23/2026) – The Washington Spirit took a hard-fought 0-1 loss to the Orlando Pride at Audi Field on Sunday evening. Despite the loss, the Spirit will hold onto its second-place spot on the NWSL table following the weekend.
The first half began with Orlando striking first in the third minute. Following a fast break, Pride midfielder Haley McCutcheon received the ball from a low cross and finished with a one-time shot past Spirit keeper Sandy MacIver. Despite going down early, the Spirit fought back in the attacking third and produced quality chances throughout the evening. In the 12th minute, forwards Sofia Cantore and Tamara Bolt both had shots in the Orlando box, with both attempts hitting the post.
The Spirit continued to look dangerous in the 40th minute when Bolt dispossessed an Orlando defender and crossed to Trinity Rodman at the top of the box, but Rodman dragged her shot wide of the goal. Just before the half ended, Rodman possessed the ball out wide and delivered a cross into the box, where defender Tara Rudd sent her header over the bar. The referee blew the whistle to end the first half, and the Spirit went into the break having recorded eight shots and secured more than 70% possession.
The Spirit made a change in attack to start the second half, with forward Gift Monday making her return to the side after this summer’s WAFCON tournament, coming on for Bolt. In the 56th minute, Orlando threatened again when forward Barbra Banda dribbled into the Spirit box and flashed a shot wide of the goal. A minute later, after winning a challenge in the Orlando box, Rodman fired a shot from around the penalty spot, but an Orlando defender blocked the shot to prevent a scoring chance. More Spirit changes came in the 60th minute, with Paige Metayer coming on for defender Élisabeth Tsé and forward Claudia Martínez for Sofia Cantore.
In the 73rd minute, forward Ashley Hatch entered the match and received a warm welcome back to Audi Field from the Spirit fans. This marked Hatch’s first appearance at home in over 15 months. The Spirit’s final substitution was defender Gabrielle Carle coming on for Kate Wiesner. The referee indicated 11 minutes of stoppage time as the Spirit looked for the equalizer. In the fifth minute of added time, Hatch got her head on a cross from a corner, but her effort just clipped the top of the crossbar and went over. Again looking threatening from a corner, Monday was open toward the back post, but her header found the outside netting. After nearly 102 minutes of play, the referee blew the final whistle signaling three points for Orlando.
Next up, the Spirit will continue a short home-stand, hosting Bay FC for the second and final meeting of the regular season between the sides. Kicking off at 12:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, August 30, the match will air on ESPN2.
-NWSL Match Report-
Match: Washington Spirit vs. Orlando Pride
Date: Sunday, August 23, 2026
Venue: Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
Kickoff: 4 p.m. EDT
Weather: Sunny, low-80s
Scoring Summary:
| Goals | 1 | 2 | F |
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Orlando | 1 | 0 | 1 |
ORL – Haley McCutcheon – 3′ (assisted by Barbra Banda)
Lineups:
WAS: 18 – Sandy MacIver; 6 – Kate Wiesner (14 – Gabrielle Carle, 77’); 5 – Élisabeth Tsé (26 – Paige Metayer, 61’); 9 – Tara Rudd; 24 – Esme Morgan; 27 – Sofia Cantore (11 – Claudia Martínez, 61’); 20 – Deborah Abiodun (33 – Ashley Hatch, 74’); 17 – Hal Hershfelt; 2 – Trinity Rodman; 19 – Rosemonde Kouassi; 16 – Tamara Bolt (21 – Gift Monday, 46’)
Unused Substitutes: 28 – Sara Wojdelko; 4 – Rebeca Bernal; 12 – Andi Sullivan; 35 – Madison Haugen
ORL: 77 – Cosette Morché; 5 – Hailie Mace; 4 – Rafaelle; 12 – Cori Dyke; 21 – Oihane; 6 – Ally Lemos (28 – Summer Yates, 77’); 13 – Jacquie Ovalle (8 – Luana, 90+8’); 2 – Haley McCutcheon; 7 – Angelina; 11 – Barbra Banda; 20 – Julie Doyle (23 – Nicole Payne, 62’)
Unused Substitutes: 1 – Anna Moorhouse; 31 – Cara Martin; 16 – Zara Chavoshi; 18 – Gabi Nunes; 33 – Zoe Matthews; 41 – Hannah Anderson
Stats Summary: WAS / ORL
Shots: 23 / 10
Shots On Goal: 3 / 2
Saves: 1 / 3
Fouls: 9 / 13
Offsides: 0 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
ORL – Barbra Banda – 69′ – Yellow Card
WAS – Gabrielle Carle – 90+9′ – Yellow Card
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