Following Saturday’s thrilling win over defending champion NJ/NY Gotham FC in front of the Spirit’s second consecutive sellout crowd at Audi Field, the Washington Spirit has earned a berth in next weekend’s NWSL Championship in Kansas City.
Per the team, the Spirit will travel to Kansas City, Missouri for the club’s third-ever NWSL Championship match. The club previously played in the 2016 and 2021 editions of the match, taking home the side’s first league title in 2021. The Spirit will take on the winner of tomorrow afternoon’s Orlando Pride-Kansas City Current match on Saturday, November 23 at CPKC Stadium, kicking off at 8 p.m. EST.
Down 1-0 going into second half stoppage time on Saturday afternoon, star rookie midfielder Hal Hershfelt used her head to find the back of the net to equalize off a free kick service from fellow rookie Makenna Morris. After 30 minutes of extra time, the match went to a penalty kick shootout that lasted only three rounds. Goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury stopped all three shots she faced from the spot while her teammates Ashley Hatch, Lena Silano, and Tara McKeown each connected to send the Spirit to next weekend’s final.