By Anonymous (not verified), April 30, 2022
Watch the Game Live on Paramount+
Washington Spirit
0-0-0, 0-0-0 HOME
5:00 PM ET
May 01, 2022
Audi Field
Washington, District of Columbia
OL Reign
0-0-0, 0-0-0 AWAY
Gameday
Match Preview: Washington Spirit vs. OL Reign
Audi Field | Washington, District of Columbia – Sunday, May 1 at 5:00 PM ET on Paramount+ and Twitch
By NWSL Editor|April 30, 2022
Players to watch:
Washington’s star-studded attack is led by the likes of forwards Ashley Hatch and Trinity Rodman, who between the two of them have nine goals thanks to Hatch’s five and Rodman’s four in six games played. Hatch currently sits atop the goalscoring charts in the Challenge Cup while Rodman sits T-2, and Rodman’s 18 shots are good enough for 4th in that category across the league’s teams. Hatch’s brace in Washington’s 2-2 draw with North Carolina to wrap up the group stage of the Challenge Cup brought her to 16 goals in all NWSL competitions since the beginning of 2021, which is five more than any other player in that span.
Meanwhile, OL Reign are led in scoring by forward Bethany Balcer, whose two Challenge Cup goals saw her sit T-8 through the group stage. The likes of Sofia Huerta, Veronica Latsko, Alana Cook, Samantha Hiatt, and, most recently, Ally Watt, have all also tallied once this season as the visitors’ successes were spread among a wide group of players. Midfielder Angelina, though not on the scoresheet, paved the way in the assists category as well with two total, which was good enough for T-3 in that Challenge Cup category.
Match facts: An early preview of Wednesday’s Challenge Cup final between these two sides, Sunday’s matchup pits two of the most talented teams across the league given what was displayed in the Challenge Cup group stage.
The hosts are unbeaten in their last 18 games in all competitions (W11, D7, excludes two forfeit losses), and when only including games that were actually played, that is the longest unbeaten streak in NWSL competitions since the league’s founding in 2013.
In addition, excluding a forfeit, Washington has three straight wins against the Reign including a 2-1 road win in last season’s NWSL playoffs. Prior to the streak, the Spirit had gone winless in their previous nine meetings with the team from the state of Washington (D4 L5).
However, the visiting Reign enter off the back of an unbeaten Challenge Cup group stage in which they outscored their opponents 11- 5 in six games played. Winning four and drawing two in that span, the Reign were bolstered by an impressive attack and a staunch defense led in part by goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, whose 19 saves were 4th in the competition in that category.
What plays out on Sunday may well be a sneak peek of what plays out on Wednesday, but either way there are two talented teams taking the field in the first of three regular season games on Sunday.
Ways to watch: Fans in the United States can watch the match on Paramount+ while fans in Canada and abroad will be able to watch on Twitch.
Washington’s star-studded attack is led by the likes of forwards Ashley Hatch and Trinity Rodman, who between the two of them have nine goals thanks to Hatch’s five and Rodman’s four in six games played. Hatch currently sits atop the goalscoring charts in the Challenge Cup while Rodman sits T-2, and Rodman’s 18 shots are good enough for 4th in that category across the league’s teams. Hatch’s brace in Washington’s 2-2 draw with North Carolina to wrap up the group stage of the Challenge Cup brought her to 16 goals in all NWSL competitions since the beginning of 2021, which is five more than any other player in that span.
Meanwhile, OL Reign are led in scoring by forward Bethany Balcer, whose two Challenge Cup goals saw her sit T-8 through the group stage. The likes of Sofia Huerta, Veronica Latsko, Alana Cook, Samantha Hiatt, and, most recently, Ally Watt, have all also tallied once this season as the visitors’ successes were spread among a wide group of players. Midfielder Angelina, though not on the scoresheet, paved the way in the assists category as well with two total, which was good enough for T-3 in that Challenge Cup category.
Match facts: An early preview of Wednesday’s Challenge Cup final between these two sides, Sunday’s matchup pits two of the most talented teams across the league given what was displayed in the Challenge Cup group stage.
The hosts are unbeaten in their last 18 games in all competitions (W11, D7, excludes two forfeit losses), and when only including games that were actually played, that is the longest unbeaten streak in NWSL competitions since the league’s founding in 2013.
In addition, excluding a forfeit, Washington has three straight wins against the Reign including a 2-1 road win in last season’s NWSL playoffs. Prior to the streak, the Spirit had gone winless in their previous nine meetings with the team from the state of Washington (D4 L5).
However, the visiting Reign enter off the back of an unbeaten Challenge Cup group stage in which they outscored their opponents 11- 5 in six games played. Winning four and drawing two in that span, the Reign were bolstered by an impressive attack and a staunch defense led in part by goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, whose 19 saves were 4th in the competition in that category.
What plays out on Sunday may well be a sneak peek of what plays out on Wednesday, but either way there are two talented teams taking the field in the first of three regular season games on Sunday.
Ways to watch: Fans in the United States can watch the match on Paramount+ while fans in Canada and abroad will be able to watch on Twitch.