Our first away game: NWSL Championships

NWSL championship affirmations 1. Everything is fine 2. I am breathing 3. The Spirit will play beautifully 4. Everything is fine

If the NWSL chooses its salary cap over Trinity Rodman, it’ll prove that the league has lost touch with what fans really care about

“Fans with the belief that hits harder than a battle cry.” @washingtonspirit.com fans, it’s time to bring Rowdy Audi to PayPay Park! Can’t hurt that there’s an Audi (parking) Lot, Audi Gate, and Audi Club at PayPal Park, right?

New piece up! An important point from inside: The CBA allows the league to raise the cap by as much as it sees fit. My takeaways from championship weekend, including some insight from a chat USWNT legends Christen Press and Tobin Heath, all in my latest for @ms.now. www.ms.now/opinion/nwsl...

Let’s go Spirit! #ThatsTheSpirit

I see nothing but 4 🐐s in this video

IM AWAKE AS HELL!! Let’s go spirit!!!

A great nugget from this clip is that Tara McKeown’s pregame pump-up song of choice is … “Fast Car”

IT'S CHAMPIONSHIP TIME 😤 🆚 Gotham FC ⏰ 8PM ET 🏟️ PayPal Park 📺 CBS

Sometimes Trinity Rodman doesn't know why people pass her the ball. 🤣 The @washingtonspirit.com and @uswnt.ussoccer.com star breaks down what forwards see as a goal-scoring opportunity emerges. #NWSL | #USWNT | #NWSLChampionship

So Commissioner Berman and the league COULD do something but they won’t? Classic. Also: PAY WOMEN

Gabby Carle has been such a warrior & ambassador for the Spirit since she signed Doing under appreciated work on the pitch, regularly making herself available post match, helping Sarr in pressers I hate that in her best season she’ll miss the championship #ThatsTheSpirit @heyspirits.bsky.social

I keep sitting with that the NWSL is repeatedly shooting itself in the foot. I think Commissioner Berman has to get it together and realize the league will no longer be competitive. These are professional soccer players. These are jobs — and if they won’t be compensated adequately, they’ll leave.

No pro franchise in town has leaned into the District, its residents and the issues they care about the way the Spirit has. Column from @barrysvrlugawp.bsky.social

chat is it good that the league went on a media blitz to laud the salary cap after being asked about trinity rodman's contract thedistrictpress.com/2025/11/17/t...

Marta is so pissed at these refs. But it’s nice that she and Sonnet are having a good moment!

@sportsbystats.bsky.social and I will be at the NWSL Championship next weekend to support @washingtonspirit.com! Who else is going? (We bought match tickets and refundable flights and hotel back in October — excellent decision.)

GET IN YALL WE GOING TO THE SHIP ONCE AGAIN!!!

Croix is that girl. #sauce #ThatsTheSpirit

This is another topic where standing still and hoping the problem sorts itself out is not an option available to NWSL right now. Within the CBA, the league holds the right to increase the salary cap. This isn't the only looming contract that will test whether they ever will, but it is the Big One.

The NWSL has already created a European style, open player transfer market. Now it’s time to catch up with what they’ve already done and eliminate or massively increase the cap.

it is pretty much an existential crisis for the NWSL if it can't keep pace with the level of investment of global leagues and pay athletes what they're worth

if people can pay $165m to join the NWSL, they can pay 22-26 players at least $7m-$10m

Get it together NWSL! Pay your players what they’re worth. Not here for this hemming and hawing. Do you want to be the best women’s soccer league in the world or not?

What I'm really saying here is this: If the NWSL isn't willing to raise the cap for the most marketable player in the league, one whose desire to stay is genuine & deep, then it becomes precedent to say it's not worth it to raise the cap for anyone else. It's now or never.

WELCOME TO NWSL AFTER DARK

I know everyone else has said it, but like, WOW, these refs are BAD.

Ary Borges just grabbed Kouassi's shirt from behind and yanked her backwards when she was in full stride. That is very cynical and borderline red.

For me the Geyse challenge is...let's say an orange card, but I'm surprised she's been sent off. Force of contact is part of the issue here, and I think this is closer to stepping on someone rather than locking your ankle and trying to send the tackle through them.

Anyone else unimpressed with ESPN’s center potato camera? Everything is pixelated af.

The team with the juice + the player with the juice + high drama, this is a magic recipe

Spirit better pay her! We would not have won the match if Trin hadn’t been on the pitch.

Trinity Rodman gets a standing ovation on her return to the pitch

Appears NWSL refs did not take advantage of the international break to study up on soccer rules. #nwsl #woso #thatsthespirit

GIFT MONDAY!!! BUT IT'S SUNDAY!!!

Gabby Carle is on a new level of ass kicking today

How different, happy, and free the players are with Adrián as their head coach. We're so back.

Spirit comms points out that Gift Monday has now scored on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Esme Morgan: "We need Monday Night Football," and I think she means it. #NWSL

I’M REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT NONE OF YOU REMINDED ME TO DROP THIS AFTER BEATING THE CATS!!!

Audi Field has selected a new gay pope

Hi, I’m a disabled sports journalist! Come with me as I cover the USWNT in St.Paul Minnesota!