We, and our fellow independent supporters groups, stand with the players.

So, if you’re an NWSL GM, you are not allowed to decide yourself — using all of the tools of a pro team’s front office — that a Player has a High-enough Impact to warrant a certain salary. But you *are* allowed to vote on a list that would determine that that Player has a High-enough Impact. Sure.

INBOX 📥 Gabby Carle extends her stay with the spirit to a new contract that puts her in DC until 2029. Carle had an outstanding season this year a lot would say underrated as well. She was the most consistent defender and truly a versatile one at that.

Inbox: Washington Spirit have re-signed Canadian defender Gabby Carle through 2029. Her previous contract was set to expire after next season. A very smart decision to keep a player who's become so important to the team

Tamara Bolt has posted her farewell to Dallas Trinity on Instagram. Her loan from the Spirit was for 2025 only, and she spent some time this summer training with the Spirit as well. Should be an interesting preseason in these parts. www.instagram.com/p/DSi5IahEWF...

I'm going: Surprise: Deb Big Damn Hero: Esme Defensive POTY: Hal tackle on Midge Assist: Croix flick on to Trin vs Thorns Goal: Trin vs Portland Candy Corn Crown: Rose

Why were these all so hard to answer 😩😩😩

My ballot: Surprise - Abiodun Hero - Carle Defensive play - McKeown Assist - Kouassi Goal - Santos Candy Corn Crown - Kouassi

The nominees are in, and now it's time to vote! Help us decide the winners of the 2025 Hey Spirits Awards. Use the form below to vote for Best Washington Spirit Goal, Assist, Biggest Surprise, and more: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Folks this scarf has been in the back seat of my car since the afternoon of the Spirit-Thorns semifinal. Still glad to get it to its actual owner, if we can find that person somehow

ROSE ROOM DROPPIN HEAT 👇👇

THE SQUADRON HAS SPOKEN 👇👇

The Spirit Squadron’s statement on the ongoing negotiations regarding Trinity Rodman’s contract and the salary cap.

I don't have more sourcing than @jennatonelli.bsky.social on the Lucia di Guglielmo rumor, but I do want to note that she holds a master's in industrial chemistry

I love that our intl players have teammates from the same country or who speak the same language (exception is Rumi but I’m counting the Japanese Spirit staff member)

We're not sure who this is but it sounds like they have sources so we're just passing this along. 👀👀

cba states that timelines can only be extended by mutual written agreement from both parties, the nwslpa is better than me

“Soccer stadiums are the last refuge,” he said. “That’s where you go to hear the truth.” 💛🖤💛🖤 equalizersoccer.com/2025/12/10/f... from @equalizersoccer.bsky.social

More Spirit coverage from the best trio out there.

Alternatively, this could have been called “The episode that would not have been necessary had the NWSL allowed the perfectly legal contract that was agreed to by club and player”

🌸NEW POD🌸 Annie, Ella & André discuss why this will be an important week for the Spirit's quest to re-sign Trinity Rodman. We break down each aspect of the saga – of which there are many! 🟢 open.spotify.com/episode/0ts1... 🍎 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h... #nwsl #woso

Peyton has overcome so much to be a regular presence at multiple NWSL venues on the east coast. Without a service dog, she won't be able to continue that work. The cost of finding and training a service dog is very high, so if you can help at all, you'd be helping one of the good ones in woso.

The Washington Spirit today announced the appointment of Kim Bolt as Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer, a newly created executive role that reflects the club’s continued evolution into a high-performance, growth-oriented organization.

Annaïg Butel, Ouleye Sarr and Anna Heilferty made it to Tara’s wedding 🥹🥹🥹

The quest for the Washington Spirit to re-sign Trinity Rodman has gotten, um, complicated. From arbitration to newly voted on mechanisms to a letter from members of Congress, a lot is happening. Here's an up-to-date explainer about it all... #nwsl #woso #nwslpa

Jessica Berman

In the DMV, the Spirit have the juice.

DC, I love you

The Rose shross against the Wavé isn’t one of these but I nominate that. For catharsis though, gotta go Trin’s goal in her first game back where I thought Audi was literally going to explode.

Great choices. Let me add two more nominees A) Ashley Hatch's historic 50th goal as a Spirit (3-14 vs Dash) B) Croix Bethune vs Bay FC at Oracle for the karma ⬇️ Aug 28, 2024: Croix's iconic rookie season ends on a baseball field Aug 23, 2025: Croix's first goal back is on a baseball field!

Ella's dedication, professionalism, and insight lifted the standard in the media spaces at Audi & in NWSL coverage writ large. Big loss for the Post, but I couldn't be more confident that she's going to be fantastic in what's next.

It has been such a privilege to spend every day working with some of the world’s best sportswriters and to help cover World Cups, Olympics, historic Spirit seasons and everything in between. More soon on what’s next! For now, lots of gratitude. ✌🏼

Time for Some Personal News: This is my last week at The Washington Post. I’m immensely grateful to have started my professional career in such a legendary newsroom and to have worked alongside so many smart, talented and thoughtful journalists for the past 4.5 years.

I love when she reminds people of this because it’s a clear “don’t fuck with me”

Carter says Kynisca global sporting director Markel Zubizarreta was part of the interview process, and has been part of the onboarding process since she agreed to join the club, with multiple conversations taking place even at this early stage.

"Guys. I was a Marine, okay? I got 200 people out of Afghanistan to Australia. I know a thing or two about visas and immigration." — Haley Carter, with a smile, responding to a question on the Spirit's roster construction and the number of international players from @ellabrockway.bsky.social

Haley Carter says she feels the NWSL is treating the Rodman situation with seriousness. "I am optimistic at the urgency and attention level and interest from everyone in the NWSL, board members and the NWSL office alike, in trying to come up with a solution." (? from @sandraherrera.bsky.social)

Paige Metayer vs Orlando! 10/18/25

Paige Metayer deserves an honorable mention

Number 1. If you’re voting for anything else lmk so I can send you the clip of that tackle and change your mind

Aubrey stops Julia Grosso right in front of goal in minute 78 of the game at Chicago in May allowing Spirit to go on to get a game winner 4 min later

Trinity Rodman has the blend of talent and charisma that makes a genuine star. It sounds obvious, but having her stateside benefits the entire U.S. soccer landscape way more than it does one single team. Who's the first person you see in Adidas's opening ad for the 2026 *men's* World Cup? Rodman.

This clip from Trinity Rodman’s YouTube channel today kind of sums up where we’re at.

Now i gotta really dig deep in my memory, i can’t remember if it was a tag team or not but Portland regular season Rose & Kysha vs Obaze and she got COOKED

The one where Tara the Explorer comes flying in at the last second and cleanly tackles an attacker No, the other one No, the other other one Yeah, that one

Gotta be Carle. She went from good to elite this year. I feel like the others on the list get talked about much more than her. Seems like even Canada snubbed her a few times this year. Not sure how.

I’m going to nominate a defensive play that exemplifies the hustle & heart of this team We all remember Kouassi’s equalizer against Rahsing, but that all starts with her getting knocked down defending one opponent, getting up & hustling to take the ball away from another before going on her run

Rebeca Bernal vs Orlando (regular season game in April) is right up there

Dunno if this would be what I ultimate vote for but you have to nominate Kingsbury penalties vs. Louisville. She's elevated them to an absolute art form at Audi Field, hyping the crowd and all her other psychological tricks.