August 25, 2024 - Washington Spirit International Doubleheader

Audi Field staged a landmark women’s football doubleheader that brought together the NWSL and England’s WSL on the same stage. The day opened with the Washington Spirit facing the Kansas City Current in a league clash that marked the return of several Olympians from the Paris 2024 Games. The Spirit wasted little time asserting themselves, striking twice inside the first 20 minutes through Paige Metayer and Ouleye Sarr, with Croix Bethune registering her 10th assist of the season to tie an NWSL single-season record.

Olympic gold medalist Trinity Rodman added to the tally in the second half with a clever lob to make it 3–0 before Temwa Chawinga briefly pulled one back for the Current, extending her Golden Boot lead. Leicy Santos, making her presence felt in her debut with the Spirit, restored Washington’s three-goal cushion with her first NWSL goal, sealing a 4–1 victory that vaulted the Spirit into second place in the standings.

The energy carried into the second match of the evening, an international friendly between Barclays Women’s Super League outfits Chelsea and Arsenal. In a tightly contested affair, Chelsea edged their London rivals 1–0 thanks to a second-half strike from Sandy Baltimore, her first goal in Chelsea blue. The match served as an early showcase for several new signings, with Chelsea’s depth and balance on full display despite it being preseason for the English sides.

Together, the two matches created a festival-like atmosphere in the nation’s capital, with Audi Field hosting not just top-tier domestic and international football but also a vibrant fan experience surrounding the action. For both Washington and Chelsea, the night reinforced championship ambitions, while the event as a whole underscored the growing visibility and momentum of the women’s game on both sides of the Atlantic.

PARIS 2024 OLYMPIANS
CHE: Sandy Baltimore* (France)
CHE: Kadeisha Buchanan (Canada)
WSH: Croix Bethune (USA)
ARS: Mariona Caldentey* (Spain)
ARS: Steph Catley (Australia)
ARS: Laia Codina (Spain)
ARS: Kyra Coonet-Cross (Australia)
ARS: Caitlin Foord (Australia)
ARS: Emily Fox (USA)
CHE: Maika Hamano (Japan)
WSH: Hal Hershfelt (USA; Alternate)
WSH: Casey Krueger (USA)
KC: Lauren (Brazil)
CHE: Ashley Lawrence (Canada)
CHE: Sjoeke Nusken (Germany)
CHE: Eve Perisset (France)
KC: Nichelle Prince (Canada)
WSH: Trinity Rodman (USA)
WSH: Leicy Santos* (Colombia)
KC: Desiree Scott (Canada; Alternate)

*player joined club after Olympics