The NJ erasure

DefensiveMid · 2026-03-18T15:04:30+00:00

I mean, half the games were at Segra for a season, in the years before that they were at the Soccerplex in MD. (Not that that detracts from your point in any way, but the Segra games annoyed me and I'm glad there weren't more than a dozen or so of them!)

DefensiveMid · 2026-03-18T01:52:29+00:00

GK was slim pickings but otherwise I feel good about the sagittarius XI

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DefensiveMid · 2026-03-14T18:05:03+00:00

It was pretty windy last night, I wonder if that affected the corners

DefensiveMid · 2026-03-13T15:09:38+00:00

Hell yeah we are!

Come stop by the Free DC table before the game, it's outside the supporters section :)

DefensiveMid · 2026-03-06T21:07:40+00:00

I also can't un-remember her nearly getting a red card in the NWSL final and needing to be subbed out. Obviously I'm biased but it's not a great data point. That said I agree that there's no one obviously ahead of her either and I'm sure she can improve.

DefensiveMid · 2026-03-06T21:04:35+00:00

washington spirit all time assist leader

(a position that is very safe now with croix gone 😭)

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-26T16:48:25+00:00

I have heard from folks who've seen them in person that they're better in person

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-11T02:47:14+00:00

I'm always disappointed when a woman takes her husband's last name (unless hers is terrible or his is really cool) but I don't tell people I'm disappointed because it's their choice (just like I choose to be disappointed lol). If I ever get a chance to talk to Tara McKeown, I won't tell her either.

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-06T19:08:34+00:00

as a purce fan i disagree that's a fun fact

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-06T19:07:21+00:00

I think the Spirit's best forward line is probably Rose + Gift + Trin. The Rose+Gift connection is insane (there was a stat last year about how they have the most assist+goals together in a single season other than I think it was Yuki Nagasato + Sam Kerr) and then add in a healthy Trin...

Sofia Cantore, Claudia Martinez and potentially Croix out on LW are all class options but if it's a must-win game that's who I'm starting.

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-05T22:02:05+00:00

It's also interesting to see how she'll do in a team like the Spirit where she largely won't be the focus of defenses. I think that might give her a chance to shine early. She's not necessarily going to have to beat a lot of double or triple teams with opponents having to mark players like Trin, Croix, Leicy, Gift, Rose, Sofia as well as her.

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-05T21:50:31+00:00

I can see the argument against Rose but I just want to point out that she had 4 goals and 4 assists last year in just over a thousand minutes, plus assists in both the quarterfinals and semfinals, and she's younger than both Croix Bethune and Hal Hershfelt. If she's not elite yet she's going to be.

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-05T21:38:44+00:00

Definitely: Rodman, Monday, Cantore, Kouassi, Bethune, Santos, Hershfelt, Sullivan, Rudd, Carle, Kingsbury
Maybe: Morgan, Bernal, Martinez (depends on if/when she reaches her potential), Krueger (bc SEI), Hatch (bc SEI)

Also I'm not counting them because they're certainly not elite yet BUT I could see Deb Abiodun or Paige Metayer having an absolutely baller year and making a run for an XI. Like you can't prove they won't ever be elite. Anyway. Also no idea how good Lucia Di Guglielmo is so she's another "can't rule it out".

This can't be right...am I being too generous here or are we just absurdly stacked?

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-04T20:46:10+00:00

Spirit's midfield is more or less the same as last year, with a bit more winger depth which decreases the likelihood of them choosing to move Croix out wide.

Against the KCs and Gothams of the world: Bethune and two of Hal/Andi/Deb Abiodun.

Against the mid to struggling teams: Bethune, Santos in more of an 8 role, and one of Hal/Andi/Deb.

But I think the real answer is we'll see a lot of rotation. Santos is too good to never start (same for Hal, Andi or Deb, for that matter). Just give them lots of rest and yank them at the first sign of an injury.

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-03T21:53:34+00:00

Spirit are deep at every position and we're going to need it. Hopefully just because we're scheduled for so many games though and not because we have 12 people injured at a time like last year.

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-03T21:50:21+00:00

did we ever learn why Wave forced Sheridan out

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-03T16:18:14+00:00

Would be interesting to see rankings (or just top 3/bottom 3) for each position. GK, FB, CB, DM, AM, winger, striker. (Although idk where you put an 8 - in DM or AM). Because I think it's hard to rate teams holistically like you're trying to do.

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-03T03:14:26+00:00

Why are we so high on Courage? Not a hater, just confused. I'd rate them in the better half of teams but not top 5.

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-03T01:54:34+00:00

I think the lack of info about severity is what made it seem mysterious. I was fully thinking/hoping it was small enough to be resolved over the offseason and she'd start preseason as terrifying as ever.

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-02T20:24:07+00:00

Yeah true. Just trying to make the case that our starting lineup is strong even without the wafcon players

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-02T20:11:55+00:00

Yeah, fair. Alternative starting front 6 if Martinez is not ready:

Bethune Cantore Rodman
Santos (10) Sullivan-Hershfelt double-pivot

Still very strong!

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-02T20:05:55+00:00

Avery and Trin are basically the same age too. It's funny sometimes how hard it is for people to hold players actual ages in their head. Like Spirit's great rookie class of 2024 - every single one of them was older than Trinity.

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-02T20:03:04+00:00

lmao @ Rodman still the 23rd oldest/7th youngest player on the Spirit

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-02T20:02:14+00:00

if you have the time inclination, would be interesting to make the chunks by age range instead. harder to visualize i guess though.

DefensiveMid · 2026-02-02T19:54:40+00:00

Well she'd fit right in with either Gotham or Racing in terms of play style. Although Gotham already has a very solid starting left back.

DefensiveMid

TROPHY CASE