Washington Spirit Beat Utah Royals 2-1 to Reach Third Straight Final

Washington Spirit are on the verge of reaching the NWSL Championship for the third straight time. The club finished as runners-up in each of the last two seasons, and this time it has a new chance to lift the big trophy.

In the semifinal, Spirit beat Utah Royals 2-1 in front of a crowd that once again filled Audi Field. In the second minute, Cloé Lacasse scored directly from a corner kick. The goal was the fastest in NWSL playoff history and was recorded as the first olimpico scored in the playoffs. A communication problem between goalkeeper Sandy MacIver and the defenders also played a part in the ball going into the net.

After falling behind, Spirit responded within six minutes. Clara Luvanga passed to Trinity Rodman, who then laid the ball off to Sofia Cantore, and Cantore equalized. The goal was Cantore's seventh of the 2026 season and her first in the playoffs. Luvanga also scored the decisive goal of the match. Rodman brought energy to the team on the wing, while Andi Sullivan produced a composed performance in midfield.

After the match, Sullivan said that conceding an early goal can make a team humble and that it was a wake-up call. In her view, the team's response was very impressive over the rest of the match. Sullivan was one of the players who controlled the first half. She won all three of her tackles, came out on top in four aerial duels, and captained the side on the field.