Washington Spirit Clinches a Berth in 2024 NWSL Playoffs

Spirit returns to postseason for first time since 2021 championship win 

Washington, D.C. (09/14/2024) – With tonight’s results, the Washington Spirit has clinched a berth in the 2024 NWSL Playoffs, presented by Google Pixel, the club announced. The draw between the North Carolina Courage and Bay FC combined with the Chicago Red Stars’ victory over Portland Thorns FC guarantees the Spirit a top eight finish and a trip to the quarterfinals in November. 

The Spirit has stormed out to one of its best regular seasons since the club’s founding in 2012 this year behind the leadership of Interim Head (now Assistant) Coach Adrián González, new Head Coach Jonatan Giráldez and the stellar play of the club’s veteran players and newcomers alike. 

Star forward Trinity Rodman has tallied a single-season career high seven goals and five assists while five of the Spirit’s rookies have found the back of the net at least once – the most in Spirit history and in the NWSL this season. Goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury and the Spirit back line have recorded four clean sheets on the year as well, including three on the road. 

 With a record of 13-4-2 (41 points) through 19 matches, the Spirit currently sits in second place on the NWSL table. Still with seven matches to go, the Spirit has set new club records for wins in a single regular season (13) and goals in a single regular season (39) while surpassing 40 points for the first time in club history. Should the Spirit finish as a top four seed on the league table, it would host a first-round playoff matchup at Audi Field. Fans can sign up here to be the first to know when tickets go on sale. 

The Spirit last made the postseason in 2021 when it won the club’s first-ever NWSL Championship with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Red Stars in the final match in Louisville, Kentucky. Previously, Washington made the playoffs in 2014, 2015 and 2016, with two semifinal finishes and a runner-up finish. 

The 2024 NWSL Playoffs will begin on Saturday, November 9 with the eight-team quarterfinal round, followed by the semifinals taking place the next weekend. On Saturday, November 23, the 2024 NWSL Championship will take place in Kansas City, Missouri at CPKC Stadium, the first stadium purpose-built for professional women’s soccer. 

About The Washington Spirit 

The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. In 2024, the Spirit drafted an epic class of rookies who are already breaking records and wowing fans. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

The post Washington Spirit Clinches a Berth in 2024 NWSL Playoffs appeared first on Washington Spirit.