Story by Shawn Payne | Photos by Daniel Sperling
Match Date: August 23, 2026 | Audi Field, Washington, D.C. | NWSL
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Spirit and Orlando Pride renewed a familiar NWSL matchup Sunday afternoon at Audi Field, with Washington looking to repeat the success of its first meeting with Orlando this season while the Pride arrived carrying a streak of its own in the District.
Back on May 2, the Spirit traveled to Orlando and came away with a 4–2 victory in a six-goal battle that saw Washington jump ahead 2–0, surrender the advantage before halftime and then pull away with two second-half goals. But Audi Field has told a different story in recent meetings between the clubs. Orlando entered Sunday having won its previous three regular-season visits to Washington.
Sunday’s meeting also came on a day when the soccer shared the spotlight with a larger celebration. The Spirit hosted its annual Love is Loud Pride Match, filling Audi Field with Pride flags and programming celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. Pregame performances, community honorees and a special halftime showcase were among the events surrounding the afternoon’s match.
Once the whistle blew, however, Orlando needed little time to change the atmosphere.
Just three minutes into the match, Pride forward Barbra Banda pressured Washington’s defense and helped force a turnover before driving down the right side. Banda sent a low ball across the box into the path of Haley McCutcheon, who met it first time and beat Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver to give Orlando an early 1–0 lead.
Washington responded quickly and came agonizingly close to leveling the match. In the 12th minute, Sofia Cantore and Tamara Bolt each found opportunities inside the Orlando penalty area, but both attempts struck the post.
Spirit continued to control possession and search for an equalizer. Trinity Rodman pulled an effort wide in the 40th minute after Bolt won possession and found her near the top of the box, and shortly before halftime Rodman delivered a cross that Tara Rudd headed over the bar.
Washington went into halftime trailing despite recording eight shots and controlling more than 70 percent of the possession.
The pressure continued after the break. Gift Monday entered at halftime, while Claudia Martínez and Paige Metayer were introduced around the hour mark as Washington searched for a way through an Orlando defense protecting its one-goal advantage.
The afternoon also provided a notable homecoming in the 73rd minute when Ashley Hatch entered to a warm reception from the Audi Field crowd, making her first home appearance for the Spirit in more than 15 months.
Washington continued pushing deep into a lengthy period of stoppage time. Hatch nearly delivered the equalizer with a header from a corner, only to see the ball clip the top of the crossbar. Monday later sent another header into the outside netting.
The breakthrough never came.
After nearly 102 minutes, Orlando walked away with the 1–0 victory despite Washington finishing with a 23–10 advantage in shots and limiting the Pride to only two shots on target.
For Orlando, the victory extended an unusual run of success in the District: four consecutive regular-season victories at Audi Field against the Spirit. For Washington, it was a frustrating conclusion to an afternoon in which the chances, possession and pressure were there, but the goals weren’t.
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Daniel Sperling Photography
