r/washingtonspirit • u/kg9si • Aug 31 '26
Weekly Discussion Thread Weekly Open Discussion Thread
Welcome to this week’s open discussion thread!
This is your space for general discussion, a place to talk about anything Washington Spirit that doesn’t necessarily need its own thread. That can include news, international duty, roster moves, transfer rumors, tactics, social media posts, league news or anything else on your mind.
If something feels big enough for its own thread, definitely still post it. This is simply an additional option to keep us organized and help keep the conversation flowing. These threads will go up every Monday and stay stickied throughout the week.
Go Spirit!
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u/mrgenki Sep 02 '26
Team social media just posted a video of Bethi saying she has a cat named Batman who is "my life" and I'm thrilled to see another member along with Hal and Esme of the Spirit crazy cat lady (completely laudatory) contingent.
Love the at the Spirit has such likeable players on and off the pitch. It's on my list to modify my Bethune jersey into a Bethi like someone posted last week.
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u/allprologues Sep 03 '26
deb has a russian blue (fancy cat) that she got in the offseason or earlier this year. also i'm curious if esme still has biscuit, been a while since we've seen anything.
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u/Toothy_McRotten Sep 06 '26
I was just wondering the same about Biscuit. Truth can be hard, but cutting off cat pictures is harder.
WHERE'S BISCUIT
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Sep 02 '26
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u/Specialist_Pay_6768 Sep 02 '26
The video was clearly edited so you don't actually know if she did or not.
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u/Odd-Cable5436 Sep 01 '26 edited Sep 01 '26
If none of Hatch, Wiesner, Abiodun, Kouassi, LDG, or Santos are available vs Portland (fingers crossed that most of those players will be back on at least limited minutes), I can see a lineup like the one below.
Someone made the point that having Bolt and Metayer on the same side kind of negated both players' speed, which I agree with, hence putting them on opposite sides. I think Sullivan is better off the bench vs. Portland, which has a lot of speed w/ Wilson and Hanks. AG probably will start Sullivan though.
Random thoughts: Vignola had a good game vs. Rodman in the previous match. I hope AG has a good plan to counter that this time. Tordin will pose a huge challenge. Might see Tse in this one. Bolt might play OB back, too. I hope Monday comes in for Cantore at like the 65 minute mark and makes a huge impact. I can also see a lineup where Cantore plays RW and Monday starts at the 9. Wouldn't mind trying Rodman on top, either.
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u/Sequoiakc22 Sep 01 '26
...
This still looks like a decent lineup, considering all the injured players we have out. ...Granted, we are missing key starters when looking at your proposed lineup. Three (3) in particular I would like...
Lucia Di Guglielmo, ...in place of Metayer.
Leicy Santos, ...for Bethi.
Rosie Kouassi, ...instead of Bolt.
Bethi & Ngock having only been with us for about a week & a half before we play Portland, ...'IN' Portland, ...is going to be a challenge.
Adrian might put Monday at the '9' & Cantore at the '10' with Andi at the '6.' ...Allowing Bethi & Ngock to absorb the atmosphere in Providence Park from the bench before subbing them in later in the match. ...Then again, would anyone here be 'shocked' if Bethi & Ngock got the start?
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u/Odd-Cable5436 Sep 01 '26
I like the idea of Cantore as the 10. She sort of goes to that spot sometimes in the run of play, but AG mostly has her stay up high. I find that odd b/c she seems to have the skills to play the 10 very well.
To me, the most concerning thing going into this game is OB depth. Maybe Morgan has to play out there this week and Tse pairs with Rudd. That will invite a lot of pressure from Portland, but what can you do with that AR?
Can Haugen contribute?
EGR has to been wondering, "How many more people have to get hurt before I get into a game?"
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Aug 31 '26
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u/Odd-Cable5436 Aug 31 '26
I actually will kind of miss having SH as a villain for Spirit matches! 🤣
Feels like that team had more roster building issues than coaching issues. Looking at the transactions from this season, Orlando didn't do much to bolster the club.
But the front office doesn't fire itself....
Good luck finding a new gig, Seb!
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u/NarrowPiccolo9069 Aug 31 '26
Moorhouse going from one of the top keepers in the league in 2024 to the worst in 2026 was a big factor in their decline.
Marta's 2024 renaissance also didn't last and they never found an alternative.
How much would we be willing to give up for Banda?
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u/Are_we_there_yet1443 Aug 31 '26
You beat me to posting! So, long, Seb. I’m only sorry we didn’t win last week to accelerate his departure.
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u/hendertender Aug 31 '26
We looked so great when Bethi came on. And Ngock looks like a really energetic midfielder.
An all CAF midfield of Deb, Ngock, and Bethi could genuinely so fun to watch.
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u/gingergeologist Aug 31 '26
If anyone has an extra hello kitty bucket hat, my 2.5 year old little Spirit fan would love it!! She was pointing them out all game but we missed them
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u/adifferentGOAT Aug 31 '26
Thankful Trinity is on our team because she would be incredibly frustrating to play against. The way she used her strength and presence to own the ball and the clock for the last 10 mins is impressive.
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u/smithmat333 Aug 31 '26
I was absolutely loving it. She really took control of the game like I haven't seen before. Leading by example.
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u/hendertender Aug 31 '26
Truly amazing stuff. I would have been FUMING if we had to play against that for 10 minutes
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u/hendertender Aug 31 '26
Maybe I'm off base here, but has anyone else noticed that Gift Monday just is not good this year??
Just poor first touches, looks really off the pace of games. Idk.... She just had not looked good at all.
Maybe it's the inconsistent game time, but she hasn't put in sub performances that make me want to keep getting more minutes either
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u/goosepaca Aug 31 '26
Monday did lose her dad in the last year. Granted, that was before this season and might not be the only factor at play, but grief is weird and makes it really really hard to function normally, especially in the first year+.
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u/Oobroobdoob Aug 31 '26
I dont think shes "not good anymore" but I did notice she doesnt have the same energy as she had last season
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u/RealEmperorBossNass Aug 31 '26
Excited for the new signings. Not excited why Bethi had to come it or Bolt
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u/Vegetable_Party3763 Sep 03 '26
anybody know why the watch party is at the F1 Arcade, of all places?