Women's Football News

Washington Spirit hosts Utah Royal at Audi Field in the NWSL this weekend. The Spirit secured their fourth win on the road, while Utah Royal suffered three consecutive losses. However, Washington has also lost their previous two home games – against Angel City and Gotham. Can Utah Royals take advantage and claim all three points? Let’s find out about the potential line-ups, statistics and where to watch Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals

Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals: Team News & Possible Line-ups

The possible line-ups are derived from previous match days. We take into consideration how strong the opponents are, what players are injured and of course team news before the match. 

Team News Washington Spirit

Availability report (updated on May 15):

Out: None

Questionable:  None

International Duty: None

What the coach has to say:

Assistant head coach Adrián González spoke to the media fter the 3-2 win over Chicago Stars:

On the team’s overall performance in the windy conditions to pull out the 3-2 win:

“Our first aim today was to be better than last week and the last two weeks for sure and I think we’ve achieved that. Better start today, the first minutes I think we were controlling the game and we were having the performance that we wanted and we [were able to] score the first one. From there, I think we need to keep learning because sometimes it seems like we are [conceding] easy goals but again, I think the team reacted very [well] and we [won] today. We still have a lot of things to improve, but we need to be happy because we’ve achieved what we wanted today.”

On the Spirit’s recent changes in formation:

“We wanted to have two players in pocket with Meg Boade and Narumi and trying to have Rebe as a six. Rumi, sometimes she was dropping and sometimes Meg, but we wanted to have those spaces occupied between lines and [leave] Rebe inside with [the center backs]. [We wanted to] try to identify where the spaces were wide, inside, or high and try to build that with her attacking the striker’s back. We knew that we couldn’t find her behind the strikers and from there, we could find pockets. I think we’ve done a good job, especially the first half, identifying where the spaces were and how they were pressing. We also had chances to progress through the width. Once we could find Meg or Rumi inside in those pockets, then we had the advantage to attack the back line. That was the main reason [for the formation], we wanted to be more compact and try to have 2v1 situations with midfielders advancing and also wings.”

Our prediction of the Starting IX for Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals:

• Kingsbury
• Carle
• Morgan
• McKeown
• Morris
• Miura
• Bernal
• Kouassi
• Boade
• Ratcliffe
• Hatch

Team News Utah Royals

Availability report (updated on May 15):

Out: None

Questionable: None

International Duty: None

What the coach has to say:

Utah Royals suffered a 2-0 defeat to Angel City last weekend, but it was a match that should not have continued. Savy King collapsed on the field and was stretchered off, and while she is resting and recovering from a successful surgery, the NWSL acknowledged that the match should have been abandoned. Read the statement here. 

Head coach Jimmy Coenraets spoke to the media after the game: “There are things that are way more important than what we do on a daily basis. I think this was a very good prove of it. In those moments, I am not sure if we should have continued the game. Our players were scared, and I think that’s not the right situation to be in. In the end we played on and that’s a decision other people are making and that is fine.

“But I think it was really a tough moment. It was the same after the game; what do you want to focus on. At that point, yes there is a result, yes there is a game, but you just want to make sure people feel safe, healthy, good and they can actually move on. That was also the focus after the game for us.”

Our prediction of the Starting IX for Utah Royals against Washington Spirit:

• McGlynn
• Pogarch
• Flynn
• Fava
• Thomsen
• Tejada
• Tanaka
• Foederer
• Kizer
• Sentnor
• Mozingo

Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals: Previous Meetings & Stats

Washington Spirit and Utah Royals faced off for the first time last season. The Spirit won both encounters by one goal difference. The home team currently sits in third place with 15 points, while Utah Royals are at the bottom of the table with just four. Washington’s head coach Jonathan Giráldez will be back on the sideline after a two-game suspension, hoping to guide their team away from their bad form at home lately.

Current Form

• Washington Spirit: 5 wins and three losses.
• Utah Royals: 1 win, 1 draw and 6 losses.

Who to watch

Ashley Hatch can change the game with just one chance. Her ability to find space between defenders and create goal-scoring opportunities will be key against The Royals. Gift Monday is a rising star, she brings pace, power, and a fearless approach to the attacking third

Ally Sentnor only scored one goal so far this season, but the 21-year-old midfielder has a lot more to offer to Jimmy Coenraets side. Mina Tanaka brings technical skill, veteran leadership, and a knack for scoring in big moments. Tanaka has a sharp football IQ and thrives in tight, tactical battles.

Team Streaks
	Losses	3
	No goals scored	3
	No clean sheet	3
	Under 2.5 goals	5/5
	First to concede	6/7

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I watch the National Women’s Soccer League Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals?

You can watch Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals live on Ion. More information:

US based fans can watch on Prime Video, ION Network, CBS, ABC, Paramount+ and ESPN, while Optus Sport broadcasts the matches for Australian fans. Then there is NWSL+, but some games are geo-blocked, so make sure to check which ones you can watch. If they are geo-blocked it means another streaming service is broadcasting the game. 

When was the last meeting between Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals?

The last meeting was on June 9, 2024. Washington Spirit secured a 1-0 win thanks to Wiesner’s first half goal. 

What is Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals kick-off time?

Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals kicks off on Saturday, May 17, at 07:30 PM ET at Audi Field.