Washington Spirit 2, Seattle Reign 0: Rodman Delivers a Brace

By Alonso Contreras

Washington Spirit earned a hard-fought 2–0 victory over Seattle Reign, powered by the brilliance of Trinity Rodman, who scored in both halves to secure all three points.

The match opened with intensity as Seattle pushed forward early. Jordyn Huitema had the first look in the fifth minute, but her shot was dealt with by the Spirit back line. Washington grew into the game quickly, with efforts from Herhshfelt, Carle, and Abiodun forcing the Reign defense and goalkeeper Claudia Dickey into action. The Spirit’s pressure eventually paid off in the 32nd minute when Rodman broke the deadlock with a confident strike that gave the home side a deserved 1–0 lead. Seattle tried to respond before halftime, with Myra Dahlien testing Aubrey Kingsbury, but the Spirit defense held firm as the referee blew for halftime.

The second half started with Washington continuing to rely on Rodman’s pace and skill. She came close again in the 46th minute, only to be denied by Dickey. The Reign created chances through Sofia Huerta and Dahlien, but Kingsbury stood tall to protect her goal. Washington rotated players to keep energy high, with Monday, Bethune, and Brown entering the game to add fresh legs.

Seattle also made substitutions, introducing Crnogorčević, McCammon, Cantore, and Santos, but they struggled to break through. The Spirit sealed the result in the 80th minute when Rodman struck again, this time finishing off a flowing move to double the advantage. Her second goal silenced the Reign’s late push and underscored her status as the match-winner.

The closing minutes were tense as both sides traded fouls, corners, and saves. Claire Brown came close for Washington in stoppage time, while Meza and Dickey continued to work hard in the Reign defense. However, the Spirit kept their composure to see out the victory.

With this performance, Washington showed attacking intent and defensive resilience. Trinity Rodman’s two-goal display stood out as the defining factor, while Kingsbury and the Spirit back line ensured a clean sheet. Seattle fought hard but could not find the finishing touch despite periods of pressure.

Washington Spirit walked away with a deserved 2–0 win, a result that highlighted their efficiency in attack and their ability to close out games against strong opposition.