This Saturday, May 13, at 7:00 p.m., Angel City hosts Washington Spirit for the first time in 2023. The game will stream live in the US on Paramount+ and internationally at NWSLSoccer.com. An English-language radio broadcasts will be available on iHeart. For more information on broadcasts, click here.
You can buy tickets to the game here.
Angel City have played Washington twice, earning two wins. The first game, which ended 1–0 on the strength of a goal by forward Christen Press, was ACFC's first-ever win on the road. Washington visited LA in September and lost 2–1 following goals by forwards Claire Emslie and Simone Charley.
Washington are in second place in the league—and tied with second-place Portland on points—with a 3–0–3 (W–L–D) record. Their last game was a 3–1 win at home against San Diego that saw goals by forwards Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez, and midfielder Paige Metayer.
ACFC are in sixth place with a 2–2–2 record and are coming off their first home win of the season, a 3–2 victory over Kansas City. That game saw first-half goals by all three starting forwards—Alyssa Thompson, Claire Emslie, and Jun Endo—as well as assists by Emslie and Endo. The Current notched two in the second half, but LA defended well in the final 30 minutes to hold onto the three points.
Washington were the 2021 champions, but had a difficult 2022 season. After making a run to the final of the Challenge Cup—which started in preseason but extended into the beginning of the regular season—and winning their first regular-season home game, the team wouldn't earn another win until September. They finished in 11th place with a 3–9–10 record. In August, the club parted ways with Head Coach Kris Ward and brought on Albertin Montoya to serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
To start 2023, Washington hired Mark Parsons to lead the coaching staff. Parsons has the most NWSL experience of any coach currently in the league; he previously led the Spirit from the end of 2013 through 2015, before spending six seasons with the Portland Thorns. When Parsons left Portland, he was the winningest coach in league history, with 82 wins, and had coached the Thorns to two NWSL Shields and one championship. Both Washington and Portland made the playoffs every year he was in charge.
Roster-wise, Washington have one of the most exciting attacking trios in the league in Rodman, Sanchez, and Ashley Hatch. Rodman is dangerous as a goalscorer, but also as a creator; she's excellent on the dribble, and tends to draw multiple defenders to herself, opening up space for her teammates.
“[Rodman is] having a good season this year,' ACFC Head Coach Freya Coombe said to media. 'She's come in hungry and knows that there's a World Cup spot she's playing for as well. She's so good on the ball, being able to face up and go one-on-one.”
Defending Rodman, said Coombe, will be 'about limiting her ability to get faced up and being able to dribble at our back line. Also, we do not want to give her a ton of time and space on the ball.”
The addition of midfielder Julie Ertz has been a major positive for Angel City, as the experienced defensive mid provides a big boost when it comes to protecting the pocket between the midfield and the center backs.
However, Madison Hammond—who has only played as a defender since her professional debut with OL Reign—has been getting minutes at the No. 6 spot throughout the season and had her best performance to date against Kansas City last week. She assisted Endo's goal and was an overall stabilizing force deep in midfield.
“I was really impressed with Madison tonight,' said Coombe after the game. 'She's continued to grow throughout the season, putting herself in that six position and keeping possession for us. She's reading the game, making challenges and taking away space.”
Hammond entered college at Wake Forest as an attacking midfielder, later making the switch to outside back, and has played all across the back line as a pro. Defensive midfield is a new role, and Hammond says she's 'really committed to making it work.'
'I have so much responsibility [in that role]—I can dictate the tempo,' she said during preseason. 'I think it's a lot of wide-eyed opportunity, but there are also a lot of things you've got to cover.'
“We've given her feedback at the start of the season and she's risen to that challenge,' continued Coombe. 'Madison has kept it really simple... Her best performances have been her most simple ones, but ones where she's really taking care of the basics in a very good way.'