Washington Spirit see off Chicago Stars in 3-0 win: Match report

The Washington Spirit needed to recover from a bad loss last week, and did so with relative ease Sunday, seeing off the Chicago Stars 3-0 at a rain-soaked, wind-swept Martin Stadium.

First-half goals from Trinity Rodman and Andi Sullivan set the Spirit on their way, while a late third from Tamara Bolt finished off a needed win against NWSL's bottom side.

After a disappointing performance and result against the Boston Legacy last week, the Spirit needed to get off to a good start. Multiple dangerous low crosses caused the hosts early trouble, and Rodman made sure the positive beginning paid off with a goal in the 7th minute.

Hal Hershfelt intercepted a stray pass forward from the Stars, and Rodman was already pointing for the service she wanted. Hershfelt obliged, and Rodman slashed inside of Taylor Wood before calmly shooting past Alyssa Naeher.

Trin doing what Trin does best by scoring 7 minutes in 😎

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— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) September 20, 2026 at 5:17 PM

The Stars, missing Mal Swanson and Jordyn Huitema and struggling through a dire 2026, could barely get touches in the Spirit half. Meanwhile, Rodman showed off her technical ability in the 28th minute, letting loose after a deflected corner with a thunderous volley only to be denied by Naeher's stellar save.

From the resulting series of corner kicks, Lucia Di Guglielmo — making her first appearance after missing 10 games due to a lower-leg injury — sent a header towards goal, only for it to strike Bea Franklin's upper arm.

Referee Brandon Stevis gave a penalty, and though he was eventually summoned to the VAR monitor to review the call, a long check saw no change. Andi Sullivan stepped up to the spot, depositing the ball in the bottom corner to double the advantage.

Andi Sullivan picks her corner from the penalty spot 📐

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— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) September 20, 2026 at 5:44 PM

Chicago replied with some brief threats: Sandy MacIver barely escaped one attempt to dribble out of pressure inside the box, while a Stars free kick pinballed around the goalmouth for several seconds before being cleared from danger. Most notably, a 43rd-minute effort from Michelle Alozie crept through traffic and nearly sneaked past MacIver before the Scotland no. 1 reacted to save.

Rodman broke in behind the hosts' defense again in the 42nd minute, cutting an inviting ball back that Sofia Cantore could only steer wide at the near post, much to her frustration.

The second half began with chances at both ends. Alozie tested MacIver early in the second half after breaking in behind from wide, while Tara Rudd's free kick for the Spirit barely missed the bottom corner.

However, from there the Spirit piled up possession, looking to retain control of proceedings by keeping the ball. Play was stopped for several minutes after Mélissa Bethi's attempt to block an Emma Egizii shot ended with the Algeria midfielder taking a heavy kick to her foot. Bethi couldn't continue, and was eventually replaced by Tamara Bolt.

Sam Staab nearly got one over on her old club, forcing MacIver into her best save of the evening after bending a 75th-minute free kick around the wall. At the other end, a Spirit raid forward after Hershfelt's midfield backheel caught the Stars out ended with Monique Ngock's 19-yarder floating wide.

The stoppage for Bethi seemed to take the wind out of Chicago's sails, though, and substitute Tamara Bolt put the game to bed from there. Paige Metayer burst forward along the right before Rodman got on the ball near the endline, clipping a cross into the middle.

It was up for grabs, and no one wanted it more than Bolt, who sprinted in to head past Naeher from close range.

Super sub Tamara Bolt 🙌 She scores her first ever NWSL goal from close range!

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— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) September 20, 2026 at 6:56 PM

Simone Charley nearly gave the Stars a consolation goal after Esme Morgan's mis-hit pass to Rudd came up short, but the U.S. women's national team defender recovered brilliantly to deny Charley's shot attempt at the last second.

Staab's shot attempt after a stoppage-time dead ball bounced around the area appeared to strike Rudd's trailing arm, provoking another lengthy VAR delay. Much to Chicago's frustrations, Stevis wasn't even sent to the monitor, allowing the Spirit to preserve the shutout without further drama.

The win ensures that Washington (14-4-7) will finish the weekend right where they started it: in 2nd place in the NWSL, five points behind NJ/NY Gotham FC. They'll hope to gain some ground next week, with a home clash against Angel City FC their end of that particular bargain. Saturday's kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET.

Box score — NWSL regular season (game 25)
9/20/2026

Chicago Stars 0
Washington Spirit 3 (Rodman 7, Sullivan 34pen, Bolt 85)

Lineups:
Stars (4231): Alyssa Naeher (C); Taylor Wood, Maitane López, Sam Staab, Nádia Gomes; Bea Franklin (Anna Gasper 60), Brianna Pinto (Tessa Dellarose 81); Jenna Bike (Simone Charley 81), Julia Grosso, Leila Ouahabi (Aaliyah Farmer 90); Michelle Alozie (Emma Egizii 60)

Spirit (433): Sandy MacIver; Lucia Di Guglielmo (Paige Metayer 46), Tara Rudd, Esme Morgan, Gabby Carle; Andi Sullivan (C) (Monique Ngock 75), Hal Hershfelt, Mélissa Bethi (Tamara Bolt 75); Rosemonde Kouassi (Ashley Hatch 46), Sofia Cantore (Gift Monday 86), Trinity Rodman

Bookings:
Stars - Franklin 33
Spirit - None

Referee: Brandon Stevis
Weather: Misting rain, gusty, 62°
Attendance: 5,762