Trinity Rodman and Clara Luvanga each had a hand in three goals Sunday as the Washington Spirit beat Portland Thorns FC 4–1 at Audi Field to reach the NWSL semifinals. The win was Washington’s largest in playoff history and put the Spirit one victory away from playing for a championship on their home field.
It took six minutes for Washington to get in front. Rodman won the ball from Portland, got past a defender and crossed to Mélissa Bethi at the far post. Bethi’s finish was the fastest playoff goal in club history.
Luvanga turned another Portland mistake into a goal in the 34th minute, chasing down a back pass and taking the ball off goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold’s foot to make it 2–0. A minute later, Luvanga set up Rodman for a first-time finish. The Spirit took a 3–0 lead into halftime, matching the NWSL record for goals in a playoff half, according to the club.
Portland had a chance to make a game of it after Pietra Tordin scored in the 51st minute. Sandy MacIver made a diving save as the Thorns pushed for a second, and Washington went the other way. Luvanga got behind Portland’s back line and found Rodman in the box for her second goal in the 58th minute. According to the Spirit, Rodman and Luvanga became the first two NWSL players to record three goal contributions apiece in a playoff match.
Spirit to host Utah at Audi Field
The third-seeded Spirit will host No. 7 Utah Royals FC at noon ET on Saturday, Nov. 14, with coverage on CBS and Paramount+. Audi Field had been booked that day for the Secretaries’ Cup college football game, but the Spirit will stay in D.C. for their third straight home semifinal. Spirit CEO Kim Stone credited D.C. United with helping resolve the scheduling conflict and Lafayette Federal Credit Union with covering the additional costs.
“Let’s sell out Audi Field for the sixth straight playoff game!” Stone said in the club’s announcement. Lafayette Federal Credit Union President and CEO B. John Farmakides said helping bring the match to Audi Field was “an easy decision.”
Utah earned its first playoff win Friday, upsetting No. 2 San Diego Wave FC 1–0 on the road. Washington and Utah drew 1–1 at Audi Field in March before Rodman scored the only goal in the Spirit’s 1–0 road win in July.
A win Saturday would send Washington to its third consecutive NWSL Championship, already scheduled for Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. ET at Audi Field. The Spirit would be the first club since the 2019 North Carolina Courage to play for the title in its home stadium.