Credit: Emily Faith Morgan-Imagn Images
Though the Washington Spirit should be where they are this early in the National Women’s Soccer League season, it is remarkable they’ve done it while contending with a bevy of injuries to key players. They currently sit third in the table with two wins to their name. Head coach Jonatan Giráldez has adapted to the circumstances with new tactics to get the most out of his decimated squad, and their four non-penalty goals scored are tied for fourth.
Yet, questions remain about the attack’s effectiveness and how long the team can cope with their injury setbacks.
Several key attacking players like Rosemonde Kouassi and Ouleymata Sarr are still out of action, and Trinity Rodman‘s slow return to fitness has meant more minutes for depth talent. This has led to an over reliance from other areas to create and score goals.
It’s fair to say that results matter more than performances for the squad at this early point of the campaign. The win against Bay FC helped them stay within striking distance of the Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride. Being able to wrack up early points will be Giraldez’s main goal until he gets his key players back and ultimately revert away from his ad-hoc 3-4-2-1 system and back to his favored 4-3-3.
Access the best women’s soccer coverage all year long
Start your FREE, 7-day trial of The Equalizer Extra for industry-leading reporting and insight on the USWNT, NWSL and beyond.
