HEY SPIRITS

The Washington Spirit were one of the most active teams during the 2024 NWSL Draft and ended up selecting six new players to suit up for the new season – and we spoke to them ALL! In Part 1 of this two-part series, you'll hear from our #3 pick Croix Bethune, #5 Hal Hershfelt, and #7 Kate Wiesner. We talk to them about their experience being drafted, their path toward turning pro, how they'...

The Washington Spirit hit a reset button during the 2024 NWSL Draft and took us all by surprise. So Annie, Ella and André process all the happenings of the draft, including sudden goodbyes to two of the Spirit's best players, on the pitch and off. We chat about the sadness of it all, what can be done to avoid players being ' shocked' by moves, profile some of the incoming rookies, and...

COMUNICADO OFICIAL! The Washington Spirit hit us with back-to-back super fun announcements and we countered with one of our own. Annie & André welcome Ella Brockway of The Washington Post as our official third cohost! The new crew sits down for the time to chat about the ultra ambitious signing of Barcelona coach Jonatan Giráldez as head coach, what it means for potential style of play and pla...

Well, the expansion draft happened so Annie & André are here to ask the lone burning question from the event: did it have to? We also recap the Spirit's deal for full protection, say a sad goodbye to DJ Dor, plus chat coaching rumors and complain about free agency refusing to give us the chaos we crave. Oh and André shares his diabolical plan to set European WOSO Twitter on fire. Please su...

Annie & André are back and with.....not a lot of information. But there's an expansion draft in a few days, with free agency expected to kick into high gear afterward, plus the college draft, so we figured we might as well talk about, well, not knowing anything! We chat about the coaching search, and how curious it is that no one has been announced yet. André also updates some candidates w...

The 2023 Washington Spirit Season Overview Extravaganza continues! This episode is all about the players. Annie & André review each player's year with the Spirit, from wishing we got minutes for third GK Lyza Bosselmann to marveling at 'The Trin Spin', we cover every player on the squad. Did the formation change shut out some players? Should Dorian Bailey have played in midfield mo...

Now that Annie & André have (semi-) recovered from the Spirit's unceremonious yeeting from a playoff spot they decided it's the perfect time for a season overview! In part 1 they discuss the season as a whole, looking at early performances, where and when the dip occurred, formation changes, and key games throughout the season. They also chat further about the search for a head coach,...

Well, that was unexpected! After just one season the Washington Spirit announce that head coach Mark Parsons 'will not return.' Annie & André discuss potential reasons for the parting of ways, wonder what it means for front office expectations, and look at a few coaches looking for jobs who could be on the Spirit's list. Please listen, subscribe, rate and review! ==================...

Well, that wasn't how things were supposed to go. The Washington Spirit were the only team to lose a playoff spot on the final day. Pain. Hurt. Sads. Annie & André sift through the match from Trinity Rodman's red card to Amber Brooks filling in at the 9 to see if we can find silver linings, and reasons to be proud despite of the result. Then, it's André's turn to apologize for...

Annie & André review the big point gained in Seattle on Megan Rapinoe's final farewell to Lumen Field. We discuss the game, how the Spirit coped with a record setting environment, and how close they were to three points. Then we look ahead to NWSL DEADLINE MADNESS CHAOS DAY! The Spirit have one of the most interesting matchups of an incredible final matchday. We look at the table, ramifica...

Annie & André recap a dramatic and much needed win over Kansas City! We relive the goals, the difference between the first and second halves, midfield concerns but midfield fixes, and being in awe of God Mode Trinity Rodman. André also rants about why he thinks EA Sports gets ratings wrong (beyond #engagement from rage tweets) and Annie confesses to possibly jinxing the team. Please listen, su...

After interviewing several Washington Spirit players and hearing from multiple that Dorian Bailey controls the music for the team, we had to know more. So Annie & André conducted a special Hey Spirits investigation and went straight to the source: DJ Dor herself! DJ tells us all about her process, how she reads the reactions to what she plays, how she sources new music, what she likes to liste...

Annie & André are back with another episode and this time we had the pleasure of speaking with the very chill, fun and funny Washington Spirit forward: Lena Silano! Before we get to our interview with Lena, we recap the Spirit's frustrating 2-0 loss to Gotham FC. We wonder if it's time to panic yet, whether formation changes are to blame, and look at the Spirit's attack. Then we sh...

IT'S THE PAIGE METAYER INTERVIEW! Paige is one of the very best stories in the NWSL this season so she sat down for a one-on-one chat with André to tell us all about her journey. From falling in love with soccer before the age of 4 and demanding to play, to her journey joining the Spirit and growing into a day 1 starter, Paige walks us through her career so far. We also talk about her first go...

Hey Spirits, we have a very fun interview in which Annie & André got the chance to chat with the one and only Ashley Hatch! We ask Ashley Hatch about the secrets to her consistent goalscoring, her perspective on all the changes at the Spirit, her hilarious video displaying her husband's hole-in-one, her baking show, plus missing the World Cup and how she's still processing being left o...

Annie & André begin the episode with a sad review of the match at the weekend. The Spirit pelted 21 shots at the Red Stars, but lost 2-0. We discuss what went wrong, and how it impacts the final games of the season. But then we shift to a delightful conversation with Washington Spirit left back, Gabby Carle! Gabby tells us why she chose the NWSL (and the Spirit), relives her masterful evasion...

Annie & André recap the Spirit's 1-1 draw with Portland Thorns. Though the match was marred by injury to Sophia Smith, a formation change led to the Spirit playing their best in-possession game of the season, and left us with lots to get excited about. After reviewing the match we welcome Maddie Elwell to the pod! Maddie gives us details on what it means to be the Official Vibe Setter™ of...

In this episode, Jo and Annie discussed the Spirit's 4-2 comeback victory against NJ/NY Gotham FC, including lightning delays, whether the Spirit were just too hot before, and Ashley Hatch assuming control. Plus, Tori Huster and Bayley Feist return! Then, we chatted a little bit about the next game, the Spirit's final Challenge Cup match against Orlando Pride. But we are not talking about...

Well then. The Spirit were on the very wrong end of a 6-0 loss to North Carolina Courage. Annie, Jo and André try to pick up the pieces by analyzing what went wrong, and whether the match was truly that lopsided. Then we take a break after some new music Annie dropped and discuss the Spirit's newest players, Ouleymata Sarr and Anaïg Butel! We discuss their profiles and what they might bring to...

Hello again! We, as your friendly neighborhood Washington Spirits podcast, asked you for questions and you DELIVERED! We answered questions about how we all got started at The District Press , what transfers we want to see, Tara McKeown, Dorian Bailey, bagels, pies, and double chocolate cupcakes. Please listen, subscribe, rate and review! ==================== Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Annie & André discuss the Washington Spirit's 2-2 draw with San Diego Wave! Taylor Kornieck being tall may have prevented the Spirit from heading into the break with all three points, but there were a lot of positives as well. We discuss a brilliant performance from Ashley Hatch, the team's overall intensity level, Maddie Elwell stepping into a new position for all 90 minutes, Chloe Ri...

Annie & Jo recap a sad night at Audi as the Orlando Pride beat the Spirits 3-0 :( We discuss the problems that crept up in the first game without the national team players, and how they can (read: must) improve against San Diego this weekend. Then we get into another segment of News w/ Annie in which we introduce you to the Spirit's newest signing, Oulemata Sarr! Please listen, subscribe,...

The Spirits had their roughest result of the season, losing 4-2 to Portland Thorns :( Annie & André are here to help you commiserate, but also put the L in perspective. Sophia Smith was in God Mode and that sucked, but the Ashley Sanchez had one of her best games of the season and overall the Spirit did better than the scoreline shows - we'll explain! We also look ahead to the weekend matc...

It's a Going to the World Cup Edition of Hey Spirits with the one and only brick wall herself, Aubrey Kingsbury! Annie & André were delighted to chat to Kingsbury the day after she was officially announced as part of the 23 players squad to represent the USWNT at the World Cup! We got her reactions to being called up, as well as her reflections on the winding road to get here. However, we...

WHAT! A! GAME! The Spirits withstood some brutal luck to start the match versus Kansas City but clawed all the way back for the win! Annie, Jo & André discuss the impact of giving up the quickest goal in NWSL history plus an unfortunate handball for a penalty. But then we discuss the Spirits turning it all around with Ashley Sanchez's 'I'LL DO IT MYSELF' goal, then two late str...