NWSL Challenge Cup

Orlando Pride vs Washington Spirit, 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup

· Washington Spirit win 4-2 on penalties
Orlando Pride
  • 41': Rafaelle
FT - Penalties
1 - 1
Washington Spirit win 4-2 on penalties
Washington Spirit
  • 72': Leicy Santos

Kingsbury heroics lead Washington Spirit to Challenge Cup win

The Washington Spirit won the NWSL Challenge Cup on Thursday defeating the Orlando Pride 4-2 in a penalty shootout, thanks to a crucial save by Aubrey Kingsbury.

Match Timeline

  • 34': Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit) Yellow Card at 34'
  • 36': Narumi Miura (Washington Spirit) Yellow Card at 36'
  • 41': Rafaelle (Orlando Pride) Goal at 41'
  • 45': Julie Doyle (Orlando Pride) Substitution at 45'
  • 61': Rebeca Bernal (Washington Spirit) Substitution at 61'
  • 61': Makenna Morris (Washington Spirit) Substitution at 61'
  • 66': Ally Lemos (Orlando Pride) Substitution at 66'
  • 72': Leicy Santos (Washington Spirit) Goal at 72'
  • 82': Prisca Chilufya (Orlando Pride) Substitution at 82'
  • 82': Summer Yates (Orlando Pride) Substitution at 82'

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/soccer/500/15365.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=originWAS ORLhttps://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/soccer/500/18206.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=origin
18 Fouls 12
2 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0
0 Offsides 0
1 Corner Kicks 7
3 Saves 2
47.8 Possession 52.2
9 SHOTS 13
3 ON GOAL 4
0.3 On Target % 0.3
0 Penalty Goals 0
0 Penalty Kicks Taken 0
0 Accurate Passes 0
0 Passes 0
0.0 Pass Completion % 0.0
0 Accurate Crosses 0
0 Crosses 0
0.0 Cross % 0.0
0 Long Balls 0
0 Accurate Long Balls 0
0.0 Long Balls % 0.0
2 Blocked Shots 4
0 Effective Tackles 0
0 Tackles 0
0.0 Tackle % 0.0
0 Interceptions 0
0 Effective Clearances 0
0 Clearances 0

Game Information

Competition: NWSL Challenge Cup

Venue: Inter&Co Stadium
Location: Orlando, Florida, USA
Attendance: 8,880

Line-Ups

ORL Orlando Pride (4-4-2)

No. Name
1 Anna Moorhouse (GK)
4 Rafaelle
3 Kylie Nadaner
25 Kerry Abello
6 Emily Sams
2 Haley McCutcheon
16 Morgan Gautrat
15 Angelina
11 Ally Watt
22 Barbra Banda
10 Marta
Orlando Pride Substitutes:
Prisca Chilufya, McKinley Crone, Viviana Villacorta, Julie Doyle, Grace Chanda, Zara Chavoshi, Brianna Martinez, Ally Lemos, Summer Yates.

WAS Washington Spirit (4-3-3)

No. Name
1 Aubrey Kingsbury (GK)
24 Esme Morgan
9 Tara McKeown Yellow Card
3 Casey Krueger
14 Gabrielle Carle
17 Hal Hershfelt
5 Narumi Miura Yellow Card
10 Leicy Santos
33 Ashley Hatch
39 Chloe Ricketts
13 Brittany Ratcliffe
Washington Spirit Substitutes:
Makenna Morris, Sandy MacIver, Rebeca Bernal, Kiley Dulaney, Trinity Rodman, Meg Boade, Margie Detrizio.

NWSL Challenge Cup News

Can the NWSL expand to 32 teams like the NFL? Should it?
Can the NWSL expand to 32 teams like the NFL? Should it?

"Crazy," "dangerous" or inevitable? The NWSL's commissioner vows to follow the NFL's path to 32 teams. But questions linger, including from execs inside the league.

Angel City's jump from Hollywood brand to good NWSL team
Angel City's jump from Hollywood brand to good NWSL team

With celebrity owners such as Natalie Portman and cool lifestyle merch drops, Angel City is a preeminent brand in women's soccer. Is being a good soccer team next?

NWSL midseason check-in: how teams compare to expectations
NWSL midseason check-in: how teams compare to expectations

The early-season form of many NWSL teams has been surprising. Let's dig deeper and predict whether this will continue or if it's a blip.

Michele Kang interview: On the NWSL, Spirit, Lyon and transforming women's soccer
Michele Kang interview: On the NWSL, Spirit, Lyon and transforming women's soccer

Billionaire club owner Michele Kang speaks to ESPN about her new vision for women's soccer and the money she's pouring in to make it a reality.

NWSL vs. UWCL, WSL: Will parity keep the U.S. league on top?
NWSL vs. UWCL, WSL: Will parity keep the U.S. league on top?

The NWSL has excitement that the UEFA Women's Champions League and England's WSL can't match -- but how long will it last?