Michele Kang on growth of women’s sports
Michele Kang walks the Women Sports Foundation’s red carpet and answers questions on her vision of women’s sports.
Sports Seriously
The Washington Spirit are one win away from advancing to their second consecutive NWSL championship following a dramatic quarterfinal win over the No. 7 seed Racing Louisville FC.
The No. 2 seed Spirit conceded an equalizer to Louisville in stoppage time and went to a penalty kicks after two scoreless extra time periods. Washington won the shootout 3-1, thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury.
The Spirit are now lacing up their cleats for a NWSL playoff semifinal showdown against No. 4 seed Portland Thorns FC on Saturday, Nov. 15 (noon ET, CBS) following the Thorns’ 1-0 quarterfinal win over San Diego Wave FC. Washington was able to survive and advance to the semifinals without forward Trinity Rodman, but all eyes are on her potential return.
Rodman suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain in her right knee on Oct. 15. She was listed as questionable heading into the Spirit’s quarterfinal match vs. Racing and was listed as a reserve, but Rodman didn’t play or warmup. Spirit head coach Adrián González, a finalist for Coach of the Year, said Rodman is taking her recovery “day-by-day” and “working so hard” to return to the field.
HIGHLIGHTS: Washington Spirit edge Racing Louisville FC in NWSL playoff quarterfinal
“She’s checking the boxes really good,” González said on Nov. 8. “She’s been working so hard, honestly, to try to be where she is right now. She’s doing everything and even more than she can do. All the credit to her. Because of that, now she had the chance to be on the bench, to be honest.”
The last time the Spirit and Thorns played was on Aug. 3, when Rodman scored a game-winning goal in stoppage time to defeat Portland 2-1 in her first game back from a four-month absence due to injury.
Here’s everything you need to know about the NWSL semifinal match between the Spirit and Thorns:
What time is Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns?
The NWSL playoffs continue on Saturday, Nov. 15 with a semifinal match between the Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns: TV, streaming for NSWL semifinal
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 15
- Time: 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT)
- Location: Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
- TV: CBS
- Stream: Paramount+, Fubo
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