SeatGeek Stadium | Bridgeview, Illinois – Saturday, April 29 at 8:00 PM ET
Players to watch:
Chicago defender Arin Wright and forward Ally Schlegel both scored their first goals of the season in the Red Stars’ loss at OL Reign on Saturday. Six different players have already scored for Chicago in 2023 (excl. own goals), tied with Portland for the most different scorers this NWSL season. Top of the list in scoring is forward Penelope Hocking, who has netted twice this season with both goals coming in a 4-2 win against Kansas City in a match which preceded the club’s loss to OL Reign.
Washington Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury maintained her second shutout of the season against Houston on Saturday, making 5 saves against an impressive Dash attacking squad. The last time Kingsbury made that many saves while keeping a clean sheet was against the Red Stars in June 2022, which also ended in a scoreless draw. Though they are the only two to have scored in the Spirit side thus far, forwards Ashley Hatch and Trinity Rodman have both scored multiple times with Hatch’s three goals just besting Rodman’s two, with Hatch’s most recent goal her only from the penalty spot this season.
Match facts: The Chicago Red Stars are looking for their second straight home win on Saturday night as they face the Washington Spirit at SeatGeek Stadium, which will be a tough task considering Washington is off to its best start in club history having secured eight points in its first two games (W2 D2).
After conceding five goals to OL Reign on Saturday, the Red Stars have allowed 12 goals over their first four games this season. That matches the most goals allowed over a team’s first four games in NWSL history, set by the Boston Breakers in 2015. One of the positives for Chicago comes in the fact that their only home win so far this year has come at home, when the side beat Kansas City, 4-2, behind a Hocking brace, a goal for Ella Stevens, and an own goal.
After a 0-0 draw with Houston on Saturday, Washington has gone two seasons in a row allowing just three goals over its first four games of the season. The Spirit have allowed fewer just once in their NWSL history, conceding just one goal in their first four games. Washington has also split results at home and on the road, drawing 2-2 against Louisville in their first away match before beating North Carolina, 2-1, in their most recent away match.
However, Chicago is unbeaten in its last five home matches against Washington, including a 1-1 draw in the Fall Series in September 2020 and a 0-0 draw last season. In 27 prior instances of the matchup in all competitions, the Red Stars and Spirit had never played a scoreless draw.
