It's been quite the summer for Esme Morgan. Fresh off winning the 2025 UEFA Women's Euro with England, Morgan slotted right back into the defensive line for the Washington Spirit. She played like a champion, being flexible in the Spirit's fluctuating three-back setup, and was a steady presence when things were tricky in the final third.

Washington Spirit will look to kick off the restart with a bang as they host rivals Portland Thorns at home in the upcoming game. With a lot riding on the game, all eyes are on Trinity Rodman, as the USWNT star eyes a valiant return.

Spirit coach Adrian Gonzalez, who marked his debut as full-time head coach with the dramatic victory, mentioned after the game that because of Rodman’s minutes management, she was only ever going to play 15 minutes.