Washington Spirit Bounce Back with Road Win

The Spirit snap a four-game winless streak with a 2-0 victory over Bay FC.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:49am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a women's soccer match, with players and the field broken down into overlapping angular shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette.The Washington Spirit's gritty road win over Bay FC showcases the team's determination to bounce back from a recent slump.Washington Today

The Washington Spirit snapped a four-game winless streak with a 2-0 road victory over Bay FC. An own goal from Bay's Brooklyn Courtnall and a late strike from substitute Gift Monday secured the three points for the Spirit, who maintained the second-highest expected goals (xG) and expected assists (xA) in the NWSL.

Why it matters

The Spirit's win helps them climb back up the NWSL standings after a recent slump, while Bay FC's struggles continue as they remain near the bottom of the table.

The details

The Spirit took the lead in the 86th minute when an own goal from Bay's Brooklyn Courtnall put them ahead. Substitute Gift Monday then sealed the victory with a late goal to give Washington the 2-0 win on the road.

  • The Spirit snapped their four-game winless streak on April 23, 2026.
  • Bay FC suffered their second loss of the season on April 23, 2026.

The players

Washington Spirit

The Washington Spirit are a professional women's soccer team that plays in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Bay FC

Bay FC is a professional women's soccer team based in the San Francisco Bay Area that competes in the NWSL.

Gift Monday

Gift Monday is a forward for the Washington Spirit who scored the game-sealing goal in the 86th minute.

Brooklyn Courtnall

Brooklyn Courtnall is a defender for Bay FC who scored an own goal to give the Spirit the lead.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we needed to bounce back after a tough stretch, and the team really stepped up today to get an important road win.”

— Kris Ward, Head Coach, Washington Spirit

What’s next

The Spirit will look to build on this win when they host NJ/NY Gotham FC on April 25. Bay FC will try to get back on track when they visit the San Diego Wave on the same day.

The takeaway

The Washington Spirit's road victory over Bay FC shows their resilience and ability to rebound from a recent slump, while Bay FC's struggles continue as they remain near the bottom of the NWSL standings.