San Diego Wave Fútbol Club looks to continue its impressive play as an expansion team in the NWSL as it takes on the defending league champion Washington Spirit on Sept. 10 at Audi Field. The Wave is coming off impressive back-to-back victories against the Houston Dash on Aug. 20 and Portland Thorns on Aug. 27.

Washington Spirit, on the other hand, has had a tough time getting on track this season and will be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with anything other than a victory on Saturday.

“I think both teams look very different in terms of availability of players,” said San Diego Wave FC head coach Casey Stoney. “Also, they’ve had a change in the coaching staff. If I’m a player in that locker room right now, I want to prove myself. I want to put a stake in the game and prove that I want to be part of the future of the club.”

The last time these two teams met was on July 3 at Torero Stadium with San Diego coming out with a 2-1 victory thanks to first-half goals from forward Makenzy Doniak and midfielder Isabella Briede. After an impressive showing in the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup that saw Washington make it all the way to the final, the team has not won a match since its season opener on May 1 beating OL Reign 2-1.

“We have to have a game plan for lots of different scenarios because we don’t know how they’re going to play in terms of their identity and philosophy with the changes that they’ve had,” Stoney added.

San Diego Wave will have three remaining games after Saturday including its inaugural match at Snapdragon Stadium on Sept. 17 vs LA Force.

Photo courtesy of David Frerker