PREVIEW: FC KANSAS CITY AND WASHINGTON SPIRIT OPEN WEEK TWO OF THE 2024 NWSL SEASON

The Blues and the Spirit will look to win their first match of the year

FC Kansas City @ Washington Spirit

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2024 – 6 p.m. CT

Stadium: Maureen Hendricks Field | Boyds, MD

Live Stream: YouTube

Gameday: @BluesGameday #WASvFCKC

BOYDS, Md. (April 17, 2024) – Six days after kicking off the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season with a 1-0 loss to Sky Blue FC, FC Kansas City (0-1-0, 0 pts) will look to earn its first victory of the year when the Blues visit the Washington Spirit (0-1-0, 0 pts) this Saturday at the Maureen Hendricks field.

Both teams not only have their sights set on earning three points but also on scoring their first goal of the season. Last weekend, the Spirit fell 2-0 at the BBVA Compass Stadium against the Houston Dash who held the Spirit to only two shots on goal.

All four U.S. Women’s National Team players for the Blues along with Washington’s goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and defenders Ali Krieger will play their second to last game before joining head coach Jill Ellis’ camp in preparation for the 2024 Canada FIFA World Cup, which will take place this summer.

Head coach Vlatko Andonovski will be eager for 2024 U.S. Athlete of the Year Lauren Holiday and forward Amy Rodriguez to get off the mark this season after the club’s top two scorers from last year were held off the score sheet despite recording seven shots (four on goal) between them last Sunday at Sporting Park.

Kansas City and Washington have met five times in three years with each team recording two wins and a tie. However, last season head coach Mark Parsons’ side won the series 2-1 with a couple of home victories and a loss in their visit to Durwood Stadium.

The match Saturday is the first in a stretch for FC Kansas City that will see the Blues play three of their next four games away from home. For the Spirit, it is the lone home fixture out of the first five contests of the season.

Without midfielder Diana Matheson (left knee acl surgery), the Spirit will certainly be looking to forward Christine Nairn – who had two goals in three games against the Blues last season. On the other hand, Andonovski’s team will enter the match with no injuries.

Tickets for the send-off and last year’s championship game rematch against the Seattle Reign next Thursday are on sale starting at $11. For more information call 855-4KC-GOAL.