The District Press

USL undermining union, Messi finally in DC, and more: Friday Freedom Kicks Happy Friday! Last night, I had what can only be described as a nightmare, in which Washington Spirit changed their colors to brown and orange like the Cleveland Browns. The kind of grim stuff that percolates in the brain when your team still hasn't completed a rebrand after four years. Thankfully, it was just a dream, and we are finally getting some warm weather and evening sunlight to cheer me back up.

It's Friday! Today we're talking about some apparent union-busting by USL, Messi finally coming to DC... for Trump, and Sophia Wilson's return to soccer.

Sean Johnson speaks on new opportunity with DC United DC United made a ton of player moves in the offseason to try and build a roster that could climb out of the cellar of Major League Soccer. The earners of the Wooden Spoon with the worst record last…

For @districtpressdc.bsky.social and @usasoccercast.bsky.social, I sit down with #DCU and #USMNT goalkeeper Sean Johnson to discuss his move to the Black-and-Red and his goals for club and country this year.

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On the latest episode, we have a great interview with #USMNT and #DCU goalkeeper Sean Johnson! Hear what he has to say about his offseason move and what success looks like for him this season.

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Sean Johnson speaks on new opportunity with DC United DC United made a ton of player moves in the offseason to try and build a roster that could climb out of the cellar of Major League Soccer. The earners of the Wooden Spoon with the worst record last season, head coach René Weiler and DC United sporting director Erkut Sogut made a point to bring in players they thought could help the club get back to competing immediately.

Sean Johnson sits down with @blazindw.bsky.social to discuss his move to #DCU, whether he focuses on making the #USMNT roster for the #WorldCup, and what success looks like this season for the Black-and-Red.
#MLS @usasoccercast.bsky.social

USWNT Defeat Canada, Aman’s Loudoun Loan, USL Labor Update, Wrexham in the Bronx, and more: Thursday Freedom Kicks Happy Thursday everyone. I hope everyone is enjoying this packed window of soccer. Its been a lot of fun for me. One thing that has struck me bouncing between different games is the difference in effort put into coverage of some of the women's matches. In some cases, certain matches get the full big event treatment with commentary teams and halftime shows.

Happy Thursday. Today we look at the USWNT's SheBelieves Cup win, Richie Aman's loan, DC Power's Players of the Month, and the Richmond Kickers' new jersey, and others in Thursday Freedom Kicks.

Just one DC-related international game today and it’s for the early birds.

DC Power FC’s Morgan Aquino and Australia take on IR Iran in Gold Coast at 4 am EST.

Tomorrow will be another light day and the games are back in full swing on Saturday.

#dcpowerfc

Rodman starts and Tara the Explorer is on the bench for #USWNT vs Canada. On the other side, Gabby Carle is not starting but available for selection for #CANWNT.

#ThatsTheSpirit

Colombia beats Argentina 1-0 in a Linda Caicedo goal. Leicy Santos with the assist on the goal.

#ThatsTheSpirit

Leicy Santos in the starting 11 for Colombia against Argentina. Daniela Montoya gets the captain’s armband.

#ThatsTheSpirit

The SheBelieves Cup continues this afternoon! Chat about the matches with us here.

Rose Kouassi is on the bench and available for selection in Ivory Coast’s friendly with Kenya.

#ThatsTheSpirit

DC United have announced that Richie Aman will join Loudoun United on loan for the 2026 season. It's a chance to get the 1st round draft pick some minutes assuming USL and the USLPA agree on a new collective bargaining agreement in time to start the season. #DCU #LoudAndUnited

Why United is Baltimore Bound, Trin Concerns as SheBelieves Rolls Forward, 100 Days Till World Cup, and More: Wednesday Freedom Kicks It's a lot, people. It feels we're all operating at a nexus point where the proverbial Ghostbuster streams are getting crossed not on a daily, but hourly basis. Hold on tight, but take a breath with some soccer tidbits laid out in link format. On to the news! Why D.C. United plays Messi in Baltimore — and wants to expand there…

Why United is Baltimore Bound, Trin Concerns as SheBelieves Rolls Forward, 100 Days Till World Cup, and More: Wednesday Freedom Kicks

Today's DC-inspired #woso viewing guide:

- 2 PM EST - Rose and Ivory Coast vs Kenya

- 3:30 PM EST - Leicy and Colombia vs Argentina

- 6:45 PM EST - Trinity,Tara, and the #USWNT vs Gabby and Canada

- 10 PM EST - Carleigh, Katrina, and the Philippines vs South Korea

#ThatsTheSpirit #dcpowerfc

Haiti's Starting 11: Naila Louissaint, Jennyfer Limage, Tabita Joseph, Melchie Dumornay (Captain), Batcheba Louis, Deborah Bien-Aime, Amandine Pierre-Louis, Chelsea Domond, Josephine Vanuxeem, Anyssa Ibrahim, Claire Constant.

DC Power FC's Claire Constant gets the start in Pia Sundhage's first Hatian squad. They'll face Suriname in Concacaf W qualifiers.

#dcpowerfc

The European portion of today's DC-related matches has ended. Morgan and England run roughshod of Ukraine (6-1), Cantore, Di Guglielmo, and Italy fall to Sweden 1-0. MacIver and Scotland blank Luxembourg 5-0.

Still to come, Claire Constant and Haiti take on Suriname.

#ThatsTheSpirit #DCPowerFC

Sofia Cantore departs in the 62nd minute with Italy still down 1-0. She was replaced by Martina Piemonte.

Morgan entered at halftime for England. She replaced Leah Williamson. Its Lionesses 2 - Ukraine 1 in the 61st minute.

#ThatsTheSpirit

Scotland's starting lineup against Luxembourg: MacIver, Docherty, Clark, Gregory, Taylor, Weir (Captian), Hanson, McLauchlan, McAneny, Cuthbert, Lawton. Bench: Gibson, Cumings, McLeary, Howrd, Eddie, McGovern, Howat, Brown, Rodgers, Newsham, McAulay, Davidson.

Sandy MacIver gets the start in goal for Scotland against Luxembourg in their World Cup Qualifying tie.

#ThatsTheSpirit

Italy's starting line up vs Sweden: Guliani, Lenzini, Linari (Captain) Di Guglielmo, Oliviero, Caruso, Giugliano, Severini, Bonansea, Cantore, Cambiaghi.

Lucia Di Guglielmo and Sofia Cantore both get the starting nod for Italy against Sweden in their World Cup qualifier.

This match is on Paramount Plus in the US.

#ThatsTheSpirit

The English WNT’s starting lineup vs Ukraine on 3 March 2026 is Hampton, Le Tissier, Hinds, Walsh, Williamson (Captain), Wubben-Moy, Park, Stanway, Russo, Blindkilde-Brown, Hemp. Bronze, Moorhouse, Pattinson, Morgan, Fisk, Kelly, Kendall, Beever-Jones, James, Roebuck, Carter, and Godfrey are on the bench.

Esme Morgan starts on the bench for the Lionesses vs Ukraine.

#ThatstheSpirit

Today’s DC-based #woso viewing and rooting guide:

- 12 PM EST - Esme Morgan and England vs Ukraine

- 12:15 PM EST - Lucia Di Guglielmo and Sofia Cantore and Italy vs Sweden

- 1:30 PM EST - Sandy MacIver and Scotland vs Luxembourg

- 5 PM EST - Claire Constant and Haiti vs Suriname

Spirit/Power International Weekend Recap, New Spirit Player Interview, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks Morning DC Footy Folks! We are 100 days away from the start of the 2026 World Cup (and I get to attend my first ever World Cup game)! More on the World Cup further down, but let's jump into some local footy news first. PJ did the heavy lifting and put together a great article recapping all of the womens soccer action from over the weekend that involved both Spirit and Power players.

Spirit/Power International Weekend Recap, New Spirit Player Interview, and more: Tuesday Freedom Kicks

International Weekend Recap: Power FC and Spirit Players This past weekend was a busy one for women’s international soccer. The AFC Women’s Asian Cup kicked off in Australia. The SheBelieves Cup launched with a Music City doubleheader. CAF teams began their last set of friendlies in advance of the (possibly postponed) Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. For DC Power and Washington Spirit fans, the weekend featured the first two of four clashes between club teammates during this window.

Over the weekend eight DC Power and Washington Spirit players featured in the AFC Women's Asian Cup, the SheBelieves Cup, and a pair of friendlies. How id they do? Checkout our recap here.
#ThatsTheSpirit #DCPowerFC #USWNT #woso #shebelievescup #afcwomensasiancup

episode graphic with promo photo of Eli Tsé in the Spirit’s new banger cherry blossom shirt

🌸NEW POD🌸

We got to chat with new Washington Spirit defender, Elisabeth 'Eli' Tsé! We discussed her journey into soccer, choosing soccer over figure skating, path to the Spirit, and more!

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DC United lose, USWNT win, and more: Monday Freedom Kicks Happy Monday everyone. Yesterday marked the start of Women's History Month. It's our chance to celebrate all the women that are leaders, heroes, innovators, creators, and are making history every single day. March should not be the only month we do this, but it's a chance to center those stories and experiences to add it to our daily lives. I'm looking forward to learning more about some of these stories and uplifting the voices that shape this world for the better.

We're talking about the #USWNT win and the #DCU road loss on today's Freedom Kicks.

Set piece defending woes plague DC United in loss to Austin FC DC United dropped 1-0 match on the road to Austin FC on Sunday afternoon. An 82nd minute Christian Ramirez goal was the difference as set piece defending proved to be the major story. DC United head coach René Weiler made two changes from the lineup that started the match last week against Philadelphia, with Hosei Kijima and Jared Stroud starting in place of Gabriel Pirani and Jackson Hopkins.

Set piece defending was the major difference in a 1-0 #DCU defeat to Austin FC.

Leicy Santos from the spot puts Colombia on the board after Robledo is taken down in the box. 3-1 Canada in the 82nd minute.

USA vs. Argentina and Canada vs. Colombia, 2026 She Believes Cup: Match thread The 2026 She Believes Cup, an annual international tournament hosted by the United States, kicks off today. This year's competition features Argentina, Canada, and Colombia, in addition the hosting U.S. Women's National Team. In the first match of the tournament, tenth-ranked Canada take on 20th-place Colombia. Typically defensive-minded Canada have struggled under coach Casey Stoney, winning just four of 10 friendlies last year (while losing the other six).

The 2026 She Believes Cup begins today. Chat with us about the first two matches -- Canada vs. Colombia and USA vs. Argentina -- here.

DC United @ Austin FC: Preview, time, and how to watch DC United is back on the field this afternoon as they travel to the Lone Star State to take on Austin FC in their first road match of the season. DC United is coming off a 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union in their season opener last weekend, and they look to keep it going against an Austin FC team that drew Minnesota United 2-2 last weekend.

Join us for all the discussion as #DCU takes on Austin FC in #MLS action!