Week 12 of the NWSL was full of surprises and table shuffling. The two top sides stumbled, the expansion sides keep impressing, and the league’s top goal-scorer returned in triumphant fashion. Washi...

Leicy Santos and Trinity Rodman scored goals and the Washington Spirit won their third straight match, 2-0 over the North Carolina Courage on Saturday night. In the only other game in the National Women’s Soccer League, Angel City beat the San Diego Wave 2-0. Santos scored in the 37th minute when she took a cross from Kate Wiesner into the box and volleyed into the net.

Leicy Santos (Washington Spirit) with a Spectacular Goal vs. North Carolina Courage, 07/11/2026

This is the first installment of a new monthly series at The Athletic called “Soccer in ___.” Each article will take you inside the women’s game in a different part of the world. Whether through players’ stories, a standout moment or a snapshot of the history of the sport in a particular nation, the purpose of this series is to bring the world of women’s soccer closer together as we prepare for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil — the first edition of the tournament to be held in South America