It took over three and a half matches for the NWSL champion Washington Spirit to take their first lead of 2022, and only six minutes to triple it. The Spirit beat the Orlando Pride 4-1 in the NWSL Challenge Cup at Audi Field, with Ashley Sanchez, Andi Sullivan, and Ashley Hatch scoring in rapid succession, and Trinity Rodman adding a late goal to her two assists. Washington dominated the game from the start, applying constant pressure while Orlando failed to make a single attempt on goal in the first half. The Spirit then broke through in the 43rd minute. Rodman's low cross from the right-wing was dummied by Hatch and slotted home by Sanchez after Sullivan picked her out.

Two minutes later, Rodman provided another assist, this time from the left side as she passed the ball to Sullivan, who controlled the pass with her back to goal, swiveled to her right foot, and landed a close-range shot. The three-goal lead was only good for five minutes. Orlando got on the board after Gunny Jonsdottir connected with Darian Jenkins' cross. The Pride, on the other hand, struggled to threaten the rest of the game as Rodman scored in the 87th minute when she got on the end of Kelley O'Hara's pass and beat goalie Anna Moorhouse with a floating header.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Georgia Soares]