OL Reign gave the Washington Spirit their toughest game of 2022. The NWSL Challenge Cup semifinal ended 0-0 at full-time (much to the Reign’s rightful annoyance) and went straight to penalties. Photographer Kelley Piper was on hand to capture the moments of chaos, intensity and elation for Black and Red United.
Each team made their first five penalties, including Washington Spirit keeper Aubrey Kingsbury converting her team’s third. After a save by Reign keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce (surely their MVP of this doubleheader), it was on Kingsbury to break their streak of seven successful penalties to keep the Spirit in it.