The Washington Spirit fended off a comeback from the Chicago Red Stars to close out the first day of the NWSL Challenge Cup, with Rose Lavelle and Ashley Hatch netting goals in a 2-1 win.
Both teams wore matching Black Lives Matter warm-up shirts over their jerseys ahead of the match, and a mixture of players and coaches knelt and stood through the national anthem.
The Washington Spirit released a statement following the game expressing the players’ intentions in addressing racism.
“We, the players of the Washington Spirit, celebrate our differences and are united in the fight to end racial injustice, police brutality and systemic racism against Black people and people of color,” the statement read.