In their third game this week, the Washington Spirit take on the second place Portland Thorns in Portland this afternoon. Kickoff has been moved twenty minutes earlier, to 3:30pm, because of a heat advisory affecting Portland today. Temperatures could be above 90 degrees by the final whistle. With a win today and a Sky Blue loss or tie tomorrow, Portland would be the second NWSL team to clinch a playoff spot. North Carolina clinched after their Wednesday game against the Spirit.
Key player: Meggie Dougherty Howard
Since the start of the season the Spirit have been hard-hit by injuries but this week the problem is particularly acute.