Ask anyone associated with the Washington Spirit, and the focus is on looking forward and putting 2018 in the past. The same can be said for Sky Blue FC, and last year’s cellar dwellers get a chance to prove their changes have made a difference on the first day of the 2019 NWSL season. For both of these teams, getting off to a good start could have huge long-term positives for morale, and banking points before the World Cup throws the league into chaos will likely prove critical as well.
Key player: Andi Sullivan
Mallory Pugh and Rose Lavelle are bigger stars and have more certainty with their USWNT spot, but for the Spirit’s new style of play, Sullivan is the foundation.