OL Reign’s run in the 2022 NWSL Challenge Cup came to an end after a ten-round penalty shootout, falling to the Washington Spirit 8 to 9 following a scoreless match. And there can be a solid argument that the game should not have even gone to a shootout if this clear and obvious handball in the box at the end of stoppage time was actually called.
It’s left a bad taste across the NWSL despite the penalty shootout being very entertaining — which even had a goalkeeper converting a penalty in the third round.