D.C.: Play ball, for real this time

April 8, 2021

The GIST: Congratulations to the Washington Football Team’s new coordinator of football operations Natalia Dorantes, who is the first Latina to hold that position in the NFL. Welcome to the District! And now onto the Nationals and Spirit, who are both dealing with depleted rosters.

Source: Washington Nationals/Twitter

⚾️Nationals: The Nats opened their delayed season on a high note, raising their championship banner in front of 5,000 fans and defeating the Atlanta Braves 6–5 on Tuesday thanks to a walk-off single by star right fielder Juan Soto. The best hitter in MLB is so back.

But the Nats lost both of yesterday’s doubleheadergames, including wasting pitcher Stephen Strasburg’s six scoreless innings in the second game. But with nine players on the injured list presumably for COVID-related reasons, one out of three ain’t bad.

⚽️Spirit: More from us on the NWSL Challenge Cup opener tomorrow *wink wink*, but the Spirit will be missing five players on Saturday due to national team duties. Spirit captain Andi Sullivan, along with defenders (and Spirit newbies) Kelley O’Hara and Emily Sonnett, are playing for the USWNT in two upcoming international friendlies.

That’s not all. We’ll have to wait a little longer for the NWSL debuts of midfielder Saori Takarada and forward Mariana Speckmaier while they’re away with the Japanese and Venezuelan national teams, respectively, this week. Patience.