Chicago Red Stars W vs Washington Spirit W Predicted Lineups

Chicago Red Stars W host Washington Spirit W at Martin Stadium in a Group Stage clash of the NWSL Women 2026 season that pits the league’s bottom side against one of the main title contenders. Chicago sit 16th with 17 points from 24 matches, a goal difference of -40 and just 5 wins all season, while Washington arrive in 2nd place on 43 points, pushing for the play-offs and seeded position in the Quarter-finals.

The contrast in league form is stark. Chicago’s recent league form string reads DLLWL, underlining a season of defensive problems and inconsistency. Washington, by comparison, show LWWLD in the table snapshot, and a much stronger overall campaign with 13 wins and only 23 goals conceded. That context, along with predictive models and betting markets, makes Washington clear favourites, but the head-to-head history between these sides has often been tight. With no official lineups yet, this preview focuses on predicted lineups and expected tactical setups based on squad lists, form and key player data.

Predicted lineups suggest Chicago will again look to stay compact and counter through their pace up front, while Washington are expected to control territory and possession, leaning on their stronger defensive metrics and the attacking influence of T. Rodman. How these expected starting lineups match up will be crucial in determining whether the hosts can upset the odds or Washington consolidate their position near the top.

Chicago Red Stars W Team News & Expected Lineups Today

No injuries or suspensions are reported in the available data for Chicago Red Stars W, so they are expected to have a full squad to choose from. That is vital for a side battling at the bottom, with 17 points from 24 games and a negative goal difference of -40 after conceding 54 goals. Their form string of DLLWL highlights a recent run that still includes too many defeats, but there have been occasional signs of life, particularly at home where they have 4 wins from 11.

Given their struggles, Chicago are expected to set up in a cautious, defensively minded shape, trying to protect their back line and exploit transitions. The manager is likely to lean on experienced figures in goal and in attack, while using energetic wide players to stretch Washington on the break. With no significant absences reported, the focus is on selecting a balanced expected lineup that can offer more protection without sacrificing what little attacking threat they have shown.

Chicago Red Stars W Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: A. Naeher
DF: Elise Evans, A. Farmer, S. Staab, Maitane López
MF: Leila Ouahabi, E. Egizii, B. Franklin, A. Gasper
FW: M. Swanson, J. Huitema

This predicted starting lineup for Chicago Red Stars W leans heavily on experience and defensive solidity where possible. In goal, A. Naeher is the logical choice as the most seasoned goalkeeper in the squad. At the back, a core of Elise Evans and A. Farmer, supported by S. Staab and Maitane López, should provide a more stable defensive block than Chicago have often managed this season, with the full-backs expected to be relatively conservative.

In midfield, Leila Ouahabi and A. Gasper can offer control and ball progression from deeper areas, while E. Egizii and B. Franklin add legs and pressing capacity in central zones. The front line of M. Swanson and J. Huitema gives Chicago a genuine outlet in behind and in the box: Swanson’s direct running and Huitema’s presence as a penalty-area focal point are essential if the hosts are to convert rare chances. With no Chicago players listed among the league’s top scorers or assist providers, the attacking burden is spread, but this expected XI is built to give their best forwards the platform to counter quickly when Washington commit numbers forward.

Washington Spirit W Team News & Expected Lineups Today

Washington Spirit W also have no listed injuries or suspensions, meaning they should travel with a full-strength squad for this Group Stage fixture. Sitting 2nd in the table with 43 points, a positive goal difference of +10 and just 23 goals conceded in 24 matches, they come in as clear favourites. Their form string in the standings is LWWLD, and broader league data shows a strong defensive record and a consistent attacking output of 33 goals.

With lineups today expected to reflect their usual attacking intent, Washington are likely to maintain a proactive, front-foot approach. They have used an attacking-minded shape regularly this season and will again look to dominate possession and territory. The presence of T. Rodman, who ranks among the league’s top scorers and assist providers, is central to their game plan, while a solid midfield core and a reliable back line underpin their status as contenders.

Washington Spirit W Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: S. MacIver
DF: G. Carle, L. Di Guglielmo, E. Morgan, Kate Wiesner
MF: D. Abiodun, L. Santos, A. Sullivan, Hal Hershfelt
FW: T. Rodman, Ashley Hatch

This predicted starting lineup for Washington Spirit W is constructed to balance control in midfield with significant attacking firepower. In goal, S. MacIver is a strong candidate to start, supported by a back four of G. Carle, L. Di Guglielmo, E. Morgan and Kate Wiesner, a defensive unit capable of building from the back and defending space in transition. Their league record of only 23 goals conceded in 24 matches underlines the effectiveness of this defensive structure.

In midfield, D. Abiodun offers energy and ball-winning, L. Santos provides creativity and passing range, while A. Sullivan and Hal Hershfelt add control and balance. Sullivan, who appears among the top red card statistics, plays an aggressive, combative role in the middle and must manage her discipline, but her presence also helps Washington dictate the tempo. Up front, the combination of T. Rodman and Ashley Hatch is the focal point. Rodman is one of the standout players in the league, with 8 goals and 4 assists in 24 appearances, 56 shots and 23 key passes; she is expected to drift into dangerous pockets, attack full-backs 1v1 and be Washington’s primary goal threat. Hatch complements her as a penalty-box striker, giving Washington both movement in behind and a target for crosses and cut-backs.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

With no injuries or suspensions listed for either side, selection decisions are expected to be purely tactical. That places even greater emphasis on how the coaches choose to structure their midfields and front lines, particularly given the gulf in league position and defensive records.

Chicago Red Stars W Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Washington Spirit W Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

Tactically, this match projects as a classic clash between a struggling underdog in a compact defensive block and a high-ranking side looking to impose their game. Chicago’s expected starting lineup is built around a deep defensive line and a hard-working midfield four, aiming to close central spaces and force Washington wide. With a season record of just 14 goals scored and 54 conceded, Chicago cannot afford to open up; instead, they will likely concede possession, protect the penalty area and rely on quick transitions through M. Swanson and J. Huitema. Their recent defensive numbers, including an average of 2.3 goals conceded per match, make it imperative that the back four and holding midfielders remain disciplined.

Washington’s predicted XI, by contrast, is constructed to dominate the ball and create overloads in advanced zones. Their league data shows 33 goals scored, with strong production across all phases of the match, and a solid defensive average of 1 goal conceded per game. With T. Rodman’s blend of goals and assists, Washington will look to isolate her against Chicago’s full-backs, while Ashley Hatch occupies the centre-backs. In midfield, the technical pairing of L. Santos and Hal Hershfelt, supported by the combative A. Sullivan and energetic D. Abiodun, should allow Washington to recycle possession and counter-press aggressively when they lose the ball. The key tactical battle will be whether Chicago’s back line and double pivot can cope with Washington’s rotations and the individual quality of Rodman, or whether Washington’s high line leaves them vulnerable to direct balls into Swanson and Huitema.

Match Prediction and Verdict

All indicators point towards Washington Spirit W having a clear edge. They are 2nd in the table with 43 points and a positive goal difference, while Chicago are 16th with 17 points and the worst defensive record in the league. The prediction model gives Chicago only a 10% chance of victory, with both the draw and an away win rated at 45%. The overall comparison indices also favour Washington strongly, with a total comparison index of 66.5 versus 33.5 for Chicago, and a Poisson index of 83 versus 17, underlining Washington’s superiority in expected goal output over time.

Betting markets reinforce this picture. Across major bookmakers, Washington’s away win odds range from 1.22 to 1.30, implying an approximate win probability in the 77–82% range. Chicago’s home odds between 7.70 and 9.20 translate to an implied probability roughly in the 11–13% band, consistent with the prediction model’s 10% figure. Given Chicago’s defensive frailty, Washington’s strong defensive record and the presence of a proven attacking threat in T. Rodman, the most likely scenario is Washington controlling the game and avoiding defeat. With the goals fields in the prediction data set as negative thresholds rather than explicit scorelines, a conservative verdict aligned with the double-chance advice (draw or Washington) is appropriate.

Predicted Outcome: Chicago Red Stars W 0–1 Washington Spirit W

How to Watch Chicago Red Stars W vs Washington Spirit W Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

• Spain: Local sports broadcaster or streaming platform (check regional listings)
• UK: Major sports channel or official NWSL streaming partner (check schedules)
• USA / North America: National sports network or dedicated NWSL streaming service
• South America: Regional sports broadcaster with NWSL rights or online streaming platform
• MENA: Pan-regional sports network or official football streaming partner