Washington Spirit will host semifinal at Audi Field

The Washington Spirit will not have to worry about finding a different location for its semifinal match in the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs.

Last week it was reported that there could be scheduling conflicts for the three top-seeded teams: Gotham FC, San Diego Wave FC and the Washington Spirit.

However, the Spirit — who defeated the Portland Thorns, 4-1, in a dominant fashion — will indeed host at Audi Field on Saturday, November 14, with the game airing on CBS at 12 p.m. ET, facing the Utah Royals FC.

“We’re excited to host our Semifinal at Audi Field next Saturday,” Washington Spirit CEO Kim Stone said, via a press release. “Thanks to the collaboration of D.C. United and the generosity of Lafayette Federal Credit Union, who stepped forward to underwrite the additional costs necessary to bring this semifinal match home.”

Audi Field’s conflict had to do with a Division III football game between the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Merchant Marine being scheduled for 1 p.m. Plans to relocate that contest have not been made public, but, in a tweet, EQZ Founder Jeff Kassouf stated that the game has been “moved.”

“At Lafayette Federal Credit Union, our members and our community are at the heart of everything we do,” said B. John Farmakides, President & CEO of Lafayette Federal Credit Union. “Partnering with the Washington Spirit this season has been an incredible way to bring those commitments to life. When we had the opportunity to help bring this semifinal home to Audi Field, it was an easy decision. We’re proud to give this team the home field advantage it deserves and to share another unforgettable moment with our members and Spirit fans.”

Meanwhile, the league has yet to state what will happen with Gotham FC’s match against the Kansas City Current. The league announced that the contest will take place on Sunday, November 15, at 3 p.m., airing on ABC and ESPN.

The previous schedule conflict with Sports Illustrated Stadium was a friendly between the New York Red Bulls and Club América, set to take place on Saturday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m. The Red Bulls did not qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

There is nothing scheduled for Sports Illustrated Stadium on Sunday, November 15. However, according to EQZ contributor Jenna Tonelli, the “venue decision [is] no longer about scheduling conflicts, but rather field conditions.”

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