WASHINGTON (Aug. 2, 2026) – San Diego Wave FC (10-5-2, 32 points) earned a 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit (11-4-3, 36 points) on Sunday afternoon at Audi Field, extending its unbeaten road streak to five matches while snapping the Spirit’s 13-match unbeaten run.

Both sides battled through heavy rain in a scoreless first half before the Wave broke through in the 60th minute. Second-half substitute Trinity Byars beat two defenders to a loose ball before playing a pass into the path of an onrushing Lia Godfrey. The rookie calmly chipped her effort over Washington goalkeeper Sandy MacIver and into the back of the net for the game-winning goal.

Godfrey’s strike marked her fifth goal of the season and her fourth game-winning goal, setting a new single-season Club record. San Diego held on for the clean sheet behind goalkeeper Sandra Paños, who recorded the first shutout of her NWSL career.

Next on the schedule: San Diego Wave FC will travel north on the east coast to face Gotham FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium for a match on Friday, Aug. 7. The game is scheduled to kick off 5:00 p.m. PT with it being broadcast live on Prime Video.

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Notes:

  • Lia Godfrey’s scored her fifth goal tonight and her fourth game-winner, a new single-season club record for San Diego.
  • Trinity Byars recorded her first career assist in tonight’s match.
  • Kristen McNabb made her 100th appearance for San Diego, the first-ever Wave FC player to reach the milestone in the Club’s history.
  • Goalkeeper Sandra Paños recorded her first NWSL career clean sheet and the Wave’s XX of the year.
  • Kimmi Ascanio became the youngest player in league history to appear in 50 games.
  • San Diego snapped Washington’s 13 game home win-streak in tonight’s match.
  • San Diego’s 42 road points since the start of 2025 now are the second most in the league behind the Spirit.
  • San Diego tallied its eighth goal in the final 15 minutes of the match, the most of any other team in the league this year.
  • The Wave earned its first win at Audi Field in Club history, previously holding a 0-1-3 record.
  • Head coach Jonas Eidevall earned his 10th win of the season, securing 10 wins in back-to-back seasons, only the 9th NWSL coach to do.

Box Score:
Washington Spirit 0:1 San Diego Wave FC

Scoring Summary:
SD – Godfrey (5) (Byars,1) 60’

Misconduct Summary:
SD – Barcenas (Caution) 38’
SD – Fazer (Caution) 75’
SD – Dali (Caution) 90+8’

San Diego Wave FC: GK Paños, D Morroni, D McNabb, D Wesley, D Van Zanten, M Corley, M Fazer, M Ascanio (Dali 65’), F Ludmila (Byars 57’), F Godfrey (Leon 83’), F Barcenas (Wynalda 83’)

Subs not used: GK Agudelo, D Courtnall, D Harrison, M Fusco, F Leon

Washington Spirit: GK Maciver, D Wiesner (Haugen 87’), D Rudd, D Carle, D Morgan, M Bernal, M Santos (Sullivan 61’), M Hershfelt, F Rodman, M Metayer (Bolt 75’), F Cantore (Martinez 61’)

Subs not used: GK Collins, F Gaines-Ramos, M Skurcenski, D Tse, GK Wojdelko

Stats Summary: WAS / SD
Shots: 6 / 15
Shots on Target: 2 / 6
Saves: 5 / 2
Corners: 3 / 4
Fouls: 10 / 9
Offsides: 1 / 3
Possession: 50% / 50%