.png)
Every week, across several sports, players around the DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) shine in individual performance. Every Monday, I’d like to take a minute to highlight some of those performances, including what I view as the best performance and name that athlete the “DMV Star of the Week.”
This week’s DMV Star of the Week is Washington Spirit Forward Ashley Hatch.
This is her second time winning the DMV Star of the Week Award.
On Friday night, Hatch netted two goals in Washington’s 4-2 comeback victory over Gotham FC in the NWSL Challenge Cup.
After falling behind 2-0 in less than ten minutes, the Spirit came roaring back to win the game.
First, it was Hatch that got Washington on the board with a goal in the 25’ to make it 2-1. Following a rain/lightening delay that lasted over two hours, play resumed and the Spirit seized all momentum.
After a game-tying goal by Camryn Biegalski in the 55’, Hatch put Washington on top just eight minutes later with her second goal to make it 3-2.
Just seven minutes after that, Chloe Ricketts secured the victory with her first ever Spirit goal to make it 4-2 and solidify a great comeback win for Washington.
Washington has just one more NWSL Challenge Cup match on Friday before a break until August 19 when NWSL regular season play resumes following the World Cup.
The DMV saw four teams in action this past week, including the Washington Nationals, D.C. United, Washington Spirit, and Washington Mystics
Here are some honorable mention performances for DMV Star of the Week:
Washington Mystics Center Tianna Hawkins had a double-double in Sunday’s 80-73 loss against Atlanta, scoring 17 points and hauling in 10 rebounds in the loss. It’s just her second double-double of the year and her second highest scoring and rebound total in any game in 2023
Washington Nationals first baseman Joey Meneses went 3-4 with 2 runs and 3 RBI’s in Tuesday’s 6-5 win over Colorado
Here’s what’s coming up this week in DMV Sports:
Washington Nationals (44-62, 5th in NL East, 24.5 GB)
7/31 vs. Milwaukee
8/1 vs. Milwaukee
8/2 vs. Milwaukee
8/4 @ Cincinnati
8/5 @ Cincinnati
8/6 @ Cincinnati
D.C. United: (8-6-10, 30 points, 9th in Eastern Conference)
8/3 @ Philadelphia (Leagues Cup - Round of 32)
Washington Spirit: (6-6-3, 24 points, 5th in NWSL)
8/4 @ Orlando (NWSL Challenge Cup - Group stage Matchday 6)
Washington Mystics: (12-13, 4th in Eastern Conference)
8/4 vs. Los Angeles
8/6 vs. Los Angeles
*Denotes games I will be covering in-person