Tonight at Subaru Park, the Washington Spirit, and NJ/NY Gotham FC were held to a 0-0 tie. Despite the game's playoff implications, much of the attention was rightly focused on the NWSL's reckoning over abusive conditions at numerous teams. Both sides, including the benches, opted to join together at midfield during the 6th minute, a day after players demanded that owner Steve Baldwin sell his part of the club. To show unity in the face of the continued mistreatment by the NWSL both teams would lock arms and take a minute of silence to show everyone that the silence would not be tolerated any longer.

The early exchanges were fairly equal, with the Spirit defusing threats as Gotham sought to play in behind, while Washington's possession couldn't quite open the Gotham backline. Ashley Sanchez had a good chance early on, but after being picked out seven yards from goal, he couldn't quite make a shot. Carli Lloyd — whose career was being celebrated on the night, with the game being played as near to her home in southern New Jersey as possible — was denied a breakaway from midfield by Sam Staab in the 24th minute.

The game, though, went back into a familiar pattern following that open interchange to start the half. The game's next chance came in the 78th minute when Bledsoe saved Lloyd from inside the six-yard box after a flick-on landed into a dangerous area. In the 86th minute, Sheridan made a similar daring effort, seizing replacement Tegan McGrady's tempting cross from the left before another sub, Anna Heilferty, could push it home. Washington was clearly desperate for a win, with Kelley O'Hara forcing Sheridan to make another save seconds later and McKeown and Kumi Yokoyama failing to convert 19-yard chances into game-winning goals.

Despite a late rush of opportunities, the Spirit were unable to find a winner. The draw kept Gotham one point behind them, keeping the Spirit in sixth place.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Trey Madara]