WASHINGTON DC — Trinity Rodman deservedly took the plaudits after she scored twice and added one assist in Washington Spirit‘s 4-1 playoff win over Portland Thorns on Sunday, but it was the Spirit’s African newcomers, Clara Luvanga and Melissa Bethi, who announced themselves to the NWSL Playoffs in a big way on the day.
Tanzania forward Luvanga scored once and provided both assists for Trinity Rodman’s goals, while Algeria midfielder Bethi opened the scoring after just six minutes at Audi Field.
Rodman, who is enjoying the most productive season of her career so far, said the win was the result of a team of MVPs all over the park, but pointed particularly to Luvanga and praising how quickly the striker had adapted after joining the Spirit so late.
“She has had to adapt and be thrown in to start on this team really late into the season,” Rodman said after the match.
“Seeing how well she did today and just getting her feet under her in a game that’s very high stress and very important, I’m very proud about that.”
Rodman and Luvanga each finished with three goal contributions, a first for two players in the same NWSL playoff game, while Bethi’s opener was the fastest playoff goal in club history.
Luvanga’s performance came barely six weeks after she became the first Tanzanian to play in the NWSL, making her debut against Angel City on Sept. 26. She and scoring the winner against Houston in only her second appearance.
Washington signed the 21-year-old from Saudi Arabia‘s Al-Nassr in September on a contract through 2029. She arrived after winning three consecutive league titles and finishing the most recent Saudi Women’s Premier League season as its leading scorer with 24 goals.
Her route to Washington had taken her from Tanzania’s Yanga Princess through Spanish club DUX Logrono. The adjustment to Washington’s attack, Rodman said, demanded more from new players than usual.
“Getting new players midseason is really hard, especially on the attacking side, to get comfortable and just get used to the pace at which we transition and how fast the attacks are and just how on you defenders are, especially as a center forward,” she said.
“So seeing the improvement and her confidence, this game was amazing for us. I’m just really happy about that and seeing people being comfortable enough to take shots and take people on.”
Bethi had already put Washington ahead before Luvanga took over the attack. Rodman won possession deep in Portland territory and delivered a low ball across the penalty area for the midfielder to finish at the far post.
Luvanga doubled the lead in the 34th minute, closing down goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold as she dealt with a back pass and rolling the ball into the exposed net. A minute later, she broke down the left and crossed for Rodman to make it 3-0.
Portland briefly threatened a recovery through Pietra Tordin‘s 51st-minute goal, but Luvanga again got behind the defense to set up Rodman’s second seven minutes later.
While Luvanga’s pace stretched Portland, and her unrelenting pressing kept them unbalanced, Rodman said Bethi’s composure and ability to play at her own pace, helped Washington play through pressure.
“Mel too, I think she is so confident and so good on the ball,” Rodman said. “To have a presence like that in the midfield to where you know that even when they’re being pressed, that they’re calm in those situations, able to get out.”
Bethi joined Washington from France‘s Nantes, like Luvanga, also on a contract through 2029 after developing in Lyon’s youth setup. She spent a season on loan at Metz before establishing herself at Nantes, earning selection to the French players’ union’s team of the season for 2025-26.
Born in Firminy, France, and of Algerian descent through her father, Bethi arrived in Washington after helping Algeria qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. She made her NWSL debut against Bay FC on Aug. 30, then scored the winner in Washington’s first-ever victory at Portland in her second appearance.
Sunday brought another goal against the Thorns, but Rodman also highlighted the movement that allowed Bethi to support the players around her.
“When she’s making a pass, she’s not just standing there, she’s moving off of it, and I think that helps the players around her,” Rodman said.
“And then it goes into our attack of the closer we are together, the easier it is for us to create chances. So, yeah, both their performances were great today.”
Washington will host Utah Royals in the semifinals Saturday at noon EST at Audi Field.
Rodman believes the manner of Sunday’s goals will help carry that confidence into the next round.
“When I’m able to tap it in on the back post, or she’s able to press and it goes in, I think it just shows the work rate,” she said.
“To be able to consistently get those goals in one game, I think, yeah, just momentum. And to be able to do that right now is gonna set us up to be in an even better place for next game.”
