When two weather delays, two penalty kicks, and the Spirit clinching a home semifinal were all overshadowed
Before Wednesday night's game, the Washington Spirit organization decided to play the national anthem with the players from both teams in the locker room, effectively silencing Megan Rapinoe's planned protest. But instead of silencing Rapinoe, the Spirit's attempt to avoid a distraction was hugely distracting and overshadowed the game. So between protests, weather delays, post-game comments, and an actual soccer game, here is what went down on Wednesday:
1. Lightning delays
Just over an hour before kickoff, a thunderstorm started around the Maryland Soccerplex.