When the Washington Spirit lined up for last Saturday’s away match against Angel City FC, the surest thing going within the team was on display yet again. Just like every regular-season Spirit match since 2019, the lineup sheet included Sam Staab in the starting lineup, playing center back.
“I’ve wanted to be in the 11 for every team that I’ve been on and I’ve been lucky enough to be able to do that and grateful for that,” Staab told The Equalizer before departing for Spirit training this week.
The Angel City match was Staab’s 75th consecutive regular-season start, extending the National Women’s Soccer League record she set earlier this season. The former Clemson standout knew she had started every game, but had no idea the record was looming until the club’s communications manager, Sam Pittman, clued her in. Adding to the intrigue was the player whose mark Staab was about to break. Amber Brooks, Staab’s current teammate and sometimes center-back partner, held the previous record of 72 straight starts.
“It was one of those things that you know inevitably someone’s going to break it,” Brooks said. “For me, it was really cool that it was a teammate and that it was Sam, someone I’ve literally played center back next to. It was cool to be on the field with her when it happened.”
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