Kris Ward is through holding back his feelings on Segra Field.
After a 2-1 loss against the Portland Thorns on Wednesday, the Washington Spirit head coach labeled the playing surface at his team’s occasional home stadium an “abomination.”
The Spirit split their home schedule in 2022 between Segra Field in Leesburg, Va. and Audi Field in Washington D.C., playing five matches at each facility.
But players and coaches alive have not hidden their preference for Audi Field, the home of D.C. United, which holds 20,000 fans in comparison to 5,000 at Segra Field, and features a pristine grass playing surface instead of the turf at Segra.
The Spirit played their last 2022 match at Segra Field on Wednesday, and Ward did not mince words after the game.
“It’s an abomination that a professional game has to be played on something like this,” he told reporters of Segra Field, saying the turf affects players’ ability to accelerate and turn, as well as the speed of the ball.
“I hope we never have to play here again,” Ward added.
As for the game itself, Ward was left frustrated as Portland scored two goals late to turn around a Spirit lead obtained on a bizarre Bella Bixby own goal.
The loss took the defending NWSL champions’ winless streak to an incredible 17 games, with the Spirit failing to win since the first game of the season on May 1.
“It should’ve been three points,” Ward said. “There’s no two ways around it.”