Kosovare Sullivan has emerged as a key figure in the Washington Spirit’s lineup this season following a challenging period marked by injury and motherhood. After sitting out the 2025 campaign due to maternity leave and recovery from right knee surgery, Sullivan returned to the field in March 2026, marking her first appearance in 530 days. Since then, she has gradually transitioned from brief substitutes appearances to a regular starting role in the midfield.
The Spirit, currently third in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) standings with a 16-9-4 record, will host the struggling Chicago Red Stars (5-22-2) on Sunday at Audi Field to close out the regular season. Washington has effectively secured a home playoff match and remains in contention for the No. 2 seed. Sullivan is expected to make her sixth consecutive start, a position made even more critical by teammate Andi Hershfelt’s season-ending knee injury sustained last weekend.
Sullivan’s road to recovery has been arduous. She tore her ACL in October 2024 during a match against the Orlando Pride, an injury she had previously overcome during her college years at Stanford. Shortly after undergoing surgery, she discovered she was pregnant, adding complexity to her rehabilitation process. The overlap of her recovery and pregnancy allowed her to combine two demanding life challenges, though not without setbacks. She carefully balanced jogging and acceleration with the physical limitations imposed by pregnancy, and though her postpartum recovery was relatively smooth, complications related to childbirth did slow her knee’s healing.
Her teammate Megan Hatch, who also returned this season after having her first child, praised Sullivan’s discipline throughout this dual recovery process. “She made it look really easy,” Hatch said, highlighting Sullivan’s dedication to rehab and self-care during pregnancy.
Coach Adrián González initially eased Sullivan back into competition with limited minutes. Her first substantial contribution came in May, when she played a full second-half against Orlando and helped spark a 4-2 victory. It was not until after the league’s midseason break in July that Sullivan solidified her place in the starting eleven and reestablished her influence on the field.
Known for her versatility as both a holding and box-to-box midfielder, Sullivan provides calm possession play, tactical leadership, and a keen ability to read the game. She has also been effective in executing set pieces, including penalty kicks. Despite having missed the last two NWSL playoffs with injury and maternity leave, Sullivan previously captained Washington to its only league title in 2021.
With the Spirit having secured a home quarterfinal next weekend, they remain poised to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs—including the November 21 championship match at Audi Field—if they win Sunday’s game and other results go their way. Hershfelt emphasized the value of Sullivan’s experience and composure, particularly in postseason play.
Reflecting on her comeback journey, Sullivan highlighted a new-found resilience. “It gives me a sense of confidence that I can find a way through whatever,” she said, acknowledging the growth both on and off the field that has shaped her return.