Gift Monday wrote her name into National Women’s Soccer League history books on Sunday with the fastest hat-trick ever scored from kickoff, powering Washington Spirit to a ruthless 4-0 dismantling of Houston Dash at Audi Field, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 23-year-old Nigerian forward struck three times in just under 36 minutes, eclipsing the league’s previous record and becoming only the second player in Spirit history to claim a treble.
3 Gift Monday goals on this fine Sunday ⚽️⚽️⚽️
✅ Quickest Hat Trick in NWSL History
✅ First Spirit Hat Trick at Audi Field pic.twitter.com/uLcgxVf02O— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) September 28, 2025
Her goals secured a playoff berth for Washington Spirit and sealed her transformation into one of the league’s most feared finishers.
Monday opened the scoring in the 18th minute, finishing confidently from a tight angle after being teed up by Trinity Rodman.
THAT ANGLE WAS EVERYTHING pic.twitter.com/4k1f6bAV7T
— Washington Spirit (@WashSpirit) September 28, 2025
Three minutes later she doubled her tally, leaping above her marker to head in Croix Bethune’s delivery.
FIRST WASHINGTON SPIRIT HAT TRICK SINCE 2015 ‼️
Gift Monday makes it THREE! https://t.co/9EcAIiqQim pic.twitter.com/875VyXHTU8
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) September 28, 2025
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The historic third arrived in the 36th minute, when Monday calmly slotted home from Rodman’s clever cut-back.
The Super Falcons star’s performance drew comparisons with Crystal Dunn, who scored the Spirit’s only previous hat-trick in 2015, also against Houston. Monday now leads Washington’s scoring charts with eight goals in her debut season.
Fellow Super Falcons players were also involved: Deborah Abiodun came on at the restart for Washington, while Michelle Alozie entered for Houston. Monday, meanwhile, was withdrawn at half-time to a standing ovation.
Sofia Cantore capped the win with a stylish back-heel in the second half, as Spirit players celebrated in T-shirts reading: ‘Built for the Fight. Clinched.’
The victory extended Washington’s unbeaten run to 10 games, keeping them second in the table (12-4-7) behind leaders Kansas City Current.
Houston (7-12-5), without injured goalkeeper Jane Campbell, endured another frustrating outing as stand-in Abby Smith struggled to contain Washington’s relentless attack.
For Spirit coach Adrián González, the manner of the victory will encourage him ahead of ...season, with Monday’s explosive form adding another layer of threat to an attack already brimming with pace and creativity.
Washington next travel to Gotham FC in the Concacaf W Champions Cup midweek before hosting San Diego Wave on October 5, their playoff spot now secure and momentum firmly behind them.