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Gift Monday makes strong case for Super Falcons return with NWSL fastest hat trick
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Gift Monday etched her name into NWSL history scoring the league’s fastest-ever hat-trick in Washington Spirit’s emphatic 4-0 win over Houston Dash at Audi Field on Sunday.
The Nigeria international struck three times in the opening half to give the hosts an unassailable lead, before the Spirit sealed their playoff berth with a dominant performance in front of their home fans.
It was also the first hat-trick ever scored at Audi Field in the NWSL, underlining Monday’s growing influence in her debut season.
After the game, the 23-year-old forward expressed her delight: “Throughout the week, we have been working on goal scoring. I’m so happy and grateful to God that I was able to bring all of the training to the game. I’m so excited and thanks to my teammates — they read my runs and were able to put the ball well. It’s teamwork.”
On her connection with her new teammates, she added: “It’s really been a good connection between us, I won’t lie. I’m so happy to be amongst the Spirit. I love everything about the Spirit. We have a lot of dancers in the team — lots of great dancers.”
Monday’s treble takes her tally to eight goals this season, the fourth-highest in the NWSL, as the Spirit secured their place in the postseason alongside Kansas City Current.
After missing out of national team call up at the last Women’s Africa Cup of Nations where Nigeria clinched their 10th continental title in Morocco, Monday is in pole position to return to the Super Falcons fold with her current form ahead of next month’s 2026 WAFCON Qualifiers against Benin Republic.
