The Washington Spirit — with a new coach, new color scheme and a revamped roster — encountered some familiar problems in a 1-0 season-opening loss to the Seattle Reign on Sunday night at Lumen Field.

The biggest of those problems was also the most immediate: About 10 seconds into the game, Washington defender Gabrielle Carle made an awkward challenge on Jordyn Huitema in the penalty area that led to a penalty kick for the Reign. Bethany Balcer converted a few minutes later, a goal that proved to be decisive, beating Aubrey Kingsbury with a low drive into the left corner.

The Spirit, starting three rookies and wearing its new highlighter-yellow uniforms, had no answers, particularly during a listless first half.

“Anytime you start like that, it’s unfortunate,” defender Casey Krueger said. “It’s not how we wanted to start. It’s a big mistake, but it’s something we’re going to learn from, I’ll tell you that. But the group rallied, and we fought, and I think that was a really big positive that came out of it.”

Outshot 15-2, including 12-1 in the first half, Washington withstood several attempts by Seattle to double its lead. Kingsbury, wearing the captain’s armband, was credited with five saves, a few of which were of the high-danger variety. But she was sent off during second-half stoppage time for interfering with a scoring opportunity just outside the box, a decision upheld after a lengthy video review.

After ending last season scoreless in four of its final five games — culminating in the team missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season — the Spirit managed one shot on goal in its 2024 season opener. Krueger appeared to head in a corner kick in the 69th minute, but the goal was waived off following a video review because of goalkeeper interference by midfielder Croix Bethune.

Bethune, the No. 3 overall selection in the NWSL draft, was one of several newcomers to appear Sunday for Washington. The Spirit deployed five rookies from its six-player draft class, including Hal Hershfelt and Kate Wiesner as starters, while Makenna Morris and Courtney Brown entered as second-half substitutes. Washington’s two main free agent acquisitions, Krueger and forward Brittany Ratcliffe, also appeared in the starting 11.

“For me, one of the key points today was that some new players had a chance to debut, especially young players coming from college,” said interim coach Adrián González, who also was making his debut for the Spirit. “We believe a lot in their talent. We want to help them to develop, so we think that’s really positive for them to get experience and to see and understand what the league demands.”

Wiesner left late in the first half with an apparent left thigh injury.

The Spirit played without Trinity Rodman, who was suspended after receiving a red card in last year’s season finale. The 21-year-old forward, who took in the game with fans at the Spirit’s D.C. watch party, is expected back for Washington’s home opener at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against expansion Bay FC at Audi Field.