.png)
Every week, across several sports, players around the DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) shine in individual performance. Every Monday, I’d like to take a minute to highlight some of those performances, including what I view as the best performance and name that athlete the “DMV Star of the Week.”
This week’s DMV Star of the Week is D.C. United Forward Christian Benteke.
The 32-year-old striker came over to the U.S. in August after spending the last 11 seasons in the Premier League in England, mostly with Crystal Palace. Since arriving, he’s been D.C. most prolific goal-scorer, already netting four goals in just nine games in 2023.
Most recently, Benteke put away his fourth goal of the year in a 3-1 win over Orlando on Saturday. The goal secured the game and helped lock up D.C.’s second straight MLS victory, something the team never did in 2022.
His four goals is tied for ninth in MLS and nobody else on D.C. has more than one goal this season.
Expect Manager Wayne Rooney to keep looking to his veteran striker to keep DCU in the win column as we continue throughout the season.
The DMV saw four teams in action this past week, including the Washington Nationals, D.C. United, Washington Spirit and the D.C. Defenders XFL team
Here are some honorable mention performances for DMV Star of the Week:
Washington Spirit Goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury recorded her second cleansheet of the season in a 0-0 draw against Houston on Saturday
Washington Nationals first-baseman Joey Meneses went 4/6 with 2 RBI’s in Saturday’s 10-4 win over Minnesota
Here’s what’s coming up this week in DMV Sports:
Washington Nationals (7-14, 5th in NL East, 6.5 GB)
4/25 @ New York Mets
4/26 @ New York Mets
4/27 @ New York Mets
4/28 vs. Pittsburgh
4/29 vs. Pittsburgh
4/30 vs. Pittsburgh
D.C. United: (3-2-4, 11 points, 8th in Eastern Conference)
4/26 vs. Richmond (U.S. Open Cup - Third Round)
4/29 vs. Charlotte
Washington Spirit: (2-2-0, 8 points, 5th in NWSL)
4/29 @ Chicago
D.C. Defenders: (9-1 overall, 1st in XFL North)
4/30 vs. Seattle (North Division Championship Game)
*Denotes games I will be covering in-person
Notes:
The D.C. Defenders finished the XFL Regular Season with the best record in the league at 9-1. Nobody else had more than 7 wins.