2025 NWSL Championship

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2025 NWSL Championship
Gotham celebrating the win
EventNWSL Championship
Washington Spirit Gotham FC
0 1
DateNovember 22, 2025 (2025-11-22)
VenuePayPal Park, San Jose, California, U.S.
Most Valuable PlayerRose Lavelle
RefereeNatalie Simon
Attendance18,000
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The 2025 NWSL Championship was the 12th edition of the NWSL Championship, the championship match of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and took place on November 22, 2025. Gotham FC won 1–0 against the Washington Spirit to become NWSL champions for the second time. The match was played at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.

Road to the final

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Washington Spirit

[edit]
See also: 2025 Washington Spirit season
Gift Monday scored in both playoff matches leading up to the final.

After finishing second in the table and losing to the Orlando Pride in the 2024 NWSL Championship,[1] the Washington Spirit repeated their second-place finish in the 2025 regular season.[2] Majority owner Michele Kang promoted assistant coach Adrián González to head coach midseason after moving Jonatan Giráldez to her other property OL Lyonnes.[3] The team navigated numerous injuries over the season including limited availability for star winger Trinity Rodman.[4] Tara McKeown, just three years after converting to center back, was named NWSL Defender of the Year, while reigning NWSL Rookie of the Year Croix Bethune was also named in the NWSL Best XI.[5]

In the playoff quarterfinals, the Spirit advanced 3–1 on penalties after a 1–1 draw with the seventh seed Racing Louisville. Washington's leading scorer Gift Monday opened the scoring with a header from Rosemonde Kouassi's cross before Kayla Fischer equalized for the playoff debutants in stoppage time. After a scoreless overtime, Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury saved two penalty kicks and another Racing player missed in the resulting shootout.[6] In the semifinals, the Spirit won 2–0 against the third seed Portland Thorns. Monday again opened the scoring after a long drive by Kouassi, Bethune iced the game scoring into an open net after a giveaway, and Rodman made her return from injury after a month absence.[7] Washington advanced to their second consecutive NWSL final and fourth in club history.[8] Rodman's impending free agency dominated headlines in the week before the final.[9]

Gotham FC

[edit]
See also: 2025 Gotham FC season
Jaedyn Shaw was involved in all three goals (two goals, one assist) in Gotham's run to the final.

After finishing third and losing to Spirit on penalties in the 2024 playoff semifinals,[10] Gotham FC placed eighth in the 2025 regular-season standings, earning the final playoff berth.[11] During the season, the team collected their first piece of hardware since the 2023 NWSL Championship by winning the inaugural 2024–25 CONCACAF W Champions Cup.[12] Jaedyn Shaw joined the team midseason in a record intraleague trade from the North Carolina Courage.[13] Despite placing eighth, NWSL Best XI selections Emily Sonnett and NWSL Rookie of the Year Lilly Reale anchored the second-best defense in the league, while Esther González was the runner-up for the NWSL Golden Boot.[14]

In the playoff quarterfinals, Gotham upset the historic NWSL Shield winners Kansas City Current, who were missing two-time Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga. Shaw opened the scoring for Gotham before assisting Katie Stengel – another midseason signing who returned to the club after a stint with Crystal Palace – in extra time to secure the 2–1 win.[15] In the semifinals, Gotham won 1–0 against the fourth seed and defending champion Orlando Pride. Shaw scored directly from a free kick in stoppage time, the ball bouncing past goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse, to send Gotham to their second NWSL final in three years.[16] Having won their first title as the then-lowest sixth seed in 2023, Gotham this year became the first eight seed in the expanded playoff format to reach the NWSL final.[17]

Venue and broadcasting

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The game was held at PayPal Park in San Jose, California, the home stadium of the NWSL's Bay FC and Major League Soccer (MLS)'s San Jose Earthquakes.[18] It was televised in the United States on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.[19]

Match

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Summary

[edit]
Rose Lavelle scoring the lone goal in the match.

The match was the 44th meeting between the Spirit and Gotham in all competitions, the most between any two NWSL teams.[17] Shaw attempted at goal on kickoff but was wide.[20] Gotham began the game on the front foot with effective press and several attacks down the right wing, with Shaw getting the first half's only shot on target in the sixth minute.[21] Washington settled into the match, but the first half produced few clear chances, though good level of intensity on both sides.[21] Reale was booked for fouling Kouassi at midfield just before halftime, which the teams entered at 0–0, and she was later pulled for Bruninha after coming close to another card for shoving Kouassi.[20] Like in previous Washington games, fans chanted "Free DC" in the 51st minute.[20] Washington played with ten for several minutes while Hal Hershfelt was treated on the sideline after her collision with Rose Lavelle.[20] Lavelle then opened the scoring for Gotham in the 80th minute, running on to strike the ball from the top of the box, with Hershfelt near Bruninha's pass but unable to challenge the play.[21] It was the latest opening goal in NWSL final history and stood as Gotham won 1–0 to become NWSL champions for the second time in three years.[21]

Details

[edit]
Washington Spirit0–1Gotham FC
Report Lavelle 80'
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Natalie Simon
Washington Spirit
Gotham FC
GK 1 United States Aubrey Kingsbury (c)
LB 6 United States Kate Wiesner downward-facing red arrow 90'
CB 9 United States Tara McKeown
CB 4 Mexico Rebeca Bernal
RB 24 England Esme Morgan
DM 17 United States Hal Hershfelt downward-facing red arrow 81'
AM 7 United States Croix Bethune
AM 10 Colombia Leicy Santos
LW 7 Italy Sofia Cantore downward-facing red arrow 57'
FW 21 Nigeria Gift Monday
RW 19 Ivory Coast Rosemonde Kouassi
Substitutes:
GK 28 Scotland Sandy MacIver
FW 2 United States Trinity Rodman upward-facing green arrow 57'
MF 5 Japan Narumi Miura
FW 13 United States Brittany Ratcliffe
MF 16 United States Courtney Brown
MF 20 Nigeria Deborah Abiodun upward-facing green arrow 81'
MF 22 United States Heather Stainbrook
DF 25 France Kysha Sylla
DF 26 United States Paige Metayer upward-facing green arrow 90'
Manager:
Spain Adrián González
GK 30 Germany Ann-Katrin Berger
LB 4 United States Lilly Reale Yellow card 45+3' downward-facing red arrow 63'
CB 27 England Jess Carter
CB 6 United States Emily Sonnett
RB 22 United States Mandy Freeman (c)
DM 7 United States Jaelin Howell
AM 2 United States Jaedyn Shaw
AM 16 United States Rose Lavelle
LW 11 United States Sarah Schupansky
FW 9 Spain Esther González
RW 23 United States Midge Purce
Substitutes:
GK 1 United States Shelby Hogan
DF 2 Brazil Bruninha Yellow card 90+3' upward-facing green arrow 63'
MF 5 Denmark Josefine Hasbo
FW 10 Brazil Geyse
FW 13 United States Ella Stevens
MF 18 Brazil Gabi Portilho
DF 19 United States Kayla Duran
MF 21 United States Sofia Cook
FW 28 United States Katie Stengel
Manager:
Spain Juan Carlos Amorós

NWSL Championship Most Valuable Player:
United States Rose Lavelle

Assistant referees:
Chris Schurfranz (United States)
Matt Trotter (United States)
Fourth official:
Nabil Bensalah (United States)
Video assistant referee:
Shawn Tehini (United States)

Match rules

References

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  1. ^ "2024 Washington Spirit Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  2. ^ "The cases for, and against, someone other than the Current winning the NWSL Championship". The Equalizer. November 7, 2025. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  3. ^ "Washington Spirit Promotes Adrián González to Head Coach". Washington Spirit. June 2, 2025. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  4. ^ Anzidei, Melanie (November 9, 2025). "Spirit's mental preparation for the 'unpredictable,' helped secure another dramatic playoff win". The Athletic. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  5. ^ "Two Washington Spirit Stars Named to NWSL Best XI Teams". Washington Spirit. November 19, 2025. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  6. ^ Floyd, Thomas (November 8, 2025). "Just for kicks, Spirit earns another dramatic NWSL playoff win". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  7. ^ Brockway, Ella (November 15, 2025). "For Spirit, only drama in NWSL semifinal is Trinity Rodman's possible departure". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  8. ^ Joyal Rodriguez, Autumn (November 15, 2025). "Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns: Preview, time, and how to watch". The District Press. Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  9. ^ Henderson, Cydney (November 20, 2025). "Will NWSL championship between Spirit, Gotham be Trinity Rodman's last?". USA Today. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  10. ^ "2024 Gotham FC Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  11. ^ "2025 Gotham FC Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  12. ^ "Gotham FC Crowned Champions of Inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup". Gotham FC. May 25, 2025. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  13. ^ Watkins, Claire (November 13, 2025). "Gotham FC Star Jaedyn Shaw Is Hitting Her Stride as 2025 NWSL Semifinals Near". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  14. ^ "2025 NWSL Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  15. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (November 9, 2025). "Gotham FC shun underdog tag, stun No. 1 Current in playoffs". ESPN. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  16. ^ "Gotham FC beat champs Orlando Pride to reach NWSL final". ESPN. November 16, 2025. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  17. ^ a b Kassouf, Jeff (November 21, 2025). "NWSL Championship: Rodman in focus in game of 'main characters'". ESPN. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  18. ^ Lauletta, Dan (June 13, 2025). "2025 NWSL Championship headed to Bay Area". The Equalizer. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  19. ^ "2025 Championship". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  20. ^ a b c d Dure, Beau (November 22, 2025). "NWSL Championship: Washington Spirit v Gotham FC – live". The Guardian. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  21. ^ a b c d Cattry, Pardeep (November 22, 2025). "NWSL Championship score: Live updates as Trinity Rodman's Washington Spirit, Jaedyn Shaw's Gotham FC face off". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
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