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Jeff Carlisle
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Gotham FC secured the NWSL Championship on Saturday by defeating the Washington Spirit with a score of 1-0.
Gotham midfielder Rose Lavelle found the net in the 80th minute before a sold-out crowd of 18,000 at PayPal Park, thanks to an assist from substitute Bruninha. Lavelle’s performance earned her the MVP title of the match.
This marked Lavelle’s second goal in an NWSL final; she previously scored while playing for the Seattle Reign in their 2-1 defeat to Gotham in 2023.
– Gotham rides series of magic moments to win NWSL Championship
This victory constitutes Gotham’s second championship title in three years under coach Juan Carlos Amorós, making them the first eighth seed to claim the championship trophy. Gotham’s remarkable journey included knocking out the top-seeded Kansas City Current and the Orlando Pride before overcoming the Spirit.
“We’ve been through a lot this year, so this feels like the perfect ending,” Lavelle shared with ESPN’s “Futbol W.”
“We realize we fell short in the regular season. That said, we believe in our talent, and when we perform at our best, we can achieve anything. This playoff journey proved that.” Lavelle expressed her excitement about winning alongside her team.
“This is a dream come true,” stated Amorós, who becomes the third manager in NWSL history to secure multiple titles. “It’s what we strive for. I’m just a football enthusiast from Madrid, celebrating with some of the best players in the world.” He added, “Winning a second championship in what I consider the best league globally is indeed a dream come true.”
Conversely, the Spirit faced disappointment, losing in the finals for the second consecutive year after succumbing to the Orlando Pride 1-0 last season.
Before the match, much discussion revolved around Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, who has been nursing an MCL sprain in her right knee for the past month. Although she wasn’t listed on the injury report, Rodman did not start the match again, entering in the 56th minute with limited influence and lacking her usual explosiveness.
Following a lackluster semifinal performance against Orlando, Gotham came out aggressive against Washington, pressing them deep. Gotham forward Jaedyn Shaw was eager to shoot from the outset, forcing Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury into action early, though her attempts went wide.
While Washington’s Rosemonde Kouassi posed a threat early in the match, the half ended in a deadlock characterized by an increasing physical intensity.
In a late first-half turn, Gotham seemed poised to score when Mandy Freeman delivered a cross, allowing Shaw to create a chance for Esther González, but her shot was blocked by Spirit defender Tara McKeown, letting Kingsbury make an easy save.
Kouassi nearly broke the stalemate in the 55th minute, assisting Croix Bethune, who set up Leicy Santos, but Gotham defender Emily Sonnett made a crucial block.
“They executed their play well and began to push more in the second half, but I tried to cover every angle, and thankfully it worked,” Sonnett noted. “I was fortunate to have teammates ready to assist if needed, but I’m glad my effort succeeded.”
Kouassi capitalized on every opportunity, forcing Gotham defender Lilly Reale into a yellow card early in the match and continuing to torment Reale until she was subbed out for Bruninha in the 63rd minute, anticipating a second yellow card.
This substitution proved advantageous, as it diminished Kouassi’s impact on the game, while Bruninha’s pass ultimately led to Gotham’s game-winning goal.
The goal came shortly after Spirit defensive midfielder Hal Hershfelt returned from receiving treatment for a leg injury, only to be substituted right after Gotham’s goal.
Despite Washington’s efforts for an equalizer, Gotham’s resolute defense, led by Sonnett and Jessica Carter, secured their championship win.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.