There’s never been an NWSL championship scoreless after 90 minutes, though the match between Washington Spirit and Gotham FC on Nov. 22 in San Jose, Calif. appeared to be heading that way. After nearly 80 minutes of action, neither team had scored in a tight match at PayPal Park, and following a Washington Spirit goal kick, broadcasters prepared the audience for a nervy next 10 minutes as the prospect of extra time loomed.
Then, Rose Lavelle did what Rose Lavelle does, pouncing on a scoring chance with her powerful and steady left foot, bringing the crowd to its feet and the Spirit to their knees.
The play started with a delicious long ball from rookie Sarah Schupansky out of Gotham’s defensive half. The diagonal pass traveled into the left channel for Brazilian international Bruninha, who had subbed on for Gotham FC in the 63rd minute.
Carrying the ball toward goal, Bruninha made a series of wicked stepover moves to set a square pass rolled past a group of wrong-footed defenders flooding into the penalty box. The ball made its way to Lavelle with perfect pace and at the top of the 18-yard box with plenty of space and a good angle, she rocketed a beautiful left-footed strike into the left side of the net past diving Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury.
Lavelle’s superb finish gave the New Jersey/New York club the go-ahead goal and head coach Juan Çarlos Amorós’s side closed out the remaining minutes to defeat Washington 1-0 and lift the NWSL Championship trophy for the second time in club history. It was also the Bats’ second title in three seasons.
Lavelle was named MVP for her game-winner and overall stellar performance, and she was among several active USWNT players that contributed to the team’s title run. Jaedyn Shaw, who landed at Gotham midseason via a big-money transfer, was the late hero in the 1-0 semifinal victory over the 2024 champions Orlando Pride, which secured Gotham’s place in Saturday’s final. The midfielder delivered on a direct free kick to score the latest regulation game-winner in a semifinal in league history and notch her third postseason goal contribution, tying a club record. Her first two came in the quarterfinals, scoring the opener and assisting Katie Stengel’s game-winner.
Emily Sonnett had a terrific night for Gotham starting in the center of the defense alongside fellow USWNT defender and NWSL Rookie of the Year Lilly Reale. The two helped anchor the backline in the shutout victory and Sonnett, who’s earned 112 caps for the National Team, put her body on the line in a fantastic defensive display to block a shot from Washington’s Leicy Santos in the 55th minute. For the third time in her professional career, Sonnett is an NWSL champion, adding to her impressive list of career accomplishments.
The win caps off something of a Cinderella run for Gotham FC. The club was the last seed of the NWSL Playoffs, ranked No. 8 after finishing the regular season with a 9W-8L-9D record. Gotham players never saw themselves as underdogs as Shaw now famously stated, and believed they could beat anybody.
They proved to be giant-killers in the first round, defeating No. 1 seed Kansas City Current thanks to a dramatic decider in extra time from Stengel that lifted Gotham FC past the NWSL Shield winners 2-1.
While Gotham FC celebrated in New York City with a rally at City Hall on Monday, the championship night was also full of joy as several national team greats – past and present – turned up for the championship at PayPal Park. Those in attendance included retired legends such as Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath and Christen Press. Sophia Wilson also went to the match, just a few months after giving birth to her first child.
And of course, the leader of the U.S. Women’s National Team was there herself. Head coach Emma Hayes was in attendance, offering pre-match hugs to players in the pool, including Washington’s Trinity Rodman and Croix Bethune, who both played in the match.
“Congratulations to Gotham FC on winning the NWSL Championship and the Washington Spirit on a great season,” Hayes wrote on Instagram. “The atmosphere was amazing.”
