No. 8 Gotham FC lifted the NWSL trophy on Saturday, as the NJ/NY club completed their 2025 postseason upset run with a 1-0 victory over the No. 2 Washington Spirit to win their second championship in three years — once again stealing the league title as the lowest playoff seed.
Clinching the championship was Gotham midfielder Rose Lavelle, who broke through the back-and-forth battle with a looping 80th-minute strike to secure victory for the Bats — and earn the 2025 NWSL Final MVP title in the process.
"I always say you learn the most about yourself in the toughest moments," Lavelle said postgame. "The adversity we faced throughout the season really helped set us up to be prepared for this playoff push."
The Gotham defense also held court throughout Saturday's match, limiting Washington to zero shots on target while setting up their attack to seize a golden opportunity.
Spirit midfielder Hal Hershfelt suffered an ankle knock in the second half, leaving Washington down a player as she sought sideline treatment — only for Lavelle to seal the deal moments after the visibly uncomfortable Hershfelt retook the pitch.
"Obviously now we can say that maybe [substituting Hershfelt] was late, but she was trying to push," said Spirit manager Adrián González, who pulled Hershfelt moments after Lavelle's goal.
Proving their dismissal of their underdog status throughout the 2025 NWSL Playoffs, the Bats successfully survived a veritable postseason gauntlet en route to their second title, ousting both the top-seeded Kansas City Current — the winningest team in league history — and 2024 champions Orlando before facing the No. 2-seed Spirit.
"We have so much talent on this team, and we underperformed [in the regular season]," explained Gotham defender Emily Sonnett. "Being able to have that reset going into the postseason was huge for us."
All eyes are on Kansas City, as the Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit take the pitch one last time in Saturday's 2024 NWSL Championship.
Both teams led the league in regular-season play after missing the 2023 NWSL Playoffs entirely. Now, the No. 1 Pride are staring down their first-ever title, while the No. 2 Spirit will look to add a second star to their crest to join their 2021 win.
As the only squad to defeat Washington twice this season, Orlando holds the pair's head-to-head advantage. The Pride's second win over the Spirit also served as their 2024 Shield coronation — a match that saw Washington captain Andi Sullivan's season end in an ACL tear.
MVP candidates lead championship charge
With three of the 2024 NWSL MVP candidates on Saturday's title-defining pitch, both Orlando and Washington will look to their superstars to lead them to glory.
The Pride's strength lies in Brazilian icon Marta and Zambian striker Barbra Banda, who've proven unstoppable in the attack throughout the postseason. Scoring five of Orlando's seven playoff goals between them, Banda has now netted 16 NWSL goals in 2024, with Marta notching 11.
Leading the Spirit's offensive charge is potential MVP Trinity Rodman. With eight league goals on the year, Rodman has yet to find the back of the net in the postseason, though she's been key to Washington's fight by creating scoring opportunities throughout the playoffs.
Alongside Rodman, NWSL newcomers have been stepping up for the Spirit all season. Most recently, Hal Hershfelt propelled Washington to the final with a rocket of a header in last weekend's semifinals. The Spirit's young core could be the difference-maker in Saturday's showdown.
Explosive offense to decide 2024 NWSL Champion
The old adage that defense wins championships is likely to be challenged on Saturday as offense takes centerstage.
Subsequently, fans can expect the NWSL Final to come down to whichever team manages to score at-will. With Washington's 51 regular-season goals good for second in the NWSL and Orlando sliding in third with 46, the pair's attacking prowess is set to determine who lifts the league's luxury hardware.
How to watch the 2024 NWSL Championship
Hosted at Kansas City's CPKC Stadium, the 2024 NWSL Championship kicks off at 8 PM ET on Saturday. Live coverage will air on CBS and Paramount+.