Washington Spirit and Gotham FC meet at PayPal Park in San Jose on Saturday for the NWSL Championship Final, with kickoff at 8:00 PM EST. The second-seeded Spirit seek their first title since 2021, while eighth-seeded Gotham aims to complete a stunning playoff run and claim their first championship since 2023.
Spirit vs Gotham: NWSL Championship Showdown in San Jose
The contrasting paths to the final highlight this matchup’s intrigue. Washington Spirit finished second in the regular season and dispatched Portland Thorns 2-0 in their semifinal after eliminating Racing Louisville on penalties in the quarterfinal. Gotham FC, meanwhile, has defied their eighth-place regular season finish with road victories over Kansas City Current 2-1 and defending champions Orlando Pride 1-0, the latter secured by Jaedyn Shaw’s dramatic 97th-minute free kick.
The all-time series favors Washington with 17 wins to Gotham’s 13, plus 11 draws across their history. This season’s meetings produced mixed results: Gotham claimed a 3-0 victory in April before the teams played to a scoreless draw in August. Their most recent playoff encounter came in the 2024 semifinal, where Washington advanced 3-0 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Washington enters with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses across their last six matches overall, including their two playoff victories. The Spirit finished the regular season as the league’s second-highest scoring team with 42 goals, showcasing the attacking threat that powered their semifinal success.
Gotham’s last six overall shows an identical 2-2-2 record, with their playoff wins coming away from home. Despite their eighth-place finish, they maintained a plus-10 goal difference during the regular season, demonstrating the defensive solidity that has defined their postseason run.
The tactical battle pits Washington’s potent counter-attack against Gotham’s defensive resilience. The Spirit’s semifinal victory featured devastating pace from Rosemonde Kouassi and Gift Monday, who combined for the opening goal. Gotham’s semifinal showcased their defensive discipline, allowing Orlando just one shot on target while Shaw’s lone shot on target proved decisive.
Washington receives a major boost with Trinity Rodman’s return from an MCL sprain that sidelined her for a month. The forward appeared as a late substitute in the semifinal and should feature more prominently in the final, though her future remains uncertain amid reported European interest. Defender Gabrielle Carle remains doubtful after missing the semifinal with a hamstring injury.
Gotham will be without defenders Tierna Davidson, midfielder Taryn Torres, and forward Geyse, all ruled out through injury. Their absence places greater responsibility on 20-year-old Shaw and goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who set a club record with 10 clean sheets this season.
Both teams are expected to deploy contrasting formations with Washington’s 4-2-3-1 facing Gotham’s 4-3-3. Washington projects: Kingsbury; McKeown, Morgan, Bernal, Morris; Bethune, Hershfelt; Kouassi, Santos, Monday; Cantore. Gotham’s likely lineup: Berger; Reale, Sonnett, Carter, Bruninha; Howell, Lavelle, Shaw; Purce, González, Portilho.
Numbers to Watch
Washington’s 42 regular season goals against Gotham’s 10 clean sheets from Berger. Shaw’s set-piece prowess after her semifinal winner could prove decisive against a Spirit defense missing Carle.
Where to watch
The match airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+ at 8:00 PM EST Saturday.
