NWSL The NWSL semifinals delivered everything: lightning-fast counters, spectacular mistakes, last-second goals, and comebacks that set the stadium on fire. Washington Spirit and Gotham FC won in two completely different styles, but both teams fully deserved their place in the championship match.
Washington Spirit dismantle Portland and return to the final
Audi Field turned into a boiling cauldron of energy. Spirit controlled the match from the opening minutes and never allowed the Thorns to spread their wings. The hosts won 2–0, showcasing a fast, sharp attack and an impenetrable defense.
The first blow came off a Portland corner… for Spirit. The ball was cleared, Rosemonde Kouassi exploded into a full-field sprint, and after rounding goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, Gift Monday calmly slotted the ball home. It was her second goal of these playoffs and another one created in tandem with Kouassi.
The Thorns tried to respond, but the end belonged to Croix Bethune. After a disastrous back pass from Sam Hiatt, Bethune intercepted the ball, rounded Arnold, and rolled it into an empty net. It was a special moment for her, having returned to form after a lengthy absence and finally being able to make her mark in high-stakes matches.
And it wasn’t the end of good news for Washington fans. In the closing minutes, Trinity Rodman returned to the pitch after a month-long absence and was greeted by an explosion of cheers. She nearly scored Spirit’s third, sending the atmosphere even higher.
The win gave Spirit their second straight and fourth overall trip to the final, tying them with Portland in the all-time standings.
Gotham FC again playing the role of narrative-breaker, advancing as the lowest seed
In Orlando, Gotham looked nothing like a bottom-of-the-table team. The New Jersey side played patiently, tough, and disciplined, even though the Pride’s defense almost completely cut them off from scoring opportunities. The match was even and remained on a knife’s edge for a long time.
The breakthrough came in stoppage time. After a foul on Rose Lavelle, Jaedyn Shaw placed the ball just outside the box and curled it over the wall and into the net. It was Gotham’s only shot on target all game and the shot that sent them to the final. Shaw has been involved in all three of Gotham’s playoff goals and has become the team’s key figure.
Orlando nearly responded with a mirror-image free kick in extra time, but Ann-Katrin Berger kept it out to preserve the result. The Pride, previously unbeaten in home playoff matches, were eliminated.
Gotham have now won four straight playoff matches on the road, another historic achievement, as they once again reach the final as the lowest-seeded team. Previously, only the WNY Flash managed this, in 2016, when the playoffs included just four teams.
2025 NWSL Final
Washington Spirit vs. Gotham FC
November 22, PayPal Park in San Jose
Kickoff at 8:00 PM ET (5:00 PM PT) on CBS and Paramount+
A rematch of last year’s semifinal. Two teams in top form, one match for everything.
