Washington Spirit vs Gotham FC, 2025 NWSL, Playoffs - Championship
· NWSLGotham beat Washington to win NWSL Championship
Rose Lavelle scored in the 80th minute and the eighth-seeded Gotham FC beat the Washington Spirit 1-0 on Saturday night to win their second National Women's Soccer League championship.
Match Timeline
- 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
- 0': First Half begins.
- 1': Attempt missed. Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the left. Assisted by Rose Lavelle.
- 3': Attempt missed. Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Gift Monday.
- 5': Offside, Gotham FC. Esther González is caught offside.
- 6': Attempt saved. Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit).
- 8': Delay in match because of an injury Esther González (Gotham FC).
- 9': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 10': Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 10': Foul by Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit).
- 10': Attempt missed. Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
- 12': Foul by Sarah Schupansky (Gotham FC).
- 12': Leicy Santos (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 14': Attempt blocked. Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kate Wiesner.
- 18': Attempt missed. Gift Monday (Washington Spirit) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Kate Wiesner with a cross.
- 20': Foul by Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit).
- 20': Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 22': Offside, Washington Spirit. Gift Monday is caught offside.
- 23': Foul by Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit).
- 23': Mandy Freeman (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 24': Offside, Washington Spirit. Croix Bethune is caught offside.
- 26': Handball by Esther González (Gotham FC).
- 26': Foul by Sarah Schupansky (Gotham FC).
- 26': Leicy Santos (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 29': Attempt blocked. Midge Purce (Gotham FC) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jaedyn Shaw.
- 34': Foul by Jaelin Howell (Gotham FC).
- 34': Gift Monday (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 36': Delay in match because of an injury Leicy Santos (Washington Spirit).
- 37': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 37': Foul by Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit).
- 37': Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 38': Foul by Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit).
- 38': Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 41': Corner, Gotham FC. Conceded by Tara McKeown.
- 42': Foul by Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit).
- 42': Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 44': Corner, Gotham FC. Conceded by Gift Monday.
- 45': Foul by Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit).
- 45': Sarah Schupansky (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 45': Attempt blocked. Esther González (Gotham FC) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jaedyn Shaw with a headed pass.
- 45': Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time.
- 45'+2': Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 45'+2': Foul by Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC).
- 45'+3': Foul by Lilly Reale (Gotham FC).
- 45'+3': Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 45'+3': Lilly Reale (Gotham FC) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 45'+4': First Half ends, Washington Spirit 0, Gotham FC 0.
- 45': Second Half begins Washington Spirit 0, Gotham FC 0.
- 46': Attempt blocked. Sofia Cantore (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Croix Bethune.
- 46': Offside, Washington Spirit. Croix Bethune is caught offside.
- 48': Attempt missed. Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Rosemonde Kouassi with a cross.
- 49': Foul by Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit).
- 49': Jaelin Howell (Gotham FC) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 50': Attempt blocked. Mandy Freeman (Gotham FC) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 50': Offside, Gotham FC. Emily Sonnett is caught offside.
- 53': Corner, Gotham FC. Conceded by Kate Wiesner.
- 53': Attempt missed. Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC) right footed shot from very close range misses to the right. Assisted by Lilly Reale with a headed pass following a corner.
- 54': Foul by Jess Carter (Gotham FC).
- 54': Gift Monday (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 55': Attempt blocked. Leicy Santos (Washington Spirit) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Croix Bethune.
- 56': Attempt missed. Midge Purce (Gotham FC) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right following a fast break.
- 57': Offside, Gotham FC. Jaelin Howell is caught offside.
- 57': Substitution, Washington Spirit. Trinity Rodman replaces Sofia Cantore.
- 59': Foul by Lilly Reale (Gotham FC).
- 59': Rosemonde Kouassi (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 61': Offside, Washington Spirit. Gift Monday is caught offside.
- 62': Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 62': Foul by Sarah Schupansky (Gotham FC).
- 63': Substitution, Gotham FC. Bruninha replaces Lilly Reale.
- 64': Attempt blocked. Sarah Schupansky (Gotham FC) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mandy Freeman.
- 64': Corner, Gotham FC. Conceded by Tara McKeown.
- 65': Attempt missed. Esther González (Gotham FC) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Bruninha with a cross.
- 67': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Mandy Freeman.
- 68': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Midge Purce.
- 69': Corner, Washington Spirit. Conceded by Jess Carter.
- 72': Foul by Gift Monday (Washington Spirit).
- 72': Jaelin Howell (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 73': Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 73': Foul by Jaelin Howell (Gotham FC).
- 73': Delay in match because of an injury Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit).
- 76': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 78': Attempt saved. Esther González (Gotham FC) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner by Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit). Assisted by Mandy Freeman.
- 79': Jaelin Howell (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 79': Foul by Gift Monday (Washington Spirit).
- 80': Goal! Washington Spirit 0, Gotham FC 1. Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Bruninha.
- 81': Substitution, Washington Spirit. Deborah Abiodun replaces Hal Hershfelt because of an injury.
- 84': Foul by Gift Monday (Washington Spirit).
- 84': Jaelin Howell (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 85': Handball by Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC).
- 86': Foul by Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit).
- 86': Sarah Schupansky (Gotham FC) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 89': Foul by Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit).
- 89': Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 89': Substitution, Washington Spirit. Paige Metayer replaces Kate Wiesner.
- 90': Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90': Foul by Gift Monday (Washington Spirit).
- 90'+1': Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
- 90'+2': Foul by Jaelin Howell (Gotham FC).
- 90'+2': Tara McKeown (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90'+3': Foul by Bruninha (Gotham FC).
- 90'+3': Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 90'+3': Bruninha (Gotham FC) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 90'+3': Attempt missed. Paige Metayer (Washington Spirit) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Gift Monday following a set piece situation.
- 90'+4': Foul by Gift Monday (Washington Spirit).
- 90'+4': Jaelin Howell (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90'+6': Foul by Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit).
- 90'+6': Sarah Schupansky (Gotham FC) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90'+6': Delay in match because of an injury Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit).
- 90'+7': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 90'+8': Second Half ends, Washington Spirit 0, Gotham FC 1.
- 0': Match ends, Washington Spirit 0, Gotham FC 1.
Statistics
GFC |
WAS![]() |
|
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Fouls | 16 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 3 | Offsides | 4 |
| 4 | Corner Kicks | 3 |
| 0 | Saves | 2 |
| 47.3 | Possession | 52.7 |
| 12 | SHOTS | 7 |
| 3 | ON GOAL | 0 |
| 0.3 | On Target % | 0.0 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 254 | Accurate Passes | 295 |
| 354 | Passes | 393 |
| 0.7 | Pass Completion % | 0.8 |
| 6 | Accurate Crosses | 4 |
| 12 | Crosses | 12 |
| 0.5 | Cross % | 0.3 |
| 46 | Long Balls | 41 |
| 15 | Accurate Long Balls | 12 |
| 0.3 | Long Balls % | 0.3 |
| 4 | Blocked Shots | 3 |
| 11 | Effective Tackles | 14 |
| 15 | Tackles | 19 |
| 0.7 | Tackle % | 0.7 |
| 16 | Interceptions | 9 |
| 26 | Effective Clearances | 24 |
| 26 | Clearances | 24 |
Game Information
Venue: PayPal Park
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Attendance: 18,000
Line-Ups
Washington Spirit (4-1-4-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Aubrey Kingsbury (GK) |
| 9 | Tara McKeown |
| 4 | Rebeca Bernal |
| 17 | Hal Hershfelt |
| 6 | Kate Wiesner |
| 24 | Esme Morgan |
| 7 | Croix Bethune |
| 10 | Leicy Santos |
| 27 | Sofia Cantore |
| 19 | Rosemonde Kouassi |
| 21 | Gift Monday |
Gotham FC (4-1-4-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 30 | Ann-Katrin Berger (GK) |
| 27 | Jessica Carter |
| 6 | Emily Sonnett |
| 7 | Jaelin Howell |
| 4 | Lilly Reale |
| 22 | Mandy Freeman |
| 11 | Sarah Schupansky |
| 16 | Rose Lavelle |
| 2 | Jaedyn Shaw |
| 23 | Midge Purce |
| 9 | Esther González |
NWSL News
Goalkeeper Casey Murphy has signed one of the most lucrative guaranteed deals for a goalkeeper in NWSL history with Boston Legacy FC, a source confirmed to ESPN.
Watch the Puskas and Marta Award nominees, with each shortlist packed with 11 of the most audacious goals from around the world scored last season.
The NWSL's board of governors approved a new roster mechanism to pay select star players above and beyond the current salary cap, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN.
The NWSL's Board of Governors is in advanced discussions about implementing a new roster mechanism that would allow each team to pay star players significant salaries beyond the current salary cap, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN.
World Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher has re-signed with the Chicago Red Stars for her 10th season with the NWSL club.
GFC