NWSL Championship: key battles to decide Washington Spirit v Gotham FC final | NWSL

AClosing out the NWSL’s quintessential playoffs, filled with goals and last-minute upsets, eighth-place underdogs Gotham FC will face the second-place Washington Spirit for the trophy. Both teams have already won the NWSL championship once: the Spirit in 2021 and Gotham two years later. Washington is probably the favorite, but Gotham’s talent cannot be discounted.

As we look forward to Saturday night in San Jose, here are some key battles that could decide the game.

Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham) vs. Aubrey Kingsbury (Spirit)

Unless we find ourselves in a penalty shootout and either goalkeeper takes one, these two won’t face each other. But their battle could be the most decisive of all.

Both put in player-of-the-match performances in the first round. Gotham defeated record Shield first-place winners Kansas City thanks to a massive seven-save performance from 2024 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year Berger. In Washington, Kingsbury watched the Spirit earn a narrow victory over playoff debutants Racing Louisville with seven saves in 120 minutes, then two more to secure victory on penalties.

In the semi-final, both men faced fewer shots on target, but were called upon to make worthy saves to send their teams through to the final. An elite performance from either goalkeeper could decide the championship.

Emily Sonnett’s offensive depth against Washington

Berger is the reigning Goalkeeper of the Year and is deservedly nominated again for 2025. But the fact that Gotham have conceded the second fewest goals (25) this season and claimed the second most clean sheets is because their defense has been superb. Hats off to veteran centre-back Emily Sonnett, who has had a superb year for club and country.

The Spirit have an impressive group of players who pose threats in front of goal; and Sonnett must coordinate their containment. With injuries limiting starts for some (like Croix Bethune and Trinity Rodman, the latter of whom is still back in full form and came off the bench late in the semifinals), Washington has five players with four or more goals this season (Gotham has three), while collectively totaling 42 overall — just behind Kansas City. Sonnett’s performance in defense will need to be excellent to keep them down, with help from key players around her such as fellow centre-back Jess Carter.

Tara McKeown (Spirit) vs. Esther González (Gotham)

Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amorós listed his leading scorer, Esther González, as questionable in last week’s availability report, then started her in a 1-0 win over Orlando. The Spanish striker (whose four goals at the Euros made her the tournament’s top scorer) finished second to Temwa Chawinga in the race for this year’s Golden Boot, with 13 goals in 23 games. Sunday’s semi-final was her first match in over a month as she returns from injury, but the typically incisive striker had a dry spell before that and has not scored in her last five appearances. That said, González likes to score a goal that wins a trophy. She scored the team’s decisive goal in their Concacaf W Champions Cup victory as well as their 2-1 Championship victory over Seattle in 2023. Washington’s Defender of the Year finalist, USWNT center back Tara McKeown, will need to be at peak performance to keep González at bay – not to mention Gotham’s other in-form goalscorers, Jaedyn Shaw or Rose Lavelle.

Monday gift and Rose Kouassi (Spirit) against Lily Reale (Gotham)

This final sets up riveting tests along both sides. One to watch pits Rookie of the Year finalist Lily Reale against Spirit top scorer Gift Monday and smooth Ivorian striker Rose Kouassi. Kouassi will attack from the right, where the young USWNT left back has impressed this year for club and country. With left centre-back Jess Carter also key to the equation, Reale will need to help limit Kouassi’s creative outbursts which have been key to Gift Monday’s effectiveness in front of goal.

Kouassi and Monday combined for two of the Spirit’s three playoff goals, with Kouassi (who had four goals and four assists in the regular season) providing the assist each time. According to Opta, Kouassi on Monday scored six goals in 2025, which is the most since the dynamic duo of Yuki Nagasato and Sam Kerr in 2019. It will be a team effort to stop them, but Reale’s effort on the left flank could be the key to limiting this link-up.

Croix Bethune (Spirit) vs. Jaelin Howell (Gotham)

The midfield battle between these two teams is fascinating. Croix Bethune was named the 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year and 2024 Midfielder of the Year after tying Tobin Heath’s single-season assists record with five goals and 10 assists. She suffered an injury earlier in the year, but found her rhythm in the second half of the season, showing off her elite vision and creative instincts and scoring the second of two goals in the team’s 2-0 victory last weekend. For Gotham, Jaelin Howell’s defensive presence can be formidable, while also providing his own offensive threat with four goals and an assist (making him Gotham’s third-leading scorer behind González and Lavelle). A big game from either player will have a huge impact in midfield, with Howell’s ability to block Bethune’s progression into the final third being a key matchup.

Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham) against the doubters

Frisco talent Jaedyn Shaw, 20, has had his ups and downs over the past few years for club and country. But the versatile midfielder/forward is in great shape at the right time for Gotham after joining the 2023 champions this summer. Amorós used it in several positions during the playoffs and it was key to both victories. Shaw scored the first of two goals against Kansas City as well as the stoppage-time winner against Orlando. The Spirit will have an eye on her, as Shaw looks to further justify his postgame comments after toppling Kansas City: “Underdog, my ass.”

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