Lovell Guides Gotham to Their Second NWSL Championship in Three Years!

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Gotham FC secured a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit on Saturday, clinching the NWSL Championship.

The decisive goal came from Gotham midfielder Rose Lovell in the 80th minute, with a setup from substitute Bruninha that floated over the box. Lovell’s performance earned him the title of match MVP.

This marked Lovell’s second appearance in an NWSL final, as she had previously scored in a 2-1 defeat while playing for Seattle Reign in 2023.

– Gotham achieves historic win with captivating moments

Under coach Juan Carlos Amoros, Gotham celebrated its second championship in three years, making history as the first No. 8 seed to claim the title. The team’s route to victory included defeating top contenders Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride prior to overcoming the Spirit.

“It’s been an up-and-down year, but this is a fantastic conclusion,” Lavelle shared on ESPN’s Football W. “We understood we didn’t meet our potential in the regular season. However, we recognized our talent and believed if we performed well, there were no limits. We relied on that during the playoffs, and it certainly paid off.”

“We have an incredible group, and I’m thrilled to win with them.”

“This feels like a dream come true,” said Amoros, who is now among only three managers in league history to win multiple NWSL championships. “This is the result of hard work. At the end of the day, I’m just a guy from a neighborhood in Madrid who loves football and I’m here celebrating with the best players in the world.”

“For me, capturing my second championship in this premier league is phenomenal.”

The Spirit faced their second consecutive finals defeat, having lost 1-0 to the Orlando Pride in the previous season.

Before the match, much attention was on Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, who was dealing with a right knee MCL sprain. Although she wasn’t on the pregame injury report, Rodman didn’t start but came on as a substitute in the 56th minute. However, she struggled to make a significant impact due to her diminished explosiveness.

Gotham, who was more subdued in opportunities during their semifinal against Orlando, took charge early in the match, pushing Washington back. Forward Jadyn Shaw aimed to take shots when possible, with her first attempt shortly after kickoff almost disrupting Spirit keeper Aubrey Kingsbury, though it went wide. Neither of Shaw’s further early attempts challenged Kingsbury significantly.

Washington forward Rosemond Kouassi threatened early, but the rest of the first half saw a stalemate dominated by physical play.

Late in the second half, Gotham nearly went ahead when Mandy Freeman’s cross was controlled by Shaw and attempted to be finished by Esther González, but Spirit defender Tara McCune easily saved that effort.

Kouassi nearly scored in the 55th minute, working with Croix Bethune, who replaced Lacey Santos, but Gotham’s Emily Sonnet delivered a game-saving block. “They played excellently. They found openings in the second half, and we adjusted our strategy. Thankfully, it worked in our favor,” Sonnet remarked. “I had some teammates backing me up, and I’m grateful it turned out well.”

Kouassi’s impact stretched beyond the offensive, as she drew a yellow card from Lily Real late in the first half and continued to challenge Real. In the 59th minute, she forced another foul on Reale, leading Amoros to substitute her for Bruninha in the 63rd minute to prevent a potential ejection.

This tactical change proved pivotal, as Bruninha’s subsequent assist set up the championship-winning goal. Shortly after Spirit midfielder Hal Hirschfeld returned from treatment for a foot injury, Gotham found the back of the net. Following the goal, Hirschfeld was swiftly substituted.

Despite Washington’s efforts to find an equalizer, Gotham’s defensive strategy, spearheaded by Sonnet and Jessica Carter, secured the championship for the club.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.