The National Women’s Soccer League crowned its 2026 champion on Nov. 22 as Gotham FC defeated the Washington Spirit, 1-0, in front of 18,000 fans at PayPal Park in San Jose. It was the second league championship in three years for the New York/New Jersey-based club after defeating the Seattle OL Reign, 2-1, to claim the 2023 title.
Gotham FC completed its upset run to the 2025 championship as the No. 8 seed, eliminating the No. 1-seeded Kansas City Current (quarterfinals) and No. 4-seeded Orlando Pride (semifinals). Gotham FC completed its underdog first championship run in 2023 as the No. 6 seed.
Rose Lavelle scored the game-winning goal late in the second half following a scoreless halftime. Lavelle, named the game’s Most Valuable Player, finished a low cross from teammate Bruninha, who became a two-time NWSL champion. Lavelle became the fourth player in league history to score for two different clubs in the NWSL final.
A total of 14 clubs competed during the 2025 season, the league’s 13th.
The 2025 tournament featured a three-round single-elimination format. Eight teams participated in the eight-team quarterfinals. Tje field was narrowed to four teams in the semifinals.
Top seeds included the Kansas City Current (No. 1 seed), Spirit (No. 2 seed), Portland Thorns (No.3 seed) and Orlando (No. 4 seed). The remainder of the quarterfinal field included the No. 5-seeded Seattle Reign, No. 6-seeded San Diego Wave, No. 7-seeded Racing Louisville and No. 8-seeded Gotham FC.
Quarterfinal winners included Washington (2-1 in extra time over Louisville), Portland (1-0 over San Diego in extra time, Orlando (2-0 over Seattle) and Gotham (2-1 over Kanas City).
Gotham defeated Orlando, 1-0, in the semifinals while the Spirit eliminated Portland by a score of 2-0.
Kansas City set a league record with 21 wins and 65 points in the regular season.
The NWSL featured 14 teams for the 2025 season. Multiple attendance records were set during the 2025 season. An Aug. 23 match between Bay FC and the Spirit attracted 40,091 fans to Oracle Park, home of the Major League Baseball San Francisco Giants.
The league average of 10,669 in 2025 was down five percent from a record 11,235 in 2024 when the league surpassed the two million mark for the first time. The league attracted 1,926,050 in total attendance this past season. Portland led the league with an average attendance of 18,173.
Orlando won the 2024 NWSL championship. Portland owns the most league playoff titles with three (2013, 2017, 2022).
Making waves
San Diego’s NWSL club saw its 2025 season come to an abrupt end with the extra time loss to the Thorns at Providence Park despite dominating possession 62 to 38 percent. The teams played to a scoreless 90 minutes of regulation, necessitating a full overtime period.
Portland broke through four minutes into extra time as Olivia Moultrie passed to the back post where teammate Reilyn Turner headed the ball into the back of the net for the eventual game-winner.
The Wave had the best chances to score in regulation as Kennedy Wesley boomed a shot off the crossbar from 30 yards out in the 74th minute. Moments later, Kenza Dali again tested Portland goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold from distance, forcing a save to keep the match even.
In a bid to net the equalizer, the Wave created several scoring chances in the final minutes of overtime. Arnold made a face save on a point-blank shot by Trinity Armstrong in the dying stages of the match as the Thorns held on to eliminate the Wave from postseason play.
Fourteen Wave FC players made their NWSL playoff debuts.
Trinity Byars made her professional debut in her return from an ACL injury. The rookies signed nearly a year ago to the day on Nov. 7, 2024, from the University of Texas.
Both teams finished with 19 shots – six shots on target for Portland and four for the Wave. San Diego forced nine corner kicks to five for Portland. Both teams were whistled for 14 fouls. The Wave was charged with two off-sides infractions.
The Wave will prepare for the upcoming 2026 season by participating in the Coachella Valley Invitational Feb. 7-21.
