Washington Spirit Ready to Face Gotham FC in NWSL Final

The 2025 NWSL Championship final promises excitement as Washington Spirit prepare to face Gotham FC on Saturday night at PayPal Park in San Jose, California. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. local time, bringing together two teams with very different paths this season. For Washington Spirit, the final is a chance for redemption after losing last year’s title, while Gotham FC wants to show that their surprising playoff run is no accident.

For Spirit forward Gift Monday, the game is deeply personal. She has played a key role in leading the Spirit to the final while dealing with the recent loss of her father, who was also her first coach. Monday shared, “I think of him all the time. If he was around, I would have got him a plane ticket and he would have been in VVIP for this Final.” Her father’s memory has been a source of strength throughout the playoffs, and she dedicated her quarterfinal goal to him after returning from his funeral in Nigeria.

Monday’s journey in the NWSL has been remarkable. She joined Washington Spirit from UD Tenerife in Spain this March and quickly adapted to the league’s style. Her goal is to score as many goals as possible to help the team succeed. She emphasized the collective effort, saying, “As a team, we are not surprised that we are in the Final because we really worked so hard to be where we are today. It's not like we got here by luck or by chance.”

Goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury, the team’s longest-serving player, described this roster as the best she has ever played with. The Spirit overcame many challenges this season, including injuries, players on pregnancy leave, and a midseason coaching change when Jonatan Giráldez left for OL Lyonnes in France. Defender Tara McKeown, NWSL Defender of the Year, recalled, “There’s been times when we had maybe 14 players on the injured report, and the next player stepped up and got us through those games.”

Washington’s late-season form was strong, with a 14-game unbeaten streak between August and mid-October, including seven wins. In the semifinals, they defeated Portland Thorns 2-0 at Audi Field, with Rosemonde Kouassi assisting Monday for the first goal and Croix Bethune scoring the second. Head coach Adrián González praised the team effort, noting, “Now, we are seeing the connections that we built, and I think it was a great team effort.”

Gotham FC, finishing eighth in the regular season, has been an underdog story, defeating top teams like Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride in the playoffs. Led by coach Juan Carlos Amorós, Gotham features stars like Ann-Katrin Berger, Esther González, Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, and rising talent Jaedyn Shaw. The team also won the first CONCACAF W Championship Cup in May, adding to their confidence.

The rivalry between Spirit and Gotham is the most-played fixture in NWSL history, with Saturday marking their 44th meeting. This season, Washington has struggled against Gotham, failing to score in three matches. Monday acknowledged, “Gotham has always given us tough times. I think I have played against them three times and it was so tough for us. But I am glad to play them again to see if I have improved from the last time I played against them.”

Trinity Rodman, another key Spirit player, is focused on the championship despite contract uncertainties and injuries. Fans are also rallying at watch parties across the D.C. area, showing strong support for their team.

With both teams at full strength and everything on the line, the NWSL final promises to be intense, emotional, and unforgettable. The Spirit aim to turn last year’s disappointment into victory, while Gotham wants to finish their underdog run with glory.