NWSL Championship score: Gotham FC beat Trinity Rodman's Washington Spirit on Rose Lavelle's late goal

Lavelle scored with about 10 minutes to go, one touching a shot perfectly into the corner

Gotham FC won their second NWSL Championship on Saturday, with star midfielder Rose Lavelle coming up with an impressive late goal to seal a 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit at San Jose's PayPal Park.

Lavelle scored the latest opening goal in the history of the NWSL Championship, the game's lone goal coming in the 80th minute of a closely contested match. Gotham were hanging out in and around the Spirit's penalty area and Lavelle made a darting run towards the area, hitting it hard on the edge of the penalty area and sending the ball flying into the back of the net.

Lavelle's strike was a fitting game-winner on a day where both teams were defensively solid and lacked a little bit of quality in attack, in total generating just 0.88 expected goals collectively from a combined 19 shots. The match was crying out for a star to change the game, Lavelle doing just that with her strike and winning her first NWSL Championship in the process.

The game's lone goal, though, was marred by Spirit head coach Adrian Gonzalez's decision not to take midfielder Hal Hershfelt off the field minutes earlier. The 24-year-old had taken a hard hit in a collision with Lavelle a few minutes before the ball, receiving medical attention on the field and then on the sideline. She seemed far from her best as she geared up to return to the game, but Gonzalez surprised many by letting her return to the field despite running awkwardly and visibly playing with pain. She came off shortly after the goal, clearly emotional after the event.

Her star shone brightly on a day where the focus was fixed on Trinity Rodman, who came off the bench and played 33 minutes in what was eventually an unsuccessful outing for the Spirit. Rodman was unable to add much to a game where Gotham disrupted the Spirit's momentum constantly, eventually limiting the opposition to zero shots on target from seven total attempts. She was also unable to take a shot during her stint on the field and may have picked up an injury in a late collision with Sarah Schupansky, holding her back and in tears in the dying moments of the match.

Rodman's current deal with the Spirit has now expired, potentially making this her final match in the NWSL. Before the game, Rodman said she had not made a decision on her future and while the Spirit hope to re-sign her, the player has interested parties in England's Women's Super League and the USL Super League working on landing her signature.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 10:02 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

80' At long last, the deadlock is broken! Gotham go for goal once again and in the end, it's a big-time player with a big-time play. Rose Lavelle makes a darting run and hits the ball from the edge of the box, slotting the ball into the back of the net. Hal Hershfelt is in the vicinity but she cannot stretch out her leg enough to stop Lavelle, and now Hershfelt is off the field, her return probably not such a good idea since she clearly was not fit enough for it.

For Lavelle, it's the latest opening goal in the history of the NWSL Championship.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 10:22 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Jaedyn Shaw said it best -- "Underdog my ass." Gotham's run to the NWSL Championship may have been unlikely but it was certainly dramatic, stars lifting them to their second title. Jaedyn Shaw may have had three goal contributions in the playoffs but in the end, it was Rose Lavelle who stepped up with the deciding goal in San Jose, finally winning her first NWSL Championship in the process.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 10:18 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

90'+6 Trinity Rodman collides with Sarah Schupansky and the USWNT star goes down, holding her back. Rodman is in tears as she receives medical treatment, making for an unfortunate ending to this game -- and perhaps a really unfortunate ending to her time in the NWSL. Rodman is a free agent once this game ends. She's back on her feet but she's still visibly emotional.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 10:15 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

90'+2 This referee has been hesitant to hand out yellow cards but Bruninha earns the second yellow of the game for a big tackle on Trinity Rodman, killing a little bit more time on the clock. Next time wasting measure comes from Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who punches the ball out of play, defends another chance from the Washington Spirit and then goes down and is slow to come up.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 10:13 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

It's been a chippy race to the finish line for Gotham and the Washington Spirit. Let's see what the next five minutes bring for both of these teams.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 10:11 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

89' Gotham have not quite figured out how to kill this game off just yet but they have managed to get some time off the clock by forcing the Washington Spirit to commit a couple of fouls. Gotham still keep playing the ball back into the Spirit's feet, though, even if the Spirit can't do much with it.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 10:07 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

85' Naturally, the Washington Spirit are now in a desperate search for the equalizer with a few minutes left on the clock, a natural franticness settling in for both teams. Gotham have done well to disrupt the Spirit's rhythm so far, a strategy that has served them well at different points of today's championship game.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 10:01 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

79' Several minutes of treatment on the touchline later, Hal Hershfelt is back on the pitch for the Washington Spirit. She's definitely not at her best, though -- her run looks unnatural and there's pain in her face as she jogs back onto the pitch.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 9:59 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

77' Gotham have a nice idea going once again and the ball eventually lands to Midge Purce's feet but she pings the ball too far, bringing the play to a halt. Gotham's final pass has been missing all night and they still have just the one shot on target -- Jaedyn Shaw's attempt in the sixth minute -- not doing much with the momentum they've created from time to time.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 9:57 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Announced attendance at PayPal Park is 18,000, making the 2025 NWSL Championship a sellout.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 9:56 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

74' Hal Hershfelt and Rose Lavelle clash for the ball and Lavelle may accidentally clip Hershfelt on the way down, the Washington Spirit midfielder maybe landing awkwardly. She's receiving treatment on her leg, the teams taking a break on the touchline while the medical staff works.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 9:48 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

65' All of the corners so far have been Gotham's, the New York area team drumming up some impressive moments but frequently stifled by the Washington Spirit's capable defenders. Moments after their latest corner, though, Bruninha wins the ball on the right flank and pings a rainbow ball over a defender. The ball meets Esther Gonzalez but the MVP nominee sends the ball over the net, the latest sign of an uncharacteristically quiet game for Gonzalez. The Spirit's defense has neutralized her successfully so far, limiting her to one shot.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 9:45 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

62' Gotham make a change at left back, bringing off Lily Reale for Bruninha. It is not hard to understand the change - Reale, the rookie of the year, defended Rosemonde Kouassi very well in the first half but picked up a yellow just before the break and was lucky not to get a second moments ago. Still, a solid finish to an impressive rookie season for Reale, a year that includes several caps for the U.S. women's national team.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 9:42 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

59' Esther Gonzalez is just about in on goal but the angle isn't right and a Washington Spirit defender is able to steer the ball out of trouble, though the ball lands on the left flank, where Rosemonde Kouassi and Lily Reale await for another battle. Kouassi gets the better of Rookie of the Year Reale and though the referee blows the whistle, Reale escapes without a second yellow. She receives the benefit of the referee's generosity for now but that is a battle to keep an eye on as this game continues.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 9:38 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

56' The wait for Trinity Rodman is over. The U.S. women's national team star comes on for Sofia Cantore, entering PayPal Park with a round of applause for her first extended period of play since suffering an MCL sprain a month ago.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 9:37 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

55' Things have calmed down in this half but the Washington Spirit have a great moment of build-up play and Croix Bethune is in front of goal and takes one too many touches, giving Emily Sonnett a chance to put her body on the line and keep Gotham out of danger. Huge play from Sonnett to keep this game goalless.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 9:36 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Has been warming up since before halftime and just received instructions

[Nov 22, 2025 at 9:29 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

46' The Washington Spirit get a first go of things after the break, with Sofia Cantore serving as a big presence in the box and testing Gotham's defense early. Nothing much comes of it yet and it's still very early in the second half but the intensity they were missing in the first half is so far on display in this second 45.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 9:13 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

A quick start gave way for a more balanced first half at the NWSL Championship, one that has taken a competitive but chippy tone. Gotham have dictated this one, spending a lot of time in and around the Washington Spirit's goal and finding some bright moments through Jaedyn Shaw and Midge Purce. While there are tackles aplenty, there are not meaningful chances to match that count -- the teams have combined for eight shots in the first half but just 0.21 expected goals and one, singular shot on target that came from Shaw in the sixth minute.

Again, there are a ton of difference makers on the field and this match is so far an exercise in waiting to see which one of them finally finds a way to break down the opponent's organized defense. This also sets up for the obvious question, though -- when could Trinity Rodman come on to give the Spirit a boost?

[Nov 22, 2025 at 9:01 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

38' Midge Purce beats Kate Weisner on the right flank and Hal Hershfelt comes darting towards her, coming up with an important -- but painful -- tackle. Purce says she'll be fine and soon enough, she is. Hershfelt's foul is clean but there's been a bit of roughhousing in the last few minutes, the game almost in need of a first yellow card to bring the temperature down. It should come as no surprise, though, that things are getting spicy between these frequent and fierce rivals.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 8:53 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

30' Rose Lavelle finds the space and spots Jaedyn Shaw making a run into the box so she picks out Shaw with a nice pass but the Spirit are able to stifle the chance with ease, in large part because Shaw was the only player making the run. Both teams have gone a little timid after a bright start, the defenses holding strong. The countdown, though, has officially begun to see which one of the stars on the pitch can find a little bit of creativity and break through one of the steady defenses.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 8:44 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

I've been able to take in nine NWSL Championship matches, and the dualing supporters in the stands are making an otherwise even match very fun. Shout out to the two East Coast fandoms who made it out to a West Coast site, and are making the most of things as the temperature starts to drop a bit.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 8:40 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

19' Now, a little positive spell for the Washington Spirit created by Rebeca Bernal, who eventually sets up Kate Wiesner with a real opportunity in front of goal but she's unable to challenge Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. Three attempts but no shots on target so far for the Spirit -- perhaps a result of playing against Gotham's defense, one of the best in the league for the last two years running.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 8:38 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

18' The Washington Spirit were very unsettled and perhaps a bit nervous to start this game, Gotham's press rattling them to start the game. The Spirit have enjoyed a little bit of possession though they have not done much with it, but that does not mean Gotham haven't had their moments -- it always feels like there's space on the right wing for them to play with in attack, this time with Esther Gonzalez occupying the space. Gonzalez doesn't have the speed to get it forward, though, and so the play fizzles out.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 8:29 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

6' Back to the other end! Gotham have the ball now and after a bit of patient play near the Spirit's goal, Midge Purce dances around a defender and cuts her way into the box, putting Gotham's press perfectly into motion. Defender of the Year Tara McKeown does what she can to stop one play but Gotham's Mandy Freeman gets her side going again, the play eventually resulting in Jaedyn Shaw scoring a goal that's quickly ruled off for offside. The goal may not have counted but that's trademark Gotham at their best, and Shaw is wasting no time making her presence known. She wants a goal bad, which comes as no surprise for the player with a contribution on each of Gotham's playoff goals so far.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 8:25 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

4' These teams are wasting no time at all going for goal. Spirit gain possession and Rosemonde Kouassi wins a one-on-one with 2025 Rookie of the Year Lily Reale on the wing, though Kouassi's eventual shot sails wide of the net. Moments later, Esther Gonzalez gives up possession near Gotham's goal and the Spirit are off to the races again, Kouassi this time sending the ball over the net in the end.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 8:23 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

1' Straight from kickoff, Jaedyn Shaw punts the ball towards the goalkeeper and though she doesn't succeed, she wasn't terribly far off.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 8:09 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

The NWSL Championship is officially underway at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.

[Nov 22, 2025 at 8:02 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Yes, you read that correctly. There was a special delivery of the official NWSL Championship match ball. A two-woman parachuting team landed inside the stadium and dropped off the ball. First time that's ever happened at the event. Very cool!

[Nov 22, 2025 at 8:00 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

A few days before the U.S. women's national team's next camp begins in Florida, head coach Emma Hayes is at PayPal Park for the NWSL Championship, featuring a handful of players who will join her on the East Coast. Hayes talks about "the best job in the world," as well as the play of Gotham's Jaelin Howell, whose strong performances with her new club have earned her a first USWNT call-up in several years.