There will be a new NWSL champion in 2023. OL Reign will face NJ/NY Gotham FC for the NWSL Championship on Saturday as former U.S. women's national team players Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger compete for one final trophy.
OL Reign defeated San Diego Wave FC 1-0 in the semifinal Sunday night. Veronica Latsko provided another game-winning goal for the visitors early in the second half. The Reign controlled large stretches of the game, clogging the narrow channels for San Diego and had better attacking chances in the final third.
It will be the third NWSL Championship appearance for coach Laura Harvey and Rapinoe after previously reaching the big event in 2014 and 2015.
NJ/NY Gotham FC booked a spot in the NWSL Championship for the first time ever after Katie Stengel's stunner in extra time earned them a 1-0 win over the reigning champions Portland Thorns on Sunday.
The two played to a scoreless draw for 90 minutes, but the lack of goals were not for a lack of trying. Golden boot winner Sophia Smith was a threat for the Thorns but Gotham goalkeeper Mandy Haught was up for the task, while Lynn Williams was active whenever the visitors got forward.
In the end, it was substitute Stengel who was the hero of the day. Gotham earned the ball in the 107th minute off a giveaway near the penalty area, with Kristie Mewis sending the ball towards Stengel. From there, she took a curling shot from distance that sailed over goalkeeper Shelley Hogan.
Later on the night, the Reign eked out a 1-0 win over the Shield-winning San Diego Wave. The Wave dominated in a handful of categories but the Reign were the ones that took the advantage just after the half through Latsko. Her ball in from the touchline looked like a cross but landed in the top left corner of the net, providing the night's second golazo.
The Wave were unable to overcome the strike, especially as the Reign successfully ran down the clock with the advantage fully on their side.
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OL Reign and Gotham FC will square off in the NWSL Championship on Nov. 11 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California. You can watch all the action no CBS.
The Shield winners are out courtesy of Latsko's shot/cross/whatever you want to call it, meaning the championship will be a farewell for both Rapinoe and Gotham's Krieger. The Reign will play Gotham on Saturday at Snapdragon Stadium for the NWSL title, which would be the first in either club's history.
90'+3 The Wave are playing out of the back in hopes of finding a last-gasp equalizer and Carusa has a shot from distance that is convincing, but the Reign defense still handles it with relative ease.
75' Wave struggling with the Reign's defensive press. Narrow channels clogged up with nowhere to go. Only 15 minutes of regulation to try and figure something out.
Jakobsson's first touch finds Morgan and she connects quickly with Shaw. The 18-year-old has some space in front of her but she only takes a couple of touches before opting for the shot, and it goes wide over the crossbar.
We're officially past the hour mark and Casey Stoney makes the first changes of the night. Rachel Hill's night is done and Sofia Jakobsson is on to try and spark some offense for the Wave.
59' Reign win the ball with numbers and Rapinoe leads the attack. She handles the ball and threads a long ball out wide to Latsko, but her shot from just outside the box misses the target.
55' A good attacking sequence for the Wave as Van Egmond and Colaprico are pushing higher in the midfield. Doniak provides some good hold-up play as numbers arrive in the box, but Van Egmond just can get the touch right on the ball and Reign clears away the danger.
47' Veronica Latsko does it again! Lavelle and Latsko with some give and go out wide on the flank, and Latsko delivers a lofty cross that catches Sheridan out of position and sails near the far post into goal. A massive start for the Reign in the second half.
45+2' Wave with a chance to steal some momentum at the end of the half, but Shaw plays the corner short and it is easily defended away. A restart on goal kick and they win possession again with Shaw on the ball. She's fouled just outside of the box and now four players (Colaprico, Van Egmond, Shaw, and Morgan) are over the ball to discuss how they want to take the free kick...
43' Reign with all the attacking chances through the first half, but an injury to Jess Fishlock has taken the game to the full first 45 minutes. Two minutes stoppage time, but Fishlock is off the pitch after a few minutes for what looks like concussion protocol. Wave back on offense with a chance for a corner kick.
31' Wave's Emily Van Egmond and Reign's Emily Sonnet go for a 50/50 ball, but Sonnett comes down hard after going aerial and needs some time to get back up. Van Egmond was not booked but was given a warning for the close contact.
28' Reign with another chance for the Reign as Fishlock orchestrates the build-up this time. She lays the ball off to Rapinoe, who takes the space given inside the box and shoots the ball, but it's easily collected by Sheridan.
23' Wave's Jaedyn Shaw is heavily involved in the attack as the game ticks past 20 minutes. Finding the ball at her feet and looking to connect early in the final third. Nothing by the squad that has registered on target just yet.
Reign with another good build-up. Rapinoe leads the charge with Fishlock and Huitema alongside her. She makes a good pass across to a darting Huitema with an open look on goal, but the shot is saved by Sheridan to keep things scoreless.
10' Opening minutes have been someone even, but Reign already has the first shot and attempt on target. Pitch is already leaving something to be desired after a college football game was played on it previously. Still lots of paint and lines on the field.
That's a wrap at Providence Park, where the lowest-seeded side is off to the championship. Gotham will play for the NWSL title for the first time ever thanks to Stengel's stellar game-winner, knocking out the reigning champs -- and extending Krieger's career for one final game.
120+2' Gotham have successfully run down the clock since Stengel's goal, and are within the home stretch of their first ever trip to the championship.
We're underway in San Diego! Latsko providing the playoff goalscoring once again! Her lofty cross drifts far post and into goal.
112' The Thorns earn a freekick and go for goal, and though Gotham initially clear it, the ball falls at Kuikka's feet. The defender lets it rip from range but the ball sails over the net.
107' Stengel breaks the deadlock! A poor clearance means Gotham can pick up the ball near goal and Mewis sends it over to Stengel, whose curling ball from distance beats Hogan off her line.
The league has announced a time shift for the upcoming semifinal between San Diego Wave FC vs. OL Reign. Fans can catch all the action on CBS Sports Network at 9:43 p.m. ET.
105'+3 Gotham pounce on a giveaway near the box and Williams gets a nice strike on the ball, but it rolls just wide of the net. It's the last big chance of the first half of extra time, which was very much dominated by the Thorns. Still no luck for either side in front of goal, though.
97' Smith has started extra time in fine form and is winning the foot race, which forces Krieger to commit a foul and pick up a yellow card. The Thorns have a freekick that allows them to sustain pressure in attack but Haught is once again ready to stop the hosts in their tracks.
90' And the Thorns seem eager to pick up from where they left off as Smith dashes forward, but Krieger is able to keep her at bay for now.
It's scoreless after 90 minutes, though not for a lack of effort from either team, especially in the dying minutes of regulation time. Two 15-minute periods are ahead of us, and if the deadlock isn't broken, a dreaded penalty shootout will follow.
OL Reign: Dickey, Huerta, Cook, Barns, McClernon, Sonnett, Fishlock, Lavelle, Latsko, Huitema, Rapinoe
Wave FC: Sheridan, Pogarch, Girma, Westphal, Dahlkemper, Colaprico, Van Egmond, Hill, Doniak, Shaw, Morgan
90'+4 Williams looks in the clear to score the game-winning goal from close range but Coffey reads the danger well and clears the ball away to keep her team in the game.
90'+3 Back to the VAR officials, who are now checking if Menges committed a handball when Krieger tried to swing a cross into the box, but after a review, play resumes as normal.
90' Smith makes another impressive run and is able to split Gotham's defense, and then sends the ball to Weaver. Weaver's not able to get a great touch on the ball and so Haught is able to make the fairly easy stop.
