SAN JOSE, CALIF. — In a match that had been a year in the making, it was a brilliant moment that divided Gotham FC of the Washington Spirit in the 2025 NWSL Championship Finalthanks to experienced midfielder Rose Lavelle.
The two teams played each other more times (45) than any other team in NWSL history, surpassing the famous Pacific Northwest rivalry between the Portland Thorns and Seattle Reign. Matches have become more competitive in recent years, and with additional non-league fixtures during the 2025 Concacaf W Champions Cup, it was only natural that the 2025 NWSL Championship would seem as secretive as it has been at times.
It took Lavelle's moment of brilliance late in the game for Gotham to finally capitalize on the possession they had maintained while the Spirit tried to climb out of the trauma scenario. Spirit midfielder Hal Hershfelt was on the sidelines for several minutes and eventually returned to play, but Gotham defender Brunichna took advantage of the wide space and Lavelle handled the rest.
“I think that was maybe the only moment in the game to step up. And I keep saying I think Bruninha did the hard work of it, but yeah, it was a great ball across the box and luckily I was able to get to the finish. But yeah, it was fun,” Lavelle said of her winning goal.
This is Gotham FC's second NWSL title in the last three years, although they haven't made it easy on themselves. The club finished the 2025 regular season in eighth place, dropping to the last available playoff spot. But Gotham has faced this scenario before, in 2023, and was familiar with competing for the playoffs all the way to a podium finish. But for many of the 2025 class, this is their first experience, including Lavelle, who signed with the team in 2024 during the club's monster offseason.
“I definitely didn’t think like three years ago that I would have to play in Gotham in the finals. [my] career,” Lavelle said days before the NWSL Championship.
Lavelle is one of the most famous faces in the league. A player whose exceptional talent has long been known, a former No. 1 pick in the NWSL draft, a tournament roster-building mechanism that no longer exists. She played for four different clubs before she turned 30, and at one point even had to be drafted because the former club that drafted her, the Boston Breakers, folded.
Now, despite winning the Women's World Cup and Olympic gold medals, the longtime NWSL player is back in the NWSL Championship finals, this time playing for the team she lost to in 2023.
“I keep saying, I think we all know we like to lose, especially late in the season. I think that wasn't the ending we wanted. So, I think coming into this season we just had so much confidence in our group. We know we have a lot of talent and so I think we really leaned into that playoff series and I think that's what we saw and that's what ultimately helped us win,” Lavelle said afterward. match.
A creative, quick-thinking and ball-wielding threat who often glides through a lot of midfield traffic. She often only needs a few taps to find an opening or make a quick strike. She performed on the biggest stages of her career, but the NWSL title eluded her. This is no longer the case, and winning a title provides an added sense of accomplishment due to its difficulty.
“I feel like it’s like what you play for. This season is so long and difficult, but then these moments come and it's like the most fun. It's win, lose or go home. So, I think we all just fight for each other and play with passion every single day. This is a heightened feeling of excitement. “I mean, technically, I like to think every game should be the same and you go into every game feeling the same way, but I definitely think the NWSL playoffs are a whole different beast.”
The NWSL postseason is a different matter. NWSL players often refer to this as a new season or series to beat. Lavelle has once again found himself in the spotlight this postseason, especially whenever Gotham finds itself in tough game situations. There were times throughout the regular season and playoffs when their offense stagnated and the path to goal seemed blocked. But it's in these moments that Lavelle's quality becomes most important, and where she finds the most growth.
“Oh my gosh, I think this is something special. I keep saying it's been a roller coaster of a season for us. We had injuries, we had a really scary schedule because of the number of games we played.
“So, I would say that you learn the most about yourself in your most difficult moments. I think the adversity we faced throughout the season really helped prepare us for the playoffs. I think that's what helped us, like, win in the end. We've been through most of the season, we've seen it all, so I don't think there was anything new or unfamiliar about it. And I think that was a really big advantage for us. qualifying for the playoffs.”
