Two star-studded teams, Washington Spirit and Gotham FC, will meet in San Jose for the NWSL title, with a competitive match likely in hand as each side chases its second championship, but the big question remains: will Trinity Rodman play?
The pair took different paths to the NWSL Championship, with second-seeded Spirit emerging as favorites in their matches while Gotham played spoiler as the No. 8 seed. eliminating runaway NWSL Shield winners at Kansas City Current and last year's champions Orlando Pride. Describing it as a “David vs. Goliath” type game would be a misnomer, but Gotham has been inconsistent, but they won the championship just two years ago and boast an MVP nominee in Esther Gonzalez.
While Gonzalez and the new Gotham recruit Jadyn Shaw to lead Juan Carlos Amoros' team, the spotlight will also be squarely on Spirit's Rodman. She returned from an MCL sprain to make a very brief cameo in the Spirit's 2-0 win over the Portland Thorns last week. her exact status is unclearbut the latest news is that she was not on the official injury report and her trainer Adrian Gonzalez says she is “available.”
However, if there is any game she could play, it could be a game where a trophy is on the line – it could be her last game in the NWSL, her contract expires at the end of the season.
How to watch the NWSL Championship, odds
- Date: Saturday, November 22 | Time: 8:19 pm ET
- Location: PayPal Park – San Jose, California.
- TV: CBS | Broadcast: Paramount+
- Chances: Washington Spirit +130; Draw +210; Gotham +190
- Live updates: Spirit vs Gotham
Projected lineups
Washington Spirit: Aubrey Kingsbury, Rosemond Kouassi, Esme Morgan, Rebekah Bernal, Tara McKeown, Kate Weisner, Hal Hershfelt, Lacey Santos, Croix Bethune, Trinity Rodman, Gift Monday
Rodman's availability will be a big talking point on Saturday, in large part because the Spirit are a different team when they're on the field. They have won nine of the 16 games she has played this season and have posted a goal difference of +15 in that time, while wins are down to four in the 11 games she has not played in, with a goal difference of -3. However, if Rodman is unable to start, Italy international Sofia Cantore could replace him after starting against the Thorns, while the Spirit's attacking plans will remain in place until Gift Monday, despite the Nigerian scoring 10 goals this season.
Gotham FC: Anne-Katherine Berger, Bruninha, Emily Sonnett, Jess Carter, Lily Riale, Jaelin Howell, Jaedyn Shaw, Rose Lavelle, Gaby Portillo, Midge Purce, Esther Gonzalez
Gotham's defensive stability has kept them afloat during a year of inconsistent offense, though not for lack of effort on Gonzalez's part. The Spain international has 13 goals this season, just two behind MVP Temwa Chawinga, and Shaw's brilliant form has helped Gotham offset some of the attacking deficit left by the departures of Yazmin Ryan and Lynn Biyendolo in the off-season. Rose Lavelle is also in good form and skillfully works with international teammate Shaw to revive Gotham's offense at the right time.
Forecast
There is a motivation and narrative supporting both teams' arguments heading into a tense championship game – and possibly a juicy one if last year's semi-final, which saw the Spirit oust Gotham on penalties, is anything to go by. This one will likely come down to the star's shining moment, and there's no one in better shape than Shaw. She had two goals and an assist during Gotham's playoff run, contributing to every goal they scored in the playoffs. She has helped them survive two defeats in a row, with a third not entirely out of reach for a team as tough as the one they face. Choose: Washington Spirit 1, Gotham 2 (after overtime)
