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Cydney Henderson, USA TODAYSat, November 22, 2025 at 10:00 PM UTC·2 min readThe stage is set for the 2025 NWSL championship.
The No. 2 seed Washington Spirit and the No. 8 seed Gotham FC will meet in the NWSL Championship at 8 p.m. ET Saturday, Nov. 22 (CBS, Paramount+) at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Spirit return to the final for the second consecutive season following a dominant 2-0 semifinal win over the No. 3 seed Portland Thorns. Gift Monday scored her second playoff goal in as many games on an assist from Rosemonde Kouassi in the 27th minute, while Croix Bethune buried an empty-net goal in the 83rd minute to ice the match.
Gotham FC ousted the reigning champion Orlando Pride in a thrilling 1-0 semifinal win decided in stoppage time. Jaedyn Shaw scored on a free kick in the 97th minute to secure Gotham's second championship bid in three years. Shaw has scored two playoff goals and assisted on one this postseason.
2025: Washington Spirit (Challenge Cup winner)
2024: Orlando Pride (defeated Washington Spirit in the 2024 NWSL Championship game)
2023: NJ/NY Gotham FC (defeated OL Reign in the championship game)
2023: North Carolina Courage (Challenge Cup winner)
2022: Portland Thorns FC (defeated Kansas City Current in the championship game)
2022: North Carolina Courage (Challenge Cup winner)
2021: Washington Spirit (defeated Chicago Red Stars in the championship game)
2021; Portland Thorns FC (Challenge Cup winner)
2020: Houston Dash (Challenge Cup winner)
2019: North Carolina Courage (defeated Chicago Red Stars in the championship game)
2018: North Carolina Courage (defeated Portland Thorns FC in the championship game)
2016: Western New York Flash (defeated Washington Spirit in the championship game)
2015: FC Kansas City (defeated Seattle Reign FC in the championship game)
2014: FC Kansas City (defeated Seattle Reign FC in the championship game)
2013: Portland Thorns FC (defeated Western New York Flash in the championship game)
1 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2025: Washington Spirit (Challenge Cup winner)1 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2025: Washington Spirit (Challenge Cup winner)2 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2024: Orlando Pride (defeated Washington Spirit in the 2024 NWSL Championship game)
3 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2023: NJ/NY Gotham FC (defeated OL Reign in the championship game)4 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2023: North Carolina Courage (Challenge Cup winner)5 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2022: Portland Thorns FC (defeated Kansas City Current in the championship game)6 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2022: North Carolina Courage (Challenge Cup winner)7 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2021: Washington Spirit (defeated Chicago Red Stars in the championship game)8 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2021; Portland Thorns FC (Challenge Cup winner)9 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2020: Houston Dash (Challenge Cup winner)10 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2019: North Carolina Courage (defeated Chicago Red Stars in the championship game)11 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2018: North Carolina Courage (defeated Portland Thorns FC in the championship game)12 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2016: Western New York Flash (defeated Washington Spirit in the championship game)13 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2015: FC Kansas City (defeated Seattle Reign FC in the championship game)14 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2014: FC Kansas City (defeated Seattle Reign FC in the championship game)15 / 15NWSL champions through the years
2013: Portland Thorns FC (defeated Western New York Flash in the championship game)
Both teams will get a boost from the return of their injured stars. Washington forward Trinity Rodman subbed into the Spirit's semifinal win at the 90th minute, marking her first appearance of the 2025 postseason since suffering a MCL sprain on Oct. 15. Gotham FC also got back NWSL MVP finalist Esther González, who missed the final two regular season games (hip) and didn't make an appearance in the quarterfinals.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 NWSL championship:
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhat time is Washington Spirit vs. Gotham FC?
The No. 2 Washington Spirit and the No. 8 seed Gotham FC will face off in the 2025 NWSL championship at 8 p.m. ET Saturday, Nov. 22 (CBS, Paramount+) at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.
Washington Spirit vs. Gotham FC: Time, streaming for NWSL semifinals
Date: Saturday, Nov. 22
Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
Location: PayPal Park (San Jose, California)
TV: CBS
Stream: Fubo, Paramount+
