NWSL 25 Semifinal round action and the Finals are set
- Jody Roginson
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
And the result of the weekend means No. 2 Washington Spirit will face No. 8 Gotham FC in the NWSL 2025 Championship next Saturday, November 22, 2025.
The Championship
The 2025 NWSL Championship, presented by Google Pixel, will air live from PayPal Park in San Jose, California, on Saturday, November 22, at 8 p.m. (ET).
For the fourth-straight season, the match will air in primetime on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
Saturday, November 15, 2025
Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns FC on Saturday at Noon (ET) on CBS/Paramount+
For consecutive years No. 2 Washington Spirit will play for the NWSL championship as they dominated Saturday's match to beat No. 3 Portland Thorns FC, 2-0.
Gift Monday (27') finished a tap in off a near full-pitch run down the sideline from Rosemonde Kouassi (assist) in the first half. Near the end of the second half, Croix Bethune (83' unassisted) literally walked in a goal (although she smashed it in) when Portland's goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold gambled out to try to intercept a through ball.
Before you wonder, yes Trinity Rodman entered late in the match to a roaring crowd and she was able to get two shots in before the final whistle blew. For Bethune, who had to miss last year's championship in her Rookie-of-the-Year season, flying across country to the host site (San Jose, Calif.) will just mean more time to celebrate with her teammates.
Portland exits the 2025 tournament as the team with the most NWSL semifinal appearances (10) in league history.
Sunday, November 16, 2025
Orlando Pride hosted Gotham FC on Sunday at 3 p.m. (ET) on ABC.
After a balanced effort (possession nearly equal where Orlando had 11 shots (2 on goal) to Gotham's 5 attempts (1 on goal), Gotham's Jaedyn Shaw (90+7) curled a shot from a free kick just outside the box into the back of the net for a goal to lead No. 8 Gotham FC to a 1-0 win which eliminated No. 4, reigning NWSL Champion, Orlando Pride.
Orlando made one last excellent effort in the final minute (90+11') when Oihane Hernández headed a shot from the right side of the box, but Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger stretched upward and tipped it over the crossbar to preserve the win.
Gotham, who won the 2023 NWSL Championship, advances.
