Gotham FC is the 2025 NWSL Champion

The Championship week, in summary:

With about 10 minutes left in regular time, Bruninha dribbled past Washington Spirit defenders on the left side and then pushed a pass (assist) back to the middle into open space and Rose Lavelle (80') took a few steps in and buried the match-winning goal into the back of the net, giving Gotham FC the 1-0 win and its second championship in three years (2023, 2025).

For Lavelle it was her first league crown, the only major tournament she'd not won, and she accepted the MVP award for the Final as well.

Rose Lavelle scored the 2025 NWSL Championship match-winner.

Throughout, it was a well-balanced matchup, but brutally for Spirit fans, for consecutive years Washington ends their season as runner up.

Here are the extended match highlights:

Extended match highlights from the NWSL YouTube channel

About the 2025 broadcast/stream:

The 2025 NWSL Championship, presented by Google Pixel, aired live in primetime on CBS, and streamed on Paramount+ from PayPal Park in San Jose, California, on Saturday, November 22, at 8 p.m. (ET).

Championship Week featured the inaugural "2025 Awards Show"

The NWSL Awards, presented by AT&T, was the first full production with the glitz and glam usually associated with awards show, televised on ESPN2. Stars from across the league attended, walked the blue carpet and celebrated the league's finest during an afternoon in San Jose, Calif.

Here were the 2025 NWSL Award winners:

MVP, presented by AT&T: Temwa Chawinga, Kansas City Current

Midfielder of the Year: Manaka Matsukubo, North Carolina Courage

Defender of the Year : Tara McKeown, Washington Spirit

Goalkeeper of the Year, presented by e.l.f.: Lorena, Kansas City Current

Rookie of the Year, presented by Ally: Lilly Reale, Gotham FC

Coach of the Year: Beverly Yanez, Racing Louisville

Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide: Sam Hiatt, Portland Thorns

Sam Hiatt was named the Lauren Holiday Impact for her work with Candlelighters for Children with Cancer. The cause is personal for Hiatt. Her brother was diagnosed with cancer in 2020, and together they chose an organization they could support to help others.

Manaka Matsukubo (NC Courage) accepts her award as 2025's best midfielder

Best XI First Team, presented by Amazon Prime

GK Lorena (KC)

CB Tara McKeown (WAS)

CB Kayla Sharples (KC)

FB Izzy Rodriguez (KC)

FB Avery Patterson (HOU)

MF/FW Temwa Chawinga (KC)

MF/FW Manaka Matsukubo (NC)

MF/FW Esther González (GFC)

MF/FW Sam Coffey (POR)

MF/FW Claire Hutton (KC)

MF/FW Olivia Moultrie (POR)

Best XI Second Team, presented by Amazon Prime

GK Claudia Dickey (SEA)

CB Emily Sonnett (GFC)

CB Jordyn Bugg (SEA)

FB Lilly Reale (GFC)

FB Hailie Mace (KC)

MF/FW Delphine Cascarino (SD)

MF/FW Bia Zaneratto (KC)

MF/FW Emma Sears (LOU)

MF/FW Taylor Flint (LOU)

MF/FW Croix Bethune (WAS)

MF/FW Kenza Dali (SD)