By Lesley Ryder
A final clash of the ages
The 2024 NWSL season opened with trophy match. Shield champions San Diego Wave FC defeated the defending champions Gotham FC 1-0 on a late stunner from Alex Morgan.
Wave FC lifted the Challenge Cup, and the tone was set for the rest of the league. Four teams answered the call, and dominated the standings for most of the season. It was fitting to have the Pride, Current, Gotham, and Spirit fight for a chance at the final, and any combination of results would’ve led to a marquee title match.
The Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit finished the season in first and second on the table, respectively, but only one can claim the title of NWSL Champion. While the Pride dominated the Shield race wire-to-wire, the Washington Spirit were a steady presence in the top-four
Wire to wire dominance
The Orlando Pride missed the playoffs last season by just two goals.
This season, they smashed the record for most points, finishing atop the table with 60 points, and came two games shy of an invincible season.
Pride head coach Seb Hines and GM Hayley Carter have spent the last two seasons laying the foundation to bring this team to its rigthful place in the final. MVP candidate Barbra Banda was the final peice of the puzzle, forming a partnership with Marta in her best-performing season to date.
“You know, that's something that we wanted in our in our style of play. We wanted a nine who can stretch a back line and has an eye for goal and puts themselves in positions to score. When you've got a player like Marta, you don't really have to do a whole lot. They work so well together. It's great to see.” Pride head coach Seb Hines said during Championship media day.
Hines credits his teams success to the culture they’ve created.
“These players love spending time with each other. When you have your teammates around you who can stick by you through the hard times, enjoy the good times. You know that translates onto the field as well. It just epitomizes this team and the culture that, you know, we've kind of created over the last couple of years.”
The team’s chemistry has brought them to their first playoff wins in club history, and very first appearance in the NWSL Championship.
The Pride’s path to the final has been marked by dominant performances. They cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Red Stars, and ended the KC Current’s bid to play at home for a championship with a 3-2 win.
A team who refuses to die
The Washington Spirit’s path to the finals was a test of fortitude, and nerves. Bay FC was poised for a quarterfinal upset when Asisat Oshoala scored in the 82nd minute. Just four minutes later, Tara McKeown netted the equalizer to force extra time. An own goal by Caprice Dydasco in extra time sealed the semifinal berth for the Spirit.
Esther Gonzales put Gotham FC ahead in the semifinal, and it appeared to be the game winner until a last-gasp Hal Hershfelt header brought the Spirit back from the brink of death. Aubrey Kingsbury stopped three straight penalty kicks to bring the Spirit back to the finals for the first time since 2021.
Kingsbury reflected on the differences in circumstances since the last title run. “2021 was just a tumultuous year, and so that was really kind of the players uniting and winning against, like all odds, against all the turmoil we had within the club. We just kind of did it for ourselves this year. I would say we're doing it for the club. It's a much more positive experience. And I think a lot of us are more internally motivated, rather than externally motivated, like we were in terms we won. So I w
After an uncharacteristically poor performance at home against the Pride in October, the Spirit hoped to get another shot against them.
“I think definitely the last two times we played Orlando, it was always kind of that unsettling feeling. We had more to give maybe. “We know that the last few times we haven't come out victorious, so we want to change that narrative,” said Ashley Hatch ahead of the final.
We deserve this
Tonight’s 1 vs 2 match is the championship fans deserve. One of the most dominant sides in recent history, will play against a team that refuses to lose when it matters most. This NWSL championship match promises to be a fitting finale for another historic season for the league.
