The Washington Spirit secured a 2-0 victory over the Portland Thorns, with goals from Gift Monday and Croix Bethune, earning them a spot in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) championship game. This win guarantees the Spirit’s participation in their second consecutive NWSL final, which will take place in San Jose, California next weekend. The team will face the winner of the upcoming semifinal match between Gotham FC and the Orlando Pride.
This marks the fourth time the Spirit will compete in the NWSL championship. In the previous season, the Spirit suffered a 1-0 defeat against the Pride in the final. The opening goal for the Spirit came after Rosemonde Kouassi initiated a swift counterattack from a Thorns corner kick in the 27th minute. Kouassi sprinted 80 yards before setting up Gift Monday, who scored from close range to give the Spirit a 1-0 lead.
Kouassi’s assist to Monday marked the sixth time this season the duo combined for a goal, continuing their productive partnership from the playoffs. Despite Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold’s efforts, including six saves, the Spirit managed to extend their lead. Sofia Cantore missed a chance to make it 2-0 but Bethune secured the victory with a goal in the 83rd minute, dribbling past Arnold to score into an empty net.
Trinity Rodman, a U.S. women’s national team forward, made a comeback from a knee injury during the game, substituting in for Cantore in the 90th minute. The semifinal match attracted a sell-out crowd of 19,365 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., marking the second consecutive year the Spirit has hosted an NWSL Playoff semifinal with a full house.