Skip to main content

Previewing Washington Spirit’s NWSL championship game against Gotham FC

By WTOP Staff

All eyes will be on the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League championship game Saturday, as the Washington Spirit takes on Gotham FC at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.

The game kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern, and is airing on CBS or streaming online. It’s expected to be a close matchup.

The match marks Washington’s second consecutive appearance in the finals, after losing to Orlando last year in Kansas City, and the fourth overall in franchise history.

The No. 2-seeded Spirit last won the championship in 2021, when it bested the Chicago Red Stars in extra time.

Fans have eagerly awaited the Spirit-Gotham rematch, as the two teams hold a longtime rivalry.

For Gotham FC, the team is looking to make history by becoming the lowest seed ever to win the title after beating top-seeded Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride in the playoffs.

Washington’s Trinity Rodman may be playing her last game in the league because of salary cap constraints. On the other side, Gotham fans will be watching the team’s Esther González, who has scored 13 goals this season.

WTOP’s Washington Spirit Beat Reporter, José Umaña, joined WTOP anchor Ian Crawford for a preview of the game.

The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

Stay with WTOP for the latest developments in Saturday’s championship game.

Trinity Rodman is back with the USWNT for the first time since April

By The Associated Press
Trinity Rodman has returned to the U.S. women's team for its annual January training camp and a pair of matches against Paraguay and Chile. Rodman has not been named to a U.S. roster since last April because of injuries. She joins a group of 26 made up of National Women's Soccer League players because the camp is being held outside a FIFA competition window and European players are currently in season.
Read Next Story