Trinity Rodman’s Status Shines Ahead of NWSL Championship Showdown

San Jose, California — The Washington Spirit will face Gotham FC in the NWSL Championship on Saturday, November 22, at 8 p.m. ET. Both teams seek their second league title, but all eyes will be on Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, whose availability remains uncertain.

The Spirit, the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, progressed through the brackets with a 2-0 victory over the Portland Thorns last week. Rodman emerged from an MCL sprain for a brief appearance in that match, but she was not listed on the injury report. Coach Adrian Gonzalez confirmed that she is ‘available’ for the final.

Rodman’s impact on the team is significant. The Spirit have won nine of the 16 matches she played this season, boasting a goal differential of +15. Conversely, without her, their record drops dramatically to four wins in 11 appearances and a -3 goal differential. If Rodman cannot play, Sofia Cantore may take her place in the starting lineup.

On the opposing side, Gotham FC, which entered the playoffs as the No. 8 seed, shocked the league by eliminating last year’s champion, Orlando Pride. Led by Esther Gonzalez and Jaedyn Shaw, Gotham relies on strong defensive tactics and has recently boosted its offensive play.

Gonzalez has netted 13 goals this season, while Shaw has been vital in Gotham’s playoff run, contributing to every goal in their last two matches. Their performance will be key against a determined Spirit team aiming to avenge last season’s final loss to Orlando.

The championship will take place at PayPal Park, with nearly 18,000 fans expected to attend. This match between two competitive teams is anticipated to be intense, given their history and high stakes.

Music star Mickey Guyton will perform the national anthem, setting the scene for what NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman describes as a potential ‘nail-biter’ of a match. With both teams eager for victory, this clash promises to be an exciting conclusion to the 2025 season.