Washington Spirit Advances to NWSL Championship After Defeating Portland Thorns

Washington, D.C. — The Washington Spirit defeated the Portland Thorns 2-0 on Saturday at Audi Field, securing a spot in the NWSL Championship for the second consecutive year. This victory came in front of a sellout crowd of 19,365 fans in D.C.

Gift Monday opened the scoring in the 27th minute after a 80-yard sprint led by Rosemounde Kouassi, who assisted Monday for an easy tap-in. The goal was the duo’s sixth combination this season. Croix Bethune sealed the win with a goal in the 83rd minute, dribbling past Thorns goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.

“I feel like these past two games have been the best soccer that we’ve played,” Bethune said after the win. The Spirit’s strong performance kept them unbeaten at home in playoff matches.

Trinity Rodman, a USWNT star, made her much-anticipated return from an MCL injury, entering the match in the 90th minute. The Spirit coach, Adrián González, stated that it was essential for Rodman to regain her confidence on the pitch.

As the Spirit prepares for the championship, they will face the winner of the semifinal match between the North Carolina Courage and NJ/NY Gotham FC on November 22 in San Jose, California. The Spirit aim to avenge last year’s 1-0 defeat in the finals.

The Thorns captain admitted their defeat, saying, “I think Spirit is definitely the better team. They outplayed us, for sure,” highlighting the Spirit’s commanding performance throughout the match.

This match might have marked Rodman’s final home game with the Spirit, as her contract expires next month. Reports suggest she is considering lucrative offers from clubs abroad.