MIAMI – The Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit will meet in the 2024 NWSL Championship match on Saturday at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, to decide one of the league champions in Concacaf.
Washington Spirit eliminated reigning champions NJ/NY Gotham FC, 3-nil on penalties, after forcing a 1-1 draw in regular time last Saturday in front of 19,365 fans at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
Esther González scored in the 56’ with a header in the box to place Gotham in front. The defending champions were seconds away from heading to a second consecutive final when Hal Hershfelt scored in the 90'+3’ to extend the match into extra time.
After no goals in the additional 30 minutes, the first semifinalist was decided in a penalty shootout. Aubrey Kingsbury was the hero, stopping the three Gotham FC attempts to send the Spirit back to an NWSL final.
The NWSL Shield winners, Orlando Pride, won 3-2 against the Kansas City Current in the semifinals last Sunday at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, to advance to the championship game and continue its bid to win two trophies in the same season.
Motivated to play the final in its home stadium, Kansas City struck first, with Debinha opening the scoring in the 33’. However, Orlando would answer in front of its home fans with three unanswered goals.
Haley McCutcheon pulled one back in the 41’ to start the comeback. Barbra Banda doubled the lead for the hosts in the 53’ from a shot, and the legendary Marta added a third in the 82’. Vanessa DiBernardo pulled one back for KC in the 90’+13, converting a penalty kick attempt, but the Pride would see out its victory.
The Orlando Pride will play in its first NWSL Championship match. Washington Spirit will participate in its third final and second in four seasons. A victory would mark the Pride's first league title and the Spirit's second.
