Spirit in the NWSL final: Rodman returns and the team dominates

Washington Spirit Defeats Portland Thorns and Advances to the NWSL Final

Gift Monday and Croix Bethune scored crucial goals to secure the Washington Spirit’s victory over the Portland Thorns with a score of 2-0 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. This triumph not only grants them a place in the NWSL final for the second consecutive season, but also consolidates their dominance on the field. The Spirit demonstrated their superiority from the start of the match. Monday opened the scoring in the 27th minute, after a pass from Rosemonde Kouassi, who made an impressive run across the field. Bethune sealed the victory with a goal in the 83rd minute, securing a place in the final.

“I feel like we’ve been in a good moment and, honestly, these last two games have been the best football we’ve played,” Bethune commented after the match.

Croix Bethune

• Next challenge: The NWSL final
• Rival: The winner of the match between Orlando Pride and NJ/NY Gotham FC

The Spirit will face the winner of the match between Orlando Pride and NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL final, which will be played on November 22 in San Jose, California. The return of Trinity Rodman was one of the most anticipated moments of the match. Rodman, who recovered from a knee injury, entered the field in the 90th minute before an enthusiastic crowd. Although she did not score, her presence revitalized the team and promises a more important role in the final.

“I think it’s important to get those minutes to feel like you’re a player again on the field,” said Spirit coach Adrián González. “So, getting those minutes has been great for her, also for the team and the fans. That was something important.”

Adrián González

The victory could mark Rodman’s final minutes with the Spirit at Audi Field, as the player is considering offers from Europe which, according to sources, are more lucrative than those the NWSL can offer. Rodman’s current contract ends next month, but she will play at least one more game with the Spirit, the team with which she debuted in 2021 and with which she won the NWSL championship that same year. The Spirit, led by Kouassi and with the support of Kate Wiesner and Tara McKeown, demonstrated their superiority on the field, limiting the Thorns’ opportunities. The team finished with 3.11 expected goals, compared to the Thorns’ 0.31.

“I think the Spirit is definitely the best team,” said Thorns captain Sam Coffey. “I think they can win everything. They just outplayed us and left it all on the field, but it wasn’t for lack of effort.”

Sam Coffey