November 24th 2024.
On a chilly November night in Kansas City, the National Women’s Soccer League championship game between the Washington Spirit and the Orlando Pride was underway. The Spirit’s forward Ashley Hatch and the Pride’s midfielder Angelina collided during the first half, setting the tone for a fierce battle for dominance.
The Spirit had a strong start, but the Pride’s superior footing proved to be a challenge in the second half. Despite their efforts, the Spirit ultimately fell 1-0 to the Pride, who claimed their first NWSL championship title. WTOP’s José Umaña was on the scene, reporting live from CPKC Stadium as the game unfolded.
The lone goal of the game came from the Pride’s Barbra Banda in the 37th minute. With a skillful move past a defender, Banda kicked the ball past the Spirit’s goalkeeper with her left foot, making her the first player to score in every round of the playoffs. The play was briefly reviewed by the VAR, but ultimately deemed fair.
Despite the Spirit’s control of the game and numerous shots on goal, they were unable to find the back of the net. The Pride’s Brazilian star Marta celebrated her first NWSL title, while Orlando’s unbeaten record of 23 matches set a new league record. This win also marked the first time since 2019 that a team has won both the Shield and the championship in the same year.
For the Spirit, this was their second appearance in the championship in four years. After a strong regular season, they entered the game as the underdogs. However, their passionate fans were out in full force, despite the chilly temperatures. WTOP’s José Umaña even caught a group of Spirit fans chanting and cheering for their team amidst the sea of loud Orlando supporters.
In the end, the Pride’s top seed and dominant regular season performance proved too much for the Spirit to overcome. But both the Spirit’s head coach, Jonatan Giráldez, and forward, Trinity Rodman, were determined to prove their worth and make their team proud. As they continue to grow and evolve, the Spirit will undoubtedly come back stronger next season. Stay tuned for updates and the latest news from WTOP.
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