NWSL Championship 2023: OL Reign to face Gotham FC in final

Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger will battle for NWSL Championship trophy on Saturday

In 2023, a new NWSL champion will be crowned. On Saturday, OL Reign and NJ/NY Gotham FC will play for the NWSL Championship. Megan Rapinoe and Ali Krieger, two former members of the U.S. women’s national team, are vying for one last championship.

On Sunday night, OL Reign beat San Diego Wave FC 1-0 in the semifinals. Early in the second half, Veronica Latsko scored another goal that put the visitors ahead. The Reign enjoyed superior offensive opportunities in the last part of the game and dominated large portions of the game, blocking San Diego’s tight channels.

Coach Laura Harvey and player Rapinoe will be making their third trip to the NWSL Championship; they have already made it to the major tournaments in 2014 and 2015.

OL Reign defeated the San Diego Wave 1-0 and advanced to the National Women’s Soccer League championship game thanks to a goal from Veronica Latsko in the second half.

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Since neither squad has prevailed in an NWSL final, the 11th season of the competition is going to have a new champion.

“I thought we defended well. This group has worked so hard this year, and to finally get back to where we believe we belong is just an unbelievable feeling,” coach Laura Harvey said after the final whistle.

Katie Stengel scored the game’s only goal in the 107th minute to advance Gotham to their first-ever NWSL championship in the other semifinal.

Before Stengel’s goal, the two teams engaged in a hard defensive struggle in between downpours, managing just six shots on goal with 38 fouls called.

Ali Krieger and Megan Rapinoe will both conclude their careers in a championship match thanks to the victories for the Reign and Gotham. Following the championship game, seasoned members of the NWSL and the US women’s national team will retire.

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