Tiffany trophies are a girl’s best friend

Eight of the league’s 14 teams earned a berth to the three-round, single-elimination postseason. There are no byes in the NWSL Playoffs, so the top-seeded teams duked it out with the rest of the field, and let’s just say, some brackets were busted.

The No. 1 Kansas City Current crashed out in the first round, suffering a 2–1 extra-time defeat to Gotham after forward Katie Stengel buried the game-winner. Prior to the upset, KC had lost only once on their home grass (ever) and were statistically the most dominant top seed in league history. Sheesh.

• The rest of the favorites won out — albeit, not easily — with the Spirit, No. 3 Portland Thorns, and No. 4 Orlando taking down No. 7 Racing Louisville, the No. 6 San Diego Wave, and the No. 5 Seattle Reign, respectively.

The second-round semifinals brought their own kind of thrills, starting with the Spirit taking down the Thorns 2–0 to reach their second consecutive final. Forward Rosemonde Kouassi orchestrated one of the best end-to-end runs you’ll ever see before dishing to forward Gift Monday for the opening goal, and Croix Bethune added the second in the 83rd minute.

• Don’t forget, Spirit superstar Trinity Rodman also made her return to the pitch in the semis after missing the last month with a knee injury. More on this later.

The next day, Gotham proved once again that they’re no underdog, eliminating Orlando 1–0 in the final minutes thanks to a stunning free kick from midfielder Jaedyn Shaw. A last-gasp save from goalie Ann-Katrin Berger meant Gotham were returning to the final as the lowest possible seed, a pattern that worked well for them in 2023.

Now, it’s the Spirit vs. Gotham in the ’ship. These squads met twice in the regular season, with Gotham recording a 3–0 win in April and their August match ending in a 0–0 draw. But with both teams now operating at maximum starpower, either one could raise that Tiffany trophy.

• Adding some more fuel to this fire, tonight marks the 44th time these two will face off, overtaking the Seattle Reign vs. Portland Thorns rivalry for the most NWSL games played between two squads. Guess Saturday night’s alright for fighting footy.

📚 The history: The Spirit are no stranger to the NWSL Championship, having won it all in 2021 and finishing as runners-up last season. As if to say, “History will not be repeating itself,” Washington opened this season with a Challenge Cup win over the defending champ Orlando Pride and kept their foot on the gas all year.

• Under the leadership of head coach Adrián González (who took over midseason from former head coach Jonatan Giráldez), this squad went on a 16-game unbeaten streak, setting a new club record and, more importantly, proving they can win when it counts.

👀 Players to watch: The aforementioned Rodman missed the quarter-finals but subbed on late in the semis and made an immediate impact. It’s unknown if she will start this game — but in her absence, the Spirit have found new ways to win, and the threat of a fresh-legged Rodman off the bench is intimidating.

• Fellow forward Monday has been a menace to defenses during these playoffs and is poised to make history if she can find the back of the net again tonight.

• Speaking of back lines, newly crowned NWSL Defender of the Year Tara McKeown anchors a Spirit defense that recorded 11 clean sheets this season and has what it takes to shut down Gotham’s speedy attack.

🔑 Keys to success: If the Spirit want to avoid back-to-back second-place finishes, they need to score early. Gotham thrives on the late-game theatrics, but if Washington is leading, then they have to chase.

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Here are a few things that stood out while we were window shopping on Prime.

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📚 The history: Jaedyn Shaw may cuss at you if you call Gotham underdogs, but on paper, that’s what they are, and it’s been a recipe for success in the past. Aiming to win their second championship in three years, the Bats could close 2025 with a domestic double after securing the CONCACAF W title this May.

• Head coach Juan Carlos Amorós tied the league record for playoff victories after the semis, and his squad is hoping to get him one more.

👀 Players to watch: Shaw is Gotham’s most dangerous weapon, as she can score anywhere, any time. The 21-year-old midfielder is in the same boat as the Spirit’s Monday, having scored in both playoff bouts this season. A goal tonight would put her in elite company.

• Spanish forward Esther González is another huge threat up front, and while she hasn’t scored in these playoffs, she tied the league’s single-season record for braces and was named to the Best XI in Wednesday’s award ceremony.

• Add in USWNT legends Emily Sonnett and Rose Lavelle — who knows a little something about scoring in championships — and Rookie of the Year Lilly Reale, and it’s easy to see how this squad has upset both the No. 1 seed and the reigning champs.

🔑 Keys to success: Gotham’s defense has only allowed one goal these playoffs — if they can stay compact and organized in the back, it will frustrate Washington’s attackers.

• Shaw has risen to the occasion in each game so far, so expect her to be on the ball in set pieces and leading the counter attack. The longer this game stays scoreless, the more it will play into Gotham’s hands boots.

You don’t have to wait long to catch the big game. Players descend on PayPal Park in San Jose, California tonight at 8 p.m. ET, with the action airing on CBS in the U.S. and on TSN in Canada. Footy on.

🎁 Let’s face it — this time of year feels like one giant to-do list, especially when it comes to gift giving. But shopping on Prime is fast, reliable, and affordable thanks to exclusive savings.

• A prime example? If you need a holiday gift for the NWSL lover in your life, look no further than the NWSL Amazon Fan Shop, chock full of officially licensed hats, hoodies, trading cards, and so much more.

• Give yourself the gift of convenience — tackle your holiday shopping on Prime.