Washington Claims First NWSL Championship in Extra Time Over Chicago

LOUISVILLE, KY–The wait is over with an historic season for the Washington Spirit. They went through a tough time early on and put together a solid run, which they went 9-0-3 including the playoffs.

Out of all that, they needed extra time as Washington got past Chicago 2-1 in overtime at Lynn Family Stadium for its first-ever National Women’s Soccer League Championship!

“It’s funny when you read leadership books, coaching material and things like that,” said Washington head interim coach Kris Ward, who got an extra gift on his birthday. “If you can find a purpose that’s bigger than yourself that can be an influential driving force. We found that. There are so many different ways and that shared purpose. We want to go and don’t care what’s thrown your way. We’re going to continue to fight and battle of who we want to be. It’s such a talented group. I’m just happy for them.”

Kelly O’Hara had the eventual game-winning goal that she could’ve never dreamed to have in extra time. She finished off a header along the back post that was delivered off the leg of Trinity Rodman in the 96th minute of extra time for a 2-1 advantage.

“Once, I beat the first tier, I was kind of stuck,” Rodman said. “Once, I dribbled inside, I knew I wasn’t going to get that opportunity. The runners near post were marked. I did see Kelly (O’Hara) popping off the back. For her to recognize it was amazing and getting there was insane.”

Chicago played hard and nearly found a way to tie the match up down to the final couple minutes of the extra time. Makenzy Doniak broke free of a Spirit defender at the top of the box and had a point-blank shot that was saved by Washington keeper Aubrey Bledsoe with a dive to her right in the 115th minute.

Then, Arin Wright fired a 30-yard online kick that appeared to hit the crossbar and go over in the 120th minute

“We’re really proud of the group and they never cease to amaze me,” Chicago head coach Rory Dames said. “When we lost some of our players, we were certainly outplayed. But what this group has done and overcome this year, I’m incredibly proud of the team and the players. We did get a couple chances late in the second overtime to knot it up. They never give up and they never stop or give up on each other. They just played to the end.”

Rachel Hill found the opening goal late in the first half. It was near the back post on a header off a cross from Wright in the fifth minute of stoppage time for the Red Stars 1-0 lead that they took into halftime.

Just a couple minutes earlier, MVP finalist Mallory Pugh was injured on a hard tackle by the Spirit’s O’Hara. Pugh was on the ground for a few minutes, but managed to get up and slowly walked to the sideline. She tried to shake it off on the side, while the Red Stars played with 10 players.  Pugh left the match at the start of the second half was replaced by Danielle Colaprico.

Earlier in the half, Chicago lost Vanessa DiBernardo to an injury in the 13th minute and also had to leave the match. Doniak had replaced her on the field.

The Spirit tied the match in the 67th minute on Andi Sullivan’s penalty kick that went under the hands of Red Stars’ keeper Cassie Miller.

Washington was awarded the penalty kick on Chicago defender Tierna Davidson’s tackle of Tara McKeown in the box just a minute earlier.

The Red Stars were playing in its second straight NWSL Championship, which they had lost to North Carolina 4-0 in 2019. Chciago also reached the playoffs for a sixth straight year.

“The last time it was disappointing to lose,” Dames said. “I’m less disappointed about the game, just disappointed for the players. With what the last 18 months have been and what’s been going on and what they’ve gone through not much on the field, but off the field.”

Going against Washington and dealing with injuries before and in the championship game. Dames showed a lot of respect for the Spirit and the way they played.

“It would be unfair to Washington that they just beat us, if we had everybody healthy, then we would play a little bit different,” Dames said. “Maybe, we’ wouldn’t play the way we played in Portland and not get the result we got in Portland. It was the next person up and we’ve been like that all year. The depth of our team was are greatest chance. Credit to Washington for sure.”