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- GOTHAM FC 🗽 AND ALI KRIEGER LIFT NWSL TROPHY 🏆
GOTHAM FC 🗽 AND ALI KRIEGER LIFT NWSL TROPHY 🏆
PLUS: Checking in on WSL, Jenni Hermoso is named Woman of the Year by GQ Spain, UEFA Women’s Champions League kicks off the group stage this week
It’s Monday, November 13th. Give us four minutes, we give you everything The Women’s Game.
“I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED” … and remembered she will be. Ali Krieger spoke with Men in Blazers ahead of the NWSL Championship final, in which she left the club stage with the Championship crown. LISTEN HERE.
I. Gotham FC lift franchise's first Championship trophy as they honor Ali Krieger’s legacy 🏆
Something deep inside the human heart craves a good comeback story. We yearn for redemption tales and underdogs that overcome obstacles. Saturday night in San Diego, as Gotham FC clinched their first NWSL Championship in franchise history, NWSL-watching hearts were treated to that type of rejuvenation on multiple fronts.
Ali Krieger, the battle-tested stalwart defender that’s led Gotham through a redemptive year (and led many a team beyond this) retired from football with the trophy she so deserves. That she performed nearly impeccably — quietly essential from the backline — then accepted her title win with joy and grace, is testament to her character and talent. That character and talent will most certainly be remembered.
Elsewhere in Gotham’s victorious ranks sat the two newly returned footballers central to the saga of unearthed abuse that rocked NWSL these past few seasons. Mana Shim and Sinead Farrelly acted as whistleblowers to the treatment that saw them leave their careers behind. After many years away they came back to play, both electing to sign for Gotham. That they lifted the Championship trophy together upon their return is worthy of our marvel. Sometimes, life is redeeming. This picture speaks volumes.
And then there’s Gotham itself. The last-placed team of 2022 just became NWSL Champions. Their turnaround is downstream of hard work, investment and dedication across the franchise. 2023’s Coach of the Year Juan Carlos Amorós is deserving of his due credit, for managing a team robust in talent and allowing them to play with purpose-built freedom. And what a collection of talent and character it was that carried them...
Beyond Krieger, players came up big across the pitch. Lynn Williams opened the scoring in the 24th minute. Rose Lavelle (whose performance was illustrative of her near-unparalleled talent, and everything we’ve missed so often this long year without her) responded five minutes later.
World Cup Champion with Spain (and newly arrived NWSL talent in the latter half of the season), Esther Gonzalez gave Gotham back the lead in the first-half stoppage time. And Midge Purce, named MVP of the affair, assisted both Gonzalez and Williams.
Set before a record crowd (how many times have we typed that this season?) for an NWSL final, the one bit of heartbreak is that Megan Rapinoe left the pitch in her final NWSL match with an injury, having injured her achilles after mere minutes.
When Rapinoe realized the injury, she smiled, as we’ve so often seen her do in the face of adversity. I’ve a feeling the broader context of NWSL victory— embodied by Saturday’s chaotic, enticing, high-quality football built in part by Rapinoe's hard work— will overshadow that unfortunate departure.
II. 🗣️ The Men in Blazers Women’s American Football Awards, Presented by Bud Light 🏆
It's voting SZN. As you may have heard on the Pod or seen on our social, we are launching three awards to celebrate what has been an incredible year in the women’s game. And we are asking you, dear GFOPs, to select the winner.
The nominees for International Player of the Year are:
• AITANA BONMATI 🇪🇸
• SAM KERR 🇦🇺
• LINDA CAICEDO 🇨🇴
• RACHEL DALY 🏴
The nominees for NWSL Player of the Year are:
• SOPHIA SMITH 🌹
• KEROLIN 🔵
• LYNN WILLIAMS 🗽
• SAM COFFEY 🌹
And the nominees for American Player of the Year aka The Golden Eagle are:
• NAOMI GIRMA 🇺🇸
• SOPHIA SMITH 🇺🇸
• TRINITY RODMAN 🇺🇸
• LINDSEY HORAN 🇺🇸
And where can you vote? ONLY RIGHT HERE AT THIS LINK sent out to our readers. Thank you for creating football memories with us.
Voting runs through November 17th at 11:59 p.m. EST. The winners will be revealed in a special YouTube Live Night of Nights in December. It has been a magical year for the women’s game. A truly incredible World Cup, a hyper-competitive NWSL season and the inexorable growth of the game we love around the world.
ONE REQUEST: Please share this newsletter with as many of your football-curious friends as possible, and encourage them to vote. We want this award to be as true a reflection of the United States fan base and their passion as is possible.
III. Checking in on WSL 🏴
Emma Hayes, the gaffer rumored to be named next coach of the USWNT, is sitting atop the WSL table with Chelsea after collecting sixteen points from their first six games. Chelsea collected a 3-0 victory over Everton at Walton Hall Park Sunday to ensure their top-ranked spot, thanks in part to a goal from Sam Kerr, who signed for the Blues on this exact day four years back.
The weekend featured a few trouncings from the teams trailing just behind Emma Hayes & co.
Arsenal (second in the table) won away at the King Power Stadium, sending six goals from six different players past Leicester City. Hard to pick a favorite, but this Caitlin Foord chip over the keeper leaves a mark, as Arsenal took their first lead of the day after falling behind early. In a stat remedied by Arsenal’s deep lines of attack, they’ve yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
Manchester United hosted West Ham at Leigh Sports Village for a 5-0 show featuring goals from the third through to the 90th minute.
Manchester City lost over the weekend and are hanging about mid-table. But they collected a 4-3 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup last Wednesday, and this Chloe Kelly golazo is now burned in the mind.
IV. News and Notes 📰🗞️
Jenni Hermoso is named Woman of the Year by GQ Spain. After inspiring a movement following the unwanted kiss planted on her by Luis Rubiales, Hermoso spoke about receiving threats and more.
Under Pressure: the much-anticipated, sometimes criticized USWNT docuseries is dropping mid-December on Netflix
Seattle Sounders enter bid to buy OL Reign
V. Parting Shots 🥃
UEFA Women’s Champions League kicks off the group stage this week across Europe, and a few top-contenders enter the early stage in top form. That includes a Lyon side that’s undefeated in France (though Paris FC are at their heels), who go to Prague to play Slavia Praha. Bayern are top of the Frauen-Bundesliga and will host Roma. And a Barcelona side stocked with World Cup Champions host Benfica as they sit on top of the table in Spain.