I’m still recovering from my trip to San Jose for the NWSL Championship this past weekend, but what an amazing trip! I got to watch Rose Lavelle score the championship-winning goal for Gotham, hang out with so many friends, and TWG even had a live show ahead of the final featuring the most incredible lineup of guests. It was an amazing weekend and such a strong series of events for the NWSL. 🙌

If you missed our live show, don’t worry! It’s available to watch on our Youtube channel thanks to our friends at Nationwide. Lynn and I are also dropping a recap of our weekend together today on “Good Vibes FC.” And you can listen to an interview with Houston’s Avery Patterson on your way to Thanksgiving later this week. That drops tomorrow on our podcast feed. 🗣️

The USWNT is playing on Friday and Monday, so make sure you’re following along with us on socials for coverage of those games against Italy. We will NOT be going live after Friday’s game, but we will be back reacting live at the final whistle on Monday night. 🇺🇸

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,
Sam

Gotham Complete an All-Time Run 🗽

For the second time in three seasons, the Bats are champions of the NWSL after toppling multiple top-ranked opponents in a blistering playoff run. Saturday’s 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit was an evening rife with football poetry, both on and off the field. That includes Bruninha’s step-over sauce-and-dish to Rose Lavelle, who landed a left-footed strike from the top of the box to seal victory in the 80th minute. With that, World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Lavelle claimed her first NWSL Championship trophy — as well as the Championship MVP — at the end of a long year that saw the Cincinnati native return from injury and find fire form at the perfect time. 

Lavelle wasn’t the only talent to peak at the right moment for Gotham. The entire squad, who’ve had a mercurial season, hit their grand crescendo when it counted. Emily Sonnett (who played against Gotham in their last Championship victory, alongside Lavelle, who scored that night for Seattle) was immense in the backline, as was Rookie of the Year Lilly Reale. Jaedyn Shaw, who joined Gotham in early September, closed out the playoffs with yet another momentous performance. 

More: Lavelle leads Gotham to second NWSL title in three years

Washington Come Up Short Again 🫤

The Spirit, who were stupendous all season long, lacked the final bite Saturday evening (Gotham limited them to zero shots on target in the tightly contested final), and were punished by gaps in their aggression when Hal Hershfelt injured her ankle. Disappointment might linger after falling short in the final for a second-straight season, but they’ve got the depth to keep contending for the title for years to come. 

More: Read Washington Spirt owner Michelle Kang’s letter to the fans, thanking them for all their support this season.

📬 Enjoying The Women’s Game? Check out our other MiB newsletters:

🐦‍⬛ The Raven: Our Monday and Friday newsletter where we preview the biggest matches around the world (and tell you where/how to watch them) and recap our favorite football moments from the weekend.

🔍 The Correspondent: Rory Smith’s thoughts on the world of soccer, culture, food, and how they all connect – every Thursday.

🇺🇸 USMNT Only: Your weekly update on the most important topics in the U.S. men’s game, all leading up to next year’s World Cup.

The USWNT is closing out the year with back-to-back bouts against Italy in Florida. The Italians made a momentous run at this summer’s Euros in Switzerland, losing to eventual champions England in the semi-final thanks to Chloe Kelly’s goal in the 119th minute. Le Azzurre will provide yet another valuable test for Emma Hayes’ evolving squad. 

To face them, she named a 26-player roster that features 20 NWSL players, two first-time call-ups for Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz and Chicago Stars forward Jameese Joseph (and a second call-up for Spirit defender Kate Wiesner, who rounds out the three uncapped players in camp), and the return of Chelsea center-back Naomi Girma, who’s been out with injury.

📺 When & Where to Watch the Games:

USA vs. Italy - Friendly #1 (Friday, 7 p.m. ET, TNT/HBO/Peacock)

USA vs. Italy - Friendly #2 (Monday, 7 p.m. ET, TNT/HBO/Peacock)

🥤 Olipop power everything we do here at The Women’s Game. You can use code TWG20 for 20% off your first order at drinkolipop.com/TWG20.

Arsenal 2-1 Real Madrid 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇪🇸

After losing twice and winning just one of their Champions League contests so far, the reigning champions needed a big win against one of the last-remaining undefeated teams. Playing at Meadow Park, English striker extraordinaire Alessia Russo (who was their top scorer in last year’s trophy-winning run) scored a double to secure what could be a consequential three points. With two games to go in the league phase, the Gunners finished matchday four in 10th place. While 12 teams progress from the league phase, the two teams below them trail by just a point.

Wolfsburg 5-2 Manchester United 🇩🇪 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Two-time UWCL champions (and four-time runners up) Wolfsburg handed United a humbling defeat at the Volkswagen Arena last week, marking the first loss for Marc Skinner’s Champions League debutantes. With two games to go, they’re still on track to progress from the league phase, but slipped down to fourth with the loss. They host eight-time champions OL Lyonnes next, on Dec. 10. With the win, Wolfsburg moved into third.

More: Marc Skinner rues lapses in Wolfsburg’s WCL rampage

Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇪🇸

Chelsea hosted the three-time champions at Stamford Bridge in London and got off to a blistering start, thanks to Australian defender Ellie Carpenter’s give-and-go golazo. Eight minutes later, Polish striker Ewa Pajor brought the Catalan super-squad level. The two settled for a draw after a hard-fought contest that ended Chelsea’s three-match losing streak against Barcelona, seeing the Blues to a sixth-placed spot in the standings after four matches. Barcelona remain first, though Thursday’s tie disrupted their perfect three-wins-from-three-games streak.

Australia vs. New Zealand (Friday, 3:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+) 🇦🇺 🇳🇿

It’s on in the middle of the night, but if you’re feeling nostalgic for the 2023 World Cup (timezones and all) or find yourself still awake after tearing through some turkey, the Matildas and Football Ferns make for entertaining television, as the neighbors close out the year against one another.

Norway vs. Brazil (Friday, 1 p.m. ET, NRK Sport w/ VPN) 🇳🇴 🇧🇷

A month after beating England in England (and one of the only teams to beat the USWNT in ‘25), the reigning Copa America Feminina champions play Norway in their last of two friendlies this year. Brazil’s depth is dazzling, with a host of emerging talents that will be fun to track ahead of their home World Cup in 2027. One-time World Cup champions and 2025 Euro quarterfinalists Norway host As Canarinhas as they prepare for World Cup qualifying in ‘26.

England vs. China (Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, ITV w/ VPN) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇨🇳

The back-to-back champions of Europe will close out their year with a friendly at Wembley against China, followed by a friendly in Southampton against Ghana next Tuesday. The last time these two met (August ‘23 during the group stage of the World Cup), England beat the Steel Roses 6-1. Fans can expect more experimentation from Sarina Wiegman as she prepares her squad for World Cup qualifying next year.

This week’s question: How many players in Gotham’s starting XI from Saturday’s final also featured in their 2023 championship victory? And who were they?

Respond to this email (or reply here) for a chance to win a coveted TWG patch.

Last week’s answer: Kelley O’Hara and Esther each scored the game-winning goals for their respective sides when the Washington Spirit (2021) and Gotham (2023) previously took home the NWSL title.

Congrats to Kat Matthys, who was the first person to respond with the correct answer. Kat, the patch is on its way! 💌

Laurie writes: Hi Sam, Lynn, and Becky (and also Kristie)!

I love your podcasts and everything you're doing on The Women's Game! I've always loved watching the national team, but all of your content has helped me, and by extension my seven-year-old soccer-obsessed son whose name is also Sam, become huge NWSL fans over the last couple of years.

Since we don't have our own team here in Philadelphia, we're fans of all the teams, but we've been mostly rooting for the Spirit ever since we went to a game at Rowdy Audi last spring. Yesterday, Sam and I were playing soccer at our neighborhood park, and he was alternating between pretending to be Aubrey Kingsbury in goal and then Trinity Rodman, Croix Bethune, Hal Hershfelt, and Leicy Santos when he had the ball. I was wearing my Good Vibes FC hoodie, and a woman walking her dog called out, "I like your Women's Game Sweatshirt!" and then stopped to ask us whether we'd be watching the NWSL championship last night and who we were rooting for.

It was such a fun moment, and it felt so fitting that my Good Vibes FC sweatshirt sparked that positive connection with a stranger. The work you do has sparked so many fun moments for me and I'm so happy that I can share my love of women's soccer with my kids. (My nine-year-old daughter isn't particularly interested in sports, but I still love that she sees her brother root on incredible women so wholeheartedly!) 

Thank you so much for all you do! You bring so much joy, humor, integrity, and thoughtfulness to every conversation, interview, and post you share, and I admire you all so much.

Love,
Laurie

Sam writes: Thank you Laurie! I loved getting this message and it’s so great that you and your son are able to share a love of soccer and the NWSL! Thanks for repping Good Vibes out in the wild. We hot dogs are everywhere!

Sam

📝 Want to be featured in next week’s TWG newsletter? Send Sam an email! All your questions, comments, and dog (or wedding) photos can be sent to [email protected]

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