That’s all for today. Thanks as always for following along with us and be sure to check back shortly for the full match report.
What a finish! Aubrey Bledsoe, the two-time NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year who slammed the door on Chicago’s comeback hopes late in extra time, is named Most Valuable Player of the final.
EXTRA TIME, FULL-TIME: Washington 2-1 Chicago
And there’s the final whistle! The Washington Spirit are NWSL champions for the first time in their history after coming from behind to defeat the dogged Chicago Red Stars at Lynn Family Stadium!
120 min: Another hair-raising moment for Washington as Arin Wright nearly equalizes with a thunderbolt toward the upper-right corner that just misses the mark! The Spirit are clinging on as the fourth official signals for two minutes of stoppage time.
119 min: Another set piece for Chicago, this one a free kick from distance, but nothing comes from it. Tick, tick, tick ...
117 min: Doniak gets a step on her defender and runs into a pocket of space onto a perfect ball. This could be the equalizer. She tries to slot it past Bledsoe and Bledsoe makes the stop! The save of the match by the two-time NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year!
116 min: Substitutions coming in for both teams. For Washington, Saori Takarada replaces the tireless Ashley Hatch. For Chicago, Nikki Stanton comes on for Bianca St Georges.
115 min: The increasingly desperate Red Stars are throwing numbers forward into attack. A speculative effort by Doniak sails into the gloves of Bledsoe. About five minutes to go.
112 min: Chicago win a foul near the corner flag. It’s initially cleared before popping out to Davidson, whose on-target shot is saved by Bledsoe.
111 min: Hatch is back on. Well-drilled defending by Washington shuts down a Chicago foray.
110 min: Hatch slowly makes her way off the field as play resumes with Washington down a player.
108 min: Ashley Hatch is down in a pile with hard challenges happening all over the field.
106 min: The second half of extra time is under way.
Updated
EXTRA TIME, HALF-TIME: Washington 2-1 Chicago
Fifteen minutes to go and Washington appear to be in firm command after Kelley O’Hara’s unlikely header. Can the Red Stars deliver one final plot twist?
105 min: One minute of stoppage time, the fourth official says.
102 min: Julia Roddar is shown the first yellow of the game after a (somewhat dubious) foul call that gives Chicago a free kick from a dangerous area. The Red Stars can’t capitalize, though, as it’s quickly cleared into the middle third.
GOAL! Washington 2-1 Chicago (O’Hara, 97 min)
The unlikeliest of goal-scorers breaks through for Washington as Kelley O’Hara, the longtime USWNT right back, slips through the backdoor on to a gorgeous cross by Trinity Rodman and heads it past Cassie Miller. It’s the 33-year-old’s first goal of the season and the Spirit are ahead only seven minutes into extra time!
Picture-perfect first goal of the season from @kelleymohara 🔥#WASvCHI | @CBS | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/89ohWFr9Dl
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 20, 2021
92 min: We’re under way in extra time with St Georges on for Milazzo. Some extracurriculars between Arin Wright and Trinity Rodman after a spirited challenge for the ball. No booking for either as the referee was a bit late to spot it.
Updated
FT: Washington 1-1 Chicago
And we will need extra time in Louisville to settle this year’s NWSL final after Chicago survive Washington’s second-half assault.
Updated
90 min: The fourth official signals for four minutes of stoppage time as the Spirit move into attack.
89 min: Rodman is back on as Washington look to close in on a winner.
88 min: Rodman walks on the field after getting shaken up and it looks like she will re-enter after a moment. The Washington forward Sanchez comes off for the substitute Taylor Aylmer.
86 min: Another dangerous chance for Washington keyed through a suddenly unstoppable Rodman but Wright can’t finish it. Moments later Rodman goes down in a heap after a full-steam ahead collision with Doniak.
84 min: Another chance for Washington as Rodman flicks a nifty pass to Sanchez inside the area but the Spirit forward can’t put it home.
82 min: Hatch carries it into the area with her defender in tow before firing a right-footed bullet directly at the keeper.
81 min: Sullivan has a go on goal from outside the area but the well-placed shot toward the far post is saved by a diving Miller.
78 min: The Red Stars make their third substitution as Alyssa Mautz comes on for the goal-scorer Rachel Hill.
77 min: A rare half-chance for Chicago but the threat is quickly broken up by the industrious O’Hara.
73 min: Washington make their first substitution as Anna Heilferty comes on for McKeown in a swap of rookies.
Updated
71 min: Tara McKeown beats Davidson to the spot and heads a cross toward the goal, but it’s just wide left of the target. All Washington right now as Chicago seem to be hanging on for dear life.
GOAL! Washington 1-1 Chicago (Sullivan, 67 min)
The captain steps up and fires toward Cassie Miller’s left. The keeper guesses correctly and, frankly, is positioned to make the save. But it somehow skids under her reach and into the back of the net for the equalizing goal!
It's @sunshine_sully shinin' from the spot ☀️#WASvCHI | @CBS | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/d4TcK5D9U6
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 20, 2021
Updated
66 min: McKeown runs onto a pass from Rodman in the area and is taken down by Davidson. The referee points to the spot. Not a controversial call. Sullivan will take the penalty ...
64 min: O’Hara makes a marauding run down the right side before sliding it across the top of the box toward three onrushing attackers. Bailey runs onto the cross and fires it on goal but it’s saved. The Spirit have come alive over the last five minutes and are battering the Red Stars. It feels like the equalizer could come at any moment.
61 min: Rodman uncorks a thunderbolt from distance but it caroms off the post. What a shot from the 19-year-old rookie!
60 min: More pressure from Washington over the past few minutes but they can’t translate it into meaningful scoring chances against this disciplined, well-organized Chicago defense.
55 min: Might be time to put out a missing person report for Trinity Rodman, who’s been conspicuously quiet on the afternoon.
Updated
54 min: A well-worked possession in the final third by the Spirit ends ... with nothing. Out for a goal kick as Hatch tries to work it along the end line for an opportunity.
50 min: More slow, choppy play in the early going after intermission, a pace that favors the Red Stars.
46 min: Mallory Pugh, who went off with an injury in first-half stoppage time, is out for today’s match. Danielle Colaprico comes on in her place. That’s Chicago’s second substitution of the afternoon after Vanessa DiBernardo was hurt in the 13th minute and replaced by Makenzy Doniak. So the Red Stars are already down two starters, but lead by one goal.
HT: Washington 0-1 Chicago
And there’s the whistle after the Red Stars break through on, essentially, the final kick of a mostly lackluster opening half.
Updated
GOAL! Washington 0-1 Chicago (Hill, 45 min+6)
Arin Wright beats Kelley O’Hara on the left flank, then floats a cross over Bledsoe toward Rachel Hill, who calmly heads it into the back of the net. No Pugh, no problem!
Queen of the Hill 🙌#WASvCHI | @CBS | #NWSL21 pic.twitter.com/Y8K6WLHp2M
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 20, 2021
Updated
45 min+5: A wobbly Pugh gingerly makes her way off the field without assistance and play resumes with Chicago down a player.
45 min+2: Pugh goes down in a heap after getting tangled up with USWNT team-mate Kelley O’Hara. The trainer is out to assist her as she covers her eyes with her right arm.
45 min+1: The fourth official has signaled for three minutes of stoppage time.
45 min: Rodman, the NWSL Rookie of the Year who’s been mostly held in check in the first half, has an open look from the top of the box but her shot is corralled easily by Cassie Miller.
39 min: Washington win a third corner. It’s poorly taken and Chicago quickly clear it. Roughly five minutes to go in a mostly choppy opening half where neither side has been able to hold things together for long.
36 min: Washington’s Dorian Bailey is hacked down from behind by Katie Johnson for a free kick. Sullivan tries to link up with an onrushing Sonnett, but her service is overcooked and out for a goal kick.
34 min: Rachel Hill cuts into the area and sends a liner toward the goal that’s deflected out for a Chicago corner. Pugh, who missed the semi-final due to Covid protocol, delivers another poor corner that’s easily cleared into the middle third.
31 min: After a bit of a slow patch for both sides Washington win a corner kick, their second of the match. Sullivan stands over it before curling it toward the goal. It’s deflected out and looks like it should be another corner, but referee Tori Penso rules it a goal kick.
Updated
25 min: The Red Stars win another corner. Pugh sends it into the area, where it pinballs around a gaggle of players before Katie Johnson fires a shot toward the post that a fully extended Bledsoe pokes away for another corner. This time it’s quickly cleared from danger.
22 min: Chicago try to spring Pugh, but her USWNT team-mate Sonnett is there to break up the attack. Moments later it’s out for a Washington goal kick, which Bledsoe plays short as the Spirit look to build up from the back.
20 min: The Spirit are able to win back possession quickly, moving it to the foot of Rodman, whose shot on goal sails wide of the target.
19 min: McKeown wins a free kick for Washington. Sullivan delivers it to the far post, where it’s headed toward the center before Miller snatches it away from danger.
17 min: Doniak pounds a low shot from the edge of the area but it’s deflected by a Washington defender on to the foot of Kelley O’Hara, who keys a counter-attack up the right flank that peters out in the final third.
15 min: And now Doniak, who just came on, is down after a blind-side collision with Staab while making a run on goal. But she’s up on her feet after a brief spell and play resumes.
13 min: The veteran Vanessa DiBernardo – the Chicagoland native who is the the only Red Star to play every playoff minute in club history – is down with an injury. And it looks like she will be coming off. Heartbreaking moment. Makenzy Doniak will enter in her place.
11 min: Chicago are really turning the screw on Washington in the early going, dominating possession and spending an increasing amount of time in the final third. The Spirit are able to intercept a pass and key a quick counter-attack targeting Rodman, but it’s busted up by the Red Stars’ center backs and Chicago resume the attack.
9 min: Katie Johnson puts a shot on target for but it deflects out off of Sam Staab for a corner. The set piece is quickly cleared but Chicago regain possession from the back, where a long ball to Johnson finds the forward offside.
6 min: First chance of the afternoon for Chicago as Mallory Pugh’s shot from just outside the area is well-taken but headed out of danger.
4 min: The Spirit win the first corner of the match. Sullivan plays it short and Emily Sonnett’s attempt to redirect it on target goes out for a goal kick.
2 min: Andi Sullivan has a go from distance and it’s hauled in comfortably by Cassie Miller, who’s been Chicago’s first-choice keeper in the absence of Alyssa Naeher, who was injured playing for the USWNT at the Olympics.
1 min: And we’re off! Washington are attacking from right to left in dark blue shirts and red shorts, Chicago from left to right in all-white strips.
The players are taking the field for today’s final. After a bit of throat-clearing for the national telecast, we should be under way any moment now.
….and here we go 👏
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) November 20, 2021
The 2021 NWSL Championship starts now 🤩 pic.twitter.com/cPPhoNvB0x
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The teams!
Here’s a look at today’s lineups. The Red Stars have won two and drawn one in three meetings with the Spirit this year. They have met only once in the playoffs in their histories: when Washington won 2-1 in extra time in the 2016 NWSL semi-finals.
Washington Spirit
XI: Bledsoe, Staab, Sonnett, McGrady, O’Hara, Sanchez, Bailey, Sullivan, Hatch, McKeown, Rodman
Subs: Speckmaier, Aylmer, Heilferty, Yokoyama, Biegalski, Kerr, Nielsen, Takarada, Roddar
Chicago Red Stars
XI: Miller, Davidson, Gorden, Woldmoe, Wright, Milazzo, Gautrat, DiBernardo, Pugh, Hill, Johnson
Subs: Colaprico, Sharples, Mautz, Stanton, Doniak, Morse, St Georges, Boyd, Goralski
Referee: Tori Penso
Updated
Preamble
Hello and welcome to today’s NWSL final between the Washington Spirit and the Chicago Red Stars at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville. A fascinating matchup looms between two sides each vying for their first ever title. The dominant Spirit, who have gone 11 matches and 105 days since their last defeat, reached today’s championship match with a 2-1 win over OL Reign in last week’s semi-finals, conceding in the opening minutes before goals from Trinity Rodman and Ashley Sanchez on either side of half-time. The scrappy Red Stars, who upended the Portland Thorns by a 2-0 scoreline in the last four, will look to finally break through after bowing at the semi-final stage each year from 2015 through 2018, then falling to the North Carolina Courage in the 2019 championship and the Houston Dash in last year’s Challenge Cup final.
“If you were look at the two teams you would probably go, ‘Washington might edge it,’” NWSL MVP Jess Fishlock of the OL Reign told Reuters. “But, listen, I just would never go against Chicago at this point: I think their resilience this year has been one of the most phenomenal things to have seen, honestly.”
We’re about a half-hour from kickoff and will be back with the team sheets for today’s final shortly.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look back at last week’s NWSL semi-finals.
