District v. Empire Set for NWSL Championship Showdown

Jonathan Turner
2 days ago
3 min read

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The stage is set for a rivalry-packed NWSL Championship as NY/NJ Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit prepare to clash in what fans have dubbed the “District v. Empire” battle.

As one Spirit player put it, “every time we play NY/NJ, something crazy happens.” This weekend, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Championship Context

This year’s title match delivers a compelling East Coast storyline. The teams meet Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at PayPal Park in San Jose (CBS/Paramount+), marking the fourth time the rivals have faced off this season.

For Washington, it’s a second straight appearance in the final—an opportunity for redemption after falling short a year ago. As the Spirit noted after advancing, “it’s our chance to finish what we couldn’t last season.”

Gotham, on the other hand, arrives with a chip on its shoulder. Following a major offseason overhaul and a roller-coaster regular season, players have embraced the underdog label. Midfielder Jaedyn Shaw had a different take after a postseason win, saying, “underdogs my ass.”

Washington Spirit: Redemption Road

The Spirit enter the final anchored by one of the deepest rosters in the league. Despite early-season adversity—missing 2024 Rookie of the Year Croix Bethune and navigating injuries to star forward Trinity Rodman—Washington’s attack has stayed consistent.

A major storyline has been the rise of forward Gift Monday, who has led the Spirit with 10 regular-season goals. Returning from Nigeria after her father’s passing, Monday delivered emotional back-to-back playoff goals, dedicating them to him: “These goals are for my father.”

Washington’s last title run ended in heartbreak as injuries derailed its momentum and Orlando completed a Cinderella finish. This time, the Spirit insist the moment won’t slip away again.

NY/NJ Gotham FC: Defying the Odds

Gotham’s path to the final has been anything but smooth. The club weathered the departures of key players—Lynn Biyendolo, Crystal Dunn, Yazmeen Ryan, Jenna Nighswonger—and early-season injuries to national star Rose Lavelle and captain Tierna Davidson.

Despite the setbacks, Gotham leaned on:

Esther González, runner-up in the Golden Boot race
Ann-Katrin Berger, the 2024 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year

The team surged, faltered, surged again—dropping from third to eighth late in the season before sneaking into the playoffs.

Once in, Gotham shocked the league by eliminating the top-seeded Kansas City Current and then toppling Orlando. Shaw, acquired midseason in a record $1.25 million transfer, scored in both playoff wins and punctuated Gotham’s gritty identity:“This team fights to the very end. This team plays for each other, and it’s contagious.”

Rivalry Recap: Head-to-Head

This will be the fourth meeting between the clubs in 2024:

Gotham 3, Spirit 0 – early-season statement win
Draw
Draw

Add in last season’s postseason elimination—when Washington knocked out Gotham in a dramatic penalty shootout—and you have one of the league's fiercest ongoing feuds.

What’s at Stake

For Washington:A shot at redemption and a chance to validate one of the league’s most complete rosters.

For Gotham:Proof that their rebuild worked—and a championship to silence every doubt.

As the showdown approaches, both sides agree on one thing: this rivalry always delivers drama. In the words of Spirit defender Tara McKeown, “something crazy happens every time.”