NWSL Championship Final: Inside Look at Media Week

Join the journey of my first ever trip to the NWSL Championship Final. I made my way down to San Diego to represent Stumptown Footy in the finale of the 2023 NWSL season.

Credit: NJ/NY Gotham FC

The 2023 NWSL season started off with 12 teams looking to lift up the brand new championship trophy (RIP The Spatula). However, the final week of season has finally arrived and it’s down to NJ/NY Gotham FC and OL Reign who went on the road in the semi-finals and got the job done against Portland Thorns FC and San Diego Wave, respectively.

Credit: Kamran Nia (@Kamran_Nia)

The NWSL Championship final did not include the NWSL Shield winners, San Diego Wave or the defending 2022 NWSL Championships, Portland Thorns, who both fell to the “bye curse”.

Here’s a recap of the week, and key moments from all of the moments the players met with the media:

Day 1:

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman announced the huge $60 million per year broadcast deal for the league’s next four years. This is a game changer and will only help the league’s growth skyrocket even more. For 14 teams, that is roughly about $4.3 million a season for each team. After settling for a deal with Paramount for about $1.5 million in their last time around, Berman hit the number that the NWSL needed to. ESPN, CBS Sports, Prime Video and Scripps Sports will be moving forward with the coverage. Although it is scattered, they will be able to maximize reach for the first time in NWSL history.

Media day started on Thursday with both OL Reign and NJ/NY Gotham FC arriving at the venue. Players were made available to the press for 75 minutes each.

OL Reign was the first team to arrive. Media had the opportunity to speak with the players before the big final.

What has Laura Harvey meant to the you and team?

Quinn: “Yeah, I mean, I think like, Laura Harvey was a super for the first female, I guess the second female coach I had, but I think that's just like, to me, it is a really important thing, I think in women's soccer and to our team. And I don't think at least for me, I never had a female coach before and that like, I don't know, to see the impact of her and like the strong leadership. I think it's just so powerful to lead our team to this moment. So I just think it's, it's a really cool thing.”

Alana Cook: “Yeah, I mean, I think she's been hugely influential and you know, the way we play, the way we've all developed. I think she's the first person to stand up for us and also to look after us and make sure we're all doing it right both on and off the field. So yeah, look, she cares for us as humans before players and I think that's the biggest impact she's had for me is knowing that she has our back there and all the stuff off the field and then on the field. Like you said, we had our ups and downs but I think she's helped us stay the course and be ready for this moment. At the end of day this is where we wanted to be.”

Sam Hiatt: “I personally have learned so much from Laura in the past few years here. She is one of the coaches who has taught me the most tactically and technically, especially as a center-back on this team.” 

“She would always remind us even at the low points that we could drag ourselves through it, whatever it might look like. It might not feel great, it might not look great at the time, but we always knew our goal for ourselves and what we were pushing toward. She did a good job of keeping us on track, even during those times where [it was] maybe the lower point of the season or things weren’t going our way, we weren’t winning. She’s done a good job of keeping us keeping our heads up, keeping us going the right direction, but at the same time holding us to the standard that’s needed to get to where we are today.”

Elyse Bennett: “I think that Laura is a great leader. She does well at leading the ship and making sure we're all kind of on the same ship. But I think that we as a team have also done just a really good job of jumping on board. So I think that we've all had a mission that we've wanted to achieve since the beginning of the season, and to be here now and achieving that is great. And now all that's left to do is win.”

NWSL Commissioner Berman would host a press conference after NJ/NY Gotham FC arrived to announce the COTY, ROTY, and best XI selections.

Juan Carlos Amorós, Jenna Nighswonger, Ali Krieger, and Lynn Williams were recipients, respectively.

How much has coach JCA has meant to NJ/NY Gotham FC this season?

Ifeoma Onumonu: “I think like he's provided structure for us and a playing style that kind of suits our game. And so I think with those two things, combined, it really led to our success, especially after what we did last year. I mean, this is a dream to be here in the championship. So I mean, he's really brought some focus into our team, which I think ultimately is why we're here.”

Taryn Torres: “I would say the same. I think he's also brought a sense of leadership, which I think was missing a little last year, not in terms of the personnel but just having one person who’d lead the way and following so I think that he's done a good job with that.”

On being a leader and on a resurgent team two years in a row, Kristen Edmonds was on last year’s finalist Kansas City Current squad and now NJ/NY Gotham FC:

Kristen Edmonds: “It definitely takes every little ounce of energy that you have. I’ve been lucky enough to have amazing group of girls… And just kind of like, knowing from the prior season, you know, like what have continued to get here. We've definitely been there ups and downs, but you know, to be able to be a part of a team that again, we're hoping for a different outcome this time. But yeah, it's definitely awesome to be able to be here again, a second time and, and yeah, we're looking forward to that.”

ROTY Nighswonger on her position change from college (M/F) to left back at the NWSL level:

Jenna Nighswonger: “I mean, honestly, like, it was a bit of like a hard adjustment. I think, tactically, it's just like, obviously very different and you have different priorities. When your left back, obviously, you have to defend before you attack. I think mentally it was just like a little bit hard to just coming in and having like that big of position change. I think it was like a little bit hard. But you get to the point where it's like, okay, you can either like wallow about it, or you can just be happy where you are and grateful for the opportunity. So I chose that path and, and credit to like my coaches for helping me so much and my teammates for supporting me. So it's been a great position, transition. And like, I'm truly happy where I am now.”

There is no two non-Thorns players who are cared about more in the Portland community than Mana Shim and Sinead Farrelly. The fan support for both of them has been overwhelming and powerful. Both Shim and Farrelly continue to inspire everyone with their unwavering bravery, courage, and strength.

On that support from fans of her former team:

Sinead Farrelly: I didn't know that. Cool! I think that's awesome. I just feel like people are rooting for this team. Do you know what I mean and I love that, because I feel like this team deserves it. And it's so fun to see that support!

Day 2 - Open Trainings, Pressers, and First Ever NWSL Skills Challenge!

Both teams had their first 15 minutes of training open for the media to observe, with OL Reign going first and NJ/NY Gotham FC following up. Each team also had media availability at Snapdragon Dragon in a presser style format.

With the open periods of training very short, both teams were having a blast and enjoying the moment. It was nice to see the finalists truly cherish the moment.

Jessica Berman had another presser where she announced the women's league forum, a group comprised of representatives from 11 leagues around the world.

She also gave an update for both Thorns and Reign team sales.
Berman said Portland and the Reign are both in active sales processes and stuck to the timeline that both teams will be sold by the end of the year

The NWSL Skills Challenge was then held at Surf Sports Park in Del Mar, California quite a distance away from Snapdragon Stadium.

There were two teams: East and West.

The three events consisted of: Classic Penalty Shootout, Teqball, and the crossbar challenge.

10 teams were represented, although Portland’s rep was Crystal Dunn, who had just announced her intention to move on from the club.

The East were absolutely dominant and took home the $25,000.

Although this was their first version of the Skills Challenge, a good number of fans showed up and were loud for these stars.

What was missing? Goalie Wars!

Katie Lund: Oh yeah, I would love to go against Aubrey (Kingsbury). I’m kinda mad I didn’t get to shoot on her tonight.

DiDi Haračić: I think it could be fun. I mean, why not? I think everyone wants to see a goalkeeper go against a goalkeeper.

Should the NWSL All Star Game be next?

Denise O’Sullivan: Yes, for sure. I’ve been asked this question a lot, my answer is, yes definitely. I think this could be a first step. This was amazing today and brought on by CarMax. I think there’s just incredible talent in the league. To be able to do that would be amazing.

*She would also love to see a juggling contest
”Maybe some juggling contest, I’m only saying that cause I’m good at juggling (huge chuckle).”

Championship Day

In the 5th minute of the NWSL Championship final, the legendary Megan Rapinoe went down with an injury and was visibly emotional walking off the pitch for the last time in her career. Bethany Balcer would come on to replace her.

Rapinoe going down in her final game was a heartbreaking scene to unfold and witness. There will never be another Pinoe ever again.

In the 24th minute, Gotham would strike first. Midge Purce would put on a dribbling clinic and put in a perfectly low driven cross to find superstar Lynn Williams.

OL Reign would answer right back. In the 29th minute, superstar Rose Lavelle equalized by outsmarting Gotham’s offside trap.

In the 38th minute, Delanie Sheehan somehow found a way to hit the crossbar twice with both of her shots. Whatever the Reign said to the post, worked.

Jordyn Huitema thought she had the tiebreaker, in the 44th minute, but it was ruled offside.

Esther Gonzalez would break the deadlock in the 45th minute off a Purce corner.

The final got off to a scintillating start in the first half, and it was a treat for the 25,011 fans on hand to watch. It was fitting that this season saved its best for last, as that number was a new NWSL Championship final attendance record.

In the 60th minute, Veronica Latsko was alone one-on-one with Mandy Haught after some more magic from Lavelle, but was denied.

Sinead Farrelly checked in the 68th minute for former Portland Thorn Yazmeen Ryan. In a year where her comeback has inspired many, she would add another huge achievement to that list: play in an NWSL Championship Final.

Portland Thorns fans and supporters had made it quite clear who they’d like to see win this final: Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim and Gotham. Not only for those two players’ richly deserved reward, but also for who Gotham happened to be playing at the time. So seeing Farrelly take the field was a particularly special moment.

In typical NWSL chaos, in extra time, Mandy Haught came off her line and received a red card for an illegal handling outside of the box. It would come down to a free kick at the top of the box. Field player Nealy Martin would take over at GK. Gotham would ultimately fend off all remaining attacks to preserve the 2-1 win and win their first ever NWSL Championship. A remarkable story for a team that finished last in 2022 and now first in 2023.

Margaret “Midge” Williams-Purce (yep, another former Thorn!) was named the NWSL Championship Final MVP. Yours truly, had a vote, and wrote down her entire full name. What a performance she put on and well-deserved award.

Ali Krieger will retire a champion and deservedly so. The future Hall-of-Famer will be remembered forever as one of the greatest to ever do it.

Mana Shim and Sinead Farrelly though should be the headline of this game. Them celebrating the championship together and with the rest of their team will be one of the best moments in NWSL history. No one will be happier for them than Portland Thorns supporters and fans.

Phuoc’s Corner

This was a dream come true for me to get to cover the biggest event on the NWSL calendar. I have covered the Portland Thorns for Stumptown Footy since October of 2022, and thanks to your support, I continue to be amazed at how many doors are opening for me. Without you all, none of this would be possible.

I can’t thank the NWSL staff enough for allowing me to cover the event as media for the entire three days. They were very kind and truly worked extremely hard to put everything together.

Covering both teams, speaking to players, and staff was a once in a lifetime experience. You get to hear their stories and has me excited to tell even more in 2024. There are so many interviews I could not include in the recap, and I’ll be sure to include it in future pieces as we enter the offseason.

Each day was a jam-packed schedule and I would not have it any other way. I am honored to have represented Stumptown Footy at the NWSL Championship.

I could not be more excited to be back at Providence Park in 2024, covering the Portland Thorns for all of you.

Once again, please continue to support us, we are grateful for you all!