Special Edition
 | Powered by  Edition #918 November 11 |
From The Gist Team |
Today's the day!
The NWSL Championship kicks off from San Diego tonight at 8 p.m. ET, so we're here with all the deets before OL Reign and NJ/NY Gotham FC take the pitch. Let's footy.
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Quote of the Day |
 | Anyone got the plug on a Donna Kelce type jersey? |
 | — WNBA legend Sue Bird, clearly torn between supporting her fiancée, OL Reign's Megan Rapinoe, and her duties as founding member of the Ali Krieger Fan Club (and minority investor in Gotham). Maybe mama Kelce can help a girl out. |
The Breakdown |
⬅️ The road to the Championship
Six of the league's 12 teams earned a berth to the three-round, single elimination postseason. The top-seeded San Diego Wave and No. 2 Portland Thorns secured first-round byes as the two best regular season teams, leaving the remaining four squads to duke it out in the quarter-finals.
- Round one included some shockers. No. 4 OL Reign eked out a winner with minutes to spare to take down No. 5 Angel City FC 1–0, while No. 6 Gotham overpowered a Kerolin-less No. 3 North Carolina Courage 2–0.
The semifinals were also chock full of upsets after Gotham forward Katie Stengel nailed a massive extra time goal to escape with a stormy 1–0 win over the reigning champion Thorns, extending captain Ali Krieger's career in the process.
- Meanwhile, at a shoddy-looking Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, Reign forward Veronica Latsko scored her second goal in as many games, locking in the Reign's 1–0 win and spoiling the Wave's chance at a home championship match.
That leaves us with two. Gotham will make its championship debut against the Reign, who were runners up in 2014 and 2015.
- These squads are 1-1 in their regular season head-to-head, so tonight's only guarantee is that a first-time NWSL Champion will be crowned. Hear ye, hear ye.
👑 OL Reign
The history: Always the bridesmaid, never the bride; OL Reign has won three NWSL Shields for finishing atop the regular-season standings but, as mentioned, has never walked away with the most coveted trophy in the league.
- Of note, the Reign were on the cusp of missing the playoffs entirely, but after a dominant Decision Day performance featuring two Rapinoe goals, the kids from Seattle clinched a playoff spot on the last day of the season.
Players to watch: After struggling with a leg injury since April, midfielder Rose Lavelle is returning to form. Lavelle notched her first playoff assist in the semis, locking her in as the Reign's ultimate play-maker, alongside Canadian national team star and fellow midfielder Quinn.
- And then there's Pinoe, a founding member of the Reign and one of the most decorated women in the international game, eager to retire with her first (and only) NWSL Championship.
- Age and injury be damned, Pinoe is still a crucial player for Seattle, going all 90 minutes in their semis win. Light work.
Keys to success: Reign utilizes a high press, keeping almost all their players, including their defenders, in their opponent's half to constantly apply attacking pressure.
- With Lavelle controlling the pace, and defensive midfielder Emily Sonnett behind her for ball recovery, the missing piece of the puzzle appears to be quality shots, perhaps best evidenced by the squad's accidental goal in the semis. All's well that ends well.
🏆 The best drama goes to…
Today's 'ship caps off the NWSL's most dramatic season yet. In a year jam-packed with buzzworthy moments, here's what kept fans on the edge of their seats:
🥾 The Golden Boot race. Despite a knee injury keeping her off the pitch throughout September, Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith held off a late surge from NC Courage forward Kerolin to outscore every other NWSL star.
😵💫 Early October's playoff race pandemonium. All 12 NWSL teams were eligible for a postseason berth heading into the regular season's conclusion, creating a mind-boggling 729 potential playoff scenarios. It's giving House of the Dragon.
🚲 Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux's bicycle kick. Not only was it one of the most jaw-dropping goals of the entire season, but it also helped ACFC clinch a postseason spot. Talk about a cinematic experience.
TL;DR? This NWSL season was one of TV's best melodramas this year, so sensational that longtime supporter Nike even submitted the season for Best TV Drama at January's Golden Globes.
- TV's best shows are known for their unpredictable finales, and today's NWSL championship will be no different. LFG.
🦇 NJ/NY Gotham FC
The history: Gotham finished last in the league in 2022, losing a record 12 straight games. Desperate for change, the Bats hired 2023 Coach of the Year Juan Carlos Amorós and acquired forward Lynn Williams from the Kansas City Current.
- Fast forward to 2023, and now three Gotham stars — Williams, Krieger, and Rookie of the Year Jenna Nighswonger — were named to the NWSL Best XI First and Second Team. The ultimate turnaround.
Players to watch: Williams, a dangerously fast forward, led the league in shots this year, and is one half of a potent offensive force with midfielder Yazmeen Ryan, who's on a late-season scoring tear.
- As for Krieger, the 39-year-old will leave the game playing some of her best football. A finalist for Defender of the Year, Krieger is still one of the strongest centerbacks in the league and will likely go toe-to-toe with her bestie Pinoe today. Sparks will fly.
Keys to success: With Krieger and Nighswonger holding it down, Gotham's defense is among the NWSL's toughest, stymying opponents from creating quality shots while remaining offensively-minded.
- But much like the Reign, the Bats' offense has struggled to put shots on net at times, something Williams and Ryan will be tasked with remedying today. Tick tock.
📺 How to watch
You don't have to wait long to catch the big game. Players will take to the field at 8 p.m. ET, with the action airing on CBS in the U.S. and on TSN2 in Canada. Saturdays are for footy.
Not sure who to root for in today's championship match? Can't blame you — between Rapinoe's Reign and Williams' Gotham, choosing favorites is all but impossible. Enter: Nike.
- We partnered with everyone's favorite sportswear brand to create a quiz that'll tell you who to support based on your fave TV shows.
- Whether you're more into The Bachelor or Love is Blind, this quiz can tell you which team to fall in love with. Click away.
The GIST's Picks |
Peep our squad's MVPs (Most Valuable Picks):
🎧 What to listen to
Our latest episode of The GIST of It. Co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz break down the big game, provide their predictions, and discuss the changing of the guard in women's soccer.
🏆 Who's going to the Golden Globes
The NWSL's drama queens could be! The league's 11th season held so many unforgettable twists and turns, it quickly became the definition of must-see TV. That's why Nike submitted the season to compete at the Globes for Best TV Drama. Red-carpet ready.*
🏟 Who broke records
NWSL fans. In October, more than 34K folks attended Rapinoe's final regular season home game at Lumen Field, setting an all-time attendance record. And last week, a 32K-person crowd stuffed Snapdragon, creating the biggest in-person postseason audience in league history. Will the records tumble today?
👀 What to check out
Beat Everybody, a stylish soccer apparel company founded by USWNT teammates and NWSL stars Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Kelley O'Hara (Gotham FC), and Allie Long (Gotham FC). LFG.
📚 What to join
The GIST Book Club. We just can't put The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata. You won't be able to either. We'll be back on Instagram Live on December 6th to chat about everything.
*P.S. This is a sponsored post. And the best drama goes to...
Fun and Games |
Take Your Pick | ||
 | At |  |
NJ/NY Gotham FC | OL Reign | |
| +115 | To Win | -149 |
| Now that you're primed for tonight's epic championship, who do you think will take home their first NWSL title? | ||
NJ/NY Gotham FCOL Reign | ||
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