History has been made in the 2025 NWSL Championship.

No. 8 NY/NJ Gotham took down No. 2 Washington Spirit Saturday at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., to win the NWSL title, becoming the lowest ever seed to do so.

Gotham topped the previous record it set itself, as the Bats won the 2023 title over the Seattle Reign 2-1 as the No. 6 seed.

Though history wasn’t on Gotham’s side entering the game, let alone the postseason, the team had more than enough star quality to get over the line. Striker Esther Gonzalez, midfielder Rose Lavelle, center-back Emily Sonnett and veteran goalie Ann-Katrin Berger provided Gotham with a key piece in each line.

And, of course, it was Lavelle, the eventual Final MVP, that delivered the game-breaking moment when someone needed to step up.

In the 80th minute

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