2024 NWSL Championship
| Event | NWSL Championship | ||||||
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| Date | November 23, 2024 | ||||||
| Venue | CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | ||||||
| Most Valuable Player | Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride) | ||||||
| Referee | Alyssa Nichols | ||||||
| Attendance | 11,500 | ||||||
The 2024 NWSL Championship was the 11th edition of the NWSL Championship, the championship match of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and took place on November 23, 2024. The Orlando Pride won 1–0 against the Washington Spirit, becoming NWSL champions for the first time. The match was played at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.[1][2]
By winning the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship, Orlando completed the third double in NWSL history after the North Carolina Courage in 2018 and 2019.[3]
Road to the final
Orlando Pride
After missing the playoffs on goal difference the previous season, the Orlando Pride opened the 2024 season by going 23 consecutive games without defeat (24 dating back to last season), a league record.[4] Zambian striker Barbra Banda joined the Pride early in the season and led the team in scoring, becoming the NWSL Golden Boot runner-up.[5] Brazilian star Marta found the best form of her recent career and was tied for fourth in the league in goals.[6] They were joined in the NWSL Best XI by NWSL Defender of the Year Emily Sams, who led a defense that allowed the fewest goals in the league.[7] After clinching the NWSL Shield, the club's first major trophy, with a 2–0 win over the Washington Spirit, the Pride dropped two of their last three games of the regular season.[7] They made the playoffs for the first time since 2017, Marta's debut season.[6]
In the playoff quarterfinals, goals scored by Haley McCutcheon, Banda (twice), and Marta powered the Pride to a 4–1 win over the eighth seed Chicago Red Stars at Inter&Co Stadium.[7] Orlando hosted the fourth seed Kansas City Current in the semifinals. Debinha's opening goal for the Current was answered by McCutcheon, Banda, and Marta, who scored Orlando's third goal after making multiple defenders fall. A stoppage-time penalty could not affect a 3–2 victory for the Pride, sending the team to Kansas City for their first NWSL final.[8]
Washington Spirit
After missing the playoffs by one point the previous season, the Washington Spirit placed second in the 2024 regular-season standings.[7] Head coach Jonatan Giráldez joined the team midseason after an interim stint with Adrián González.[9] Croix Bethune, the NWSL Rookie of the Year and NWSL Midfielder of the Year, tied the league's record for assists in a single season, but missed the end of the season after tearing her meniscus.[10] She was joined in the NWSL Best XI by defender Casey Krueger and winger Trinity Rodman, the team's leading scorer alongside Ouleymata Sarr.[7] The Spirit made the playoffs for the first time since they won the 2021 NWSL Championship.[7]
Washington needed a long-distance strike from defender Tara McKeown to force extra time against Bay FC in the quarterfinals, where an own goal by Caprice Dydasco resulted in the Spirit's 2–1 win at Audi Field.[11] Rookie midfielder Hal Hershfelt scored the 1–1 stoppage-time equalizer against NJ/NY Gotham FC in the semifinals, and goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury saved all three penalties she faced in the resulting shootout, as the Spirit to advanced to their third NWSL final.[12]
Match
Details
      Orlando Pride
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Washington Spirit
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Most Valuable Player:
Assistant referees:
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Match rules
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References
- ^ Kassouf, Jeff (November 24, 2024). "Barbra Banda's goal lifts Orlando Pride over Washington Spirit". ESPN. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ Rueter, Jeff (November 23, 2024). "Orlando Pride, Marta win first NWSL championship thanks to a goal from Barbra Banda". The Athletic. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ Westlake, Amanda; Nguyen, Phuoc (November 24, 2024). "NWSL Championship: Orlando Pride beats Washington Spirit in final on controversial goal". All for XI. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ Kassouf, Jeff (October 6, 2024). "Unbeaten Orlando Pride clinch 1st NWSL Shield". ESPN. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ Citro, Michael (December 22, 2024). "2024 Orlando Pride Season in Review: Barbra Banda". The Mane Land. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ a b Linehan, Meg (November 23, 2024). "Marta already has an illustrious legacy, but this year with the Pride was one of her best ever". The Athletic. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "2024 NWSL Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
- ^ "Marta, Pride down K.C. Current to set up NWSL final with Spirit". ESPN. November 17, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
- ^ "Jonatan Giraldez joins the Spirit, will transition to head coach role". Associated Press. June 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
- ^ Goff, Steven (September 4, 2024). "A first pitch gone awry — and Spirit star Croix Bethune is out for season". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ^ Floyd, Thomas (November 10, 2024). "Tara McKeown's last-gasp strike saves the Spirit in playoff opener". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
- ^ Kassouf, Jeff (November 16, 2024). "Washington Spirit beat Gotham in shootout to reach NWSL final". ESPN. Retrieved August 20, 2025.