The 2021 NWSL Championship was the eighth edition of the NWSL Championship, the championship match of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and took place on November 20, 2021. The Washington Spirit won 2–1 against the Chicago Red Stars in extra time, becoming NWSL champions for the first time. The match was played at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky.
Road to the final Washington Spirit
After the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020 season (during which they came second in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup round robin phase), the Washington Spirit placed third in the 2021 regular-season standings. They were led by NWSL Golden Boot winner Ashley Hatch, NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year winner Aubrey Kingsbury, and NWSL Rookie of the Year winner Trinity Rodman. Head coach Richie Burke was fired during the season for anti-harassment policy violations. They also forfeited two games due to COVID-19 policy violations. Despite that, they returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. In the first round of the playoffs, Hatch scored a 1–0 stoppage-time winner against her former team, the defending double champion and sixth seed North Carolina Courage. In the semifinals, goals scored by Rodman and Ashley Sanchez gave Washington a 2–1 win over the two seed OL Reign, sending the Spirit to their second NWSL final.
Chicago Red Stars
After the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season (during which they reached the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup final), the Chicago Red Stars placed fourth in the 2021 regular-season standings. In the first round of the playoffs, Mallory Pugh scored the only goal of the 1–0 win over fifth seed Gotham FC. In the semifinals, which they played without Pugh due to COVID-19 protocols, the Red Stars won 2–0 over NWSL Shield holders Portland Thorns FC, with goals from Katie Johnson and Sarah Woldmoe, to reach their second consecutive NWSL final after the 2019 NWSL Championship.
Match
Details
GK 1 Aubrey BledsoeLB 9 Tegan McGrady CB 3 Sam StaabCB 6 Emily SonnettRB 5 Kelley O'HaraDM 19 Dorian Bailey DM 12 Andi Sullivan (c)AM 10 Ashley Sanchez LW 27 Tara McKeown FW 33 Ashley Hatch RW 2 Trinity RodmanSubstitutes:GK 18 Devon KerrFW 7 Saori Takarada DF 14 Paige Nielsen DF 16 Julia Roddar FW 17 Kumi YokoyamaFW 20 Mariana SpeckmaierDF 21 Anna Heilferty MF 26 Taylor Aylmer DF 30 Camryn BiegalskiManager: Kris Ward GK 38 Cassie MillerLB 3 Arin WrightCB 26 Tierna DavidsonCB 11 Sarah GordenRB 23 Tatumn Milazzo DM 16 Sarah WoldmoeDM 13 Morgan GautratAM 10 Vanessa DiBernardo (c) LW 9 Mallory Pugh FW 33 Katie JohnsonRW 5 Rachel Hill Substitutes:GK 21 Emily BoydFW 4 Alyssa Mautz MF 7 Nikki Stanton DF 14 Zoe MorseFW 15 Makenzy Doniak DF 22 Bianca St-Georges MF 24 Danielle Colaprico DF 28 Kayla SharplesDF 32 Zoey GoralskiManager: Rory Dames
Most Valuable Player: Aubrey Bledsoe
Assistant referees: Tiffini Turpin (United States) Kali Smith (United States) Fourth official: Natalie Simon (United States)Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shootout if scores still level. Maximum of five substitutions.
References