The 2015 NWSL Championship was the third edition of the NWSL Championship, the championship match of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and took place on October 1, 2014. In a rematch of the 2014 NWSL Championship, FC Kansas City defended their title by winning 1–0 against NWSL Shield holders Seattle Reign FC. The match took place at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon.
Road to the final
Seattle Reign FC
After falling short of the league double in the 2014 NWSL Championship, Seattle Reign FC repeated as NWSL Shield winners in the 2015 season with the best record in the league. They were led by returning NWSL Most Valuable Player Kim Little and other NWSL Team of the Year selections Lauren Barnes, Jess Fishlock, and Beverly Goebel. In the playoffs, Reign defeated fourth seed Washington Spirit in the semifinals for the second consecutive year, with goals scored by Goebel, Megan Rapinoe, and Mariah Bullock.
FC Kansas City
Coming off their 2014 NWSL Championship victory, FC Kansas City placed third in the 2015 regular-season standings. Three-time NWSL Defender of the Year Becky Sauerbrunn and NWSL Team of the Year selection Amy LePeilbet led a defense that conceded the fewest goals in the league. In the playoff semifinals, Amy Rodriguez scored twice and Erika Tymrak also scored within the opening half hour as Kansas City won 3–0 against the second seed Chicago Red Stars.
Match
Details
GK 1 Hope SoloDF 13 Kendall FletcherDF 4 Rachel CorsieDF 3 Lauren BarnesDF 14 Stephanie Cox MF 11 Keelin Winters (c)MF 8 Kim LittleMF 10 Jess FishlockFW 9 Merritt Mathias FW 15 Megan RapinoeFW 17 Beverly YanezSubstitutes:GK 8 Haley KopmeyerDF 7 Elli Reed FW 18 Danielle FoxhovenMF 20 Mariah BullockMF 22 Amber BrooksFW 24 Katrine Veje DF 25 Kiersten DallstreamManager: Laura Harvey GK 18 Nicole BarnhartDF 13 Leigh Ann BrownDF 17 Amy LePeilbetDF 4 Becky Sauerbrunn (c) DF 3 Becca MorosMF 6 Jen BuczkowskiMF 25 Mandy Laddish MF 15 Erika Tymrak MF 9 Heather O'ReillyMF 12 Lauren HolidayFW 8 Amy Rodriguez Substitutes:GK 0 Katelyn RowlandMF 2 Shea Groom FW 5 Liz BogusFW 10 Frances SilvaMF 14 Yael Averbuch FW 22 Sarah Hagen FW 23 Caroline KastorManager: Vlatko Andonovski
Most Valuable Player: Amy Rodriguez
Assistant referees: Amanda Ross (United States) Jennifer Garner (United States) Fourth official: Margaret Domka (United States)Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shootout if scores still level. Maximum of three substitutions.
References