The Washington Spirit showed once again why it’s one of the most consistent teams in the country by beating the Portland Thorns 2–0 in front of 19,365 fans at Audi Field and securing its second straight NWSL final. The result wasn’t a stroke of luck. The Spirit controlled the match from the start, set the pace, stayed aggressive and played with a confidence that fits the squad’s form heading into the final stretch of the season.
The burst that shifted the match and put the Spirit in charge
The Spirit opened the game pressing as if determined to settle everything before Portland could breathe. They created clear chances, forced mistakes and even found the net early on, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR check. Instead of slowing the team down, the call seemed to sharpen Washington’s push even more, as they kept winning the ball high up the field and pinning the Thorns back.
The decisive moment came in the 27th minute. A cleared Portland corner turned into an immediate counterattack. Rosemonde Kouassi sprinted into space, carried the play with calm feet and delivered a perfect cross for Gift Monday to finish without hesitation.
Even with the lead, the Spirit didn’t ease up. They kept arriving with danger and forced goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold into two big stops, keeping the Thorns alive almost by resistance alone.
The play that sealed the spot and revealed the team’s maturity
The start of the second half brought chances for both sides, but the Spirit remained more present in the attacking half. Even with Portland trying to adjust, the visitors couldn’t turn their attempts into real threats. The match took a different turn in the 83rd minute, when Croix Bethune drove forward from midfield and caught the Portland goalkeeper out of position. She calmly dribbled past her and finished, stretching the lead to 2–0 in a moment that shifted the final minutes for good.
The game moved into stoppage time with Portland pushing to cut the deficit, but they couldn’t create a clear chance against an organized and focused back line.
The final whistle confirmed the Spirit’s 2–0 win and their spot in the NWSL championship match, which will take place at PayPal Park in San Jose on November 22.