SAN JOSE, Calif. — All Gotham FC needed was one big moment Saturday night.
One perfectly timed strike in what had been a mostly balanced, physical battle against the Washington Spirit in the NWSL Championship match.
That time came late in the second half.
Bruninaha danced with the ball waiting to attack before passing the ball across the front of the box.
Rose Lavelle stepped in and took a one-time strike, sending the ball past Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury to give Gotham the 1-0 lead in the 80th minute.
It was her second career goal in a championship game. Her first coincidentally came in 2023 against Gotham.
And Lavelle’s lone goal ultimately was enough to clinch Gotham’s second championship in three years with a 1-0 victory.
Just two days prior, Midge Purce couldn’t believe Lavelle, a World Cup and Olympic champion, had yet to win an NWSL title over the course of her eight years in the league.
It’s one of the only accomplishments missing from her stacked resume.
But on Saturday, in a typical Lavelle moment, she delivered.
