Gotham sends Kansas City packing in ultimate NWSL upset

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Gotham ousts Kansas City in the ultimate NWSL playoffs upset

No. 8 Gotham FC pulled off a historic upset on Sunday, downing No. 1 Kansas City 2-1 in extra time to oust the winningest team in league history from the 2025 NWSL playoffs.

• Million-dollar midseason signing Jaedyn Shaw put Gotham on the board in the 68th minute, before Kansas City secured a second-half stoppage-time equalizer via defender Ellie Wheeler.

• The match appeared destined for a penalty kick shootout, until late substitute Katie Stengel found the back of the net in the 121st minute — the latest game-winner in NWSL playoff history.

• “We are not an underdog,” Shaw exclaimed postmatch. “We came into this game knowing people thought that we were just the last seed that barely made it into the playoffs. That’s not who we are.” (Watch full highlights)

Playing short: The bid for the double never took flight for the 2025 Shield-winning Current, with key starting forwards 2024 MVP Temwa Chawinga and USWNT prospect Michelle Cooper ruled out with injury ahead of Sunday’s quarterfinal.

• Forward Bia Zaneratto started the match despite dealing with an MCL sprain, gutting out 114 minutes before Bayley Fiest came in as relief.

• “As much as we’re disappointed in the final result today, we’re not going to allow this result to define our season,” said KC manager Vlatko Andonovski. “I think that our players, even today, can walk with their heads up.”

Up next: Gotham faces reigning champions Orlando on Sunday at 3 PM ET, with live semifinal coverage on ABC.

Orlando tops Seattle to extend NWSL title repeat bid

2024 NWSL champs Orlando kicked off their repeat bid in style, with the No. 4 Pride topping a tough No. 5 Seattle 2-0 on Friday to punch their semifinal ticket.

• Orlando midfielder Haley McCutcheon opened scoring in the 21st minute, riding a slim lead well into the second half before captain Marta broke out into a 100-yard dash to earn the stoppage-time penalty kick that ultimately sealed the result.

• “We have talked so much about this season and compared it to last season,” Marta said postgame. “We have the same players and the same mentality. We still work so hard and still believe.” (Watch full highlights)

Stepping back: After Marta put on the burners to earn that kick from the spot, the Brazil legend chose to cede the spotlight to a beloved teammate.

• Marta gave the ball to fellow Pride and Brazil star Luana, a midfielder who recently returned to the pitch after recovering from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma — with Luana sinking the penalty to mark her first goal in an Orlando jersey.

• “Handing the ball over to Luana optimizes Marta as an individual,” said manager Seb Hines. “She never puts herself above the team.”

Up next: The Pride now hosts No. 8 Gotham on Sunday at 3 PM ET, with live semifinal coverage on ABC.

Washington narrowly survives Louisville’s upset quest

No. 3 Washington has booked their second straight semifinal, with a short-staffed Spirit besting a resilient No. 7 Louisville in penalty kicks after Sunday’s 1-1 quarterfinal draw.

• Washington forward Gift Monday broke the stalemate in the 73rd minute after VAR called back an early Spirit goal — with Racing forward Kayla Fischer managing to hit the equalizer in second-half stoppage time.

• Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury then played penalty shootout hero for a second straight year, blocking two sharp strikes as the Spirit advanced 3-1.

• “At the end of the day there was no chance that we could lose this game,” Washington head coach Adrián González said postgame. “It was a matter of just keep insisting — that’s the mentality we have.” (Watch full highlights)

Big picture: The Spirit had more than Racing’s tenacity to contend with this weekend, as an MCL strain continues to sideline star forward Trinity Rodman.

• Washington defenders Gabby Carle and Tara Mckeown both exited Saturday’s match with injuries, adding to the team’s availability concerns.

Up next: Washington now faces Portland, after the No. 3 Thorns reached a record-10th NWSL semifinal on Sunday by downing No. 6 San Diego 1-0 in their own extra-time showdown. (Watch full highlights)

• The Spirit take on the Thorns on Saturday at 12 PM ET, live on CBS.

Don’t miss ‘Sports Are Fun!’ live at NWSL Championship

Just Women’s Sports is heading to San Jose, hosting a live recording of Sports Are Fun! presented by Amazon Prime on Thursday, November 20th ahead of the 2025 NWSL Championship.

• Come see USWNT legend Kelley O’Hara, co-host BJ Beckwith, and a crew of special guests at the Corinthian Grand Ballroom in San Jose.

• We’ll have big-name surprises, multiple giveaways, and exclusive merch onsite.

Come hang: Tickets are $20 and include a complimentary drink and JWS party favor. Get yours now.

Report: Atlanta lands NWSL team for record expansion fee

Atlanta is reportedly next in line to join the NWSL, with sources telling The Athletic that the Georgia capital won the bid for the league’s 17th franchise, set to take the pitch in 2028.

• AMB Sports & Entertainment — parent company to the NFL’s Falcons and MLS’s Atlanta United — paid a record $165 million expansion fee to enter the league, a big jump from Denver Summit’s $110 million in January 2025.

Making moves: The league plans to tap into the area’s existing soccer fanbase, with Atlanta United routinely drawing some of the MLS’s largest crowds and downtown’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium expected to serve as the NWSL club’s home field.

• US Soccer has also set up shop in Atlanta, after AMB’s Arthur Blank donated $50 million to the federation's relocation.

Bottom line: The expansion continues a wave of growth for the NWSL, with new teams debuting in Denver and Boston next year — despite budding concerns about dwindling attendance across several key markets.

Elena Rybakina upsets Aryna Sabalenka to win WTA Finals

World No. 5 Elena Rybakina has lifted her first WTA Finals trophy, with the 2022 Wimbledon champ upsetting No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (0) on Saturday to close out the season in Riyadh.

• Rybakina capped her run on a winning tear, taking down No. 2 Iga Swiatek, No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, and No. 6 Jessica Pegula on her way to the title. (Watch full highlights)

Big picture: Handing Sabalenka her second-ever WTA Finals final defeat, Rybakina emerged from the round-robin tournament without a single loss — plus a women’s tennis-record $5.23 million payday.

• “She played incredible,” Sabalenka said of her opponent. “I feel like I did my best today. It didn’t work, but I think so many things I have to be proud of. And yeah, I’m leaving this tournament without any disappointment.”

UW soccer dedicates Big Ten tournament win to late goalkeeper

UW completed the 2025 Big Ten double on Sunday, with the Huskies defeating Michigan State in a penalty shootout to lift the conference tournament trophy on Sunday — almost three weeks after winning the regular-season title.

• The weekend victory proved an emotional one, coming just days after the team lost 21-year-old goalkeeper Mia Hamant to Stage 4 kidney cancer.

• “Obviously, it’s been a hard week but it just shows how much this team loves each other, how much they care about each other and how much we love Mia,” said University of Washington head coach Nicole Van Dyke.

Up next: The Huskies will join the weekend’s other conference champions in finding out their NCAA College Cup paths this afternoon, with Monday’s Selection Show kicking off at 4 PM ET.

Quote of the day

The Late Sub host Claire Watkins
predicting No. 8 Gotham’s NWSL playoffs path ahead of Sunday’s upset win over No. 1 Kansas City.