Gotham FC Spoils Rapinoe Finale to Win NWSL Title

NJ/NY Gotham FC defeated the OL Reign (Seattle) 2-1 to win their first National Women's Soccer League title in front of over 25,000 fans in San Diego, California.  

Gotham opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Midge Purce (who would go on to win NWSL Championship MVP honors) found Lynn Williams in the box to tap in the goal. With every Reign defender watching where Purce was going with the ball, it allowed for Gotham to have trailing runners sneak in behind Reign's line and strike first.  The second and decisive Gotham goal came on a corner kick in first half stoppage time. Esther was left unmarked in the box and headed it into the net, leaving no chance for the goalkeeper Claudia Dickey. It was one of the few mistakes for the Reign in the game, but in the sport of football, that is sometimes all it takes. The Reign also struggled to convert on their own set-piece chances through the match.

Watch highlights from the game here.

The much-publicized final game for Megan Rapinoe was not an issue as she exited the game four minutes in due to an Achilles heel injury.  Rapinoe unleashed a firestorm of response on social media when she commented:  "I'm not a religious person or anything and if there was a god, like, this is proof that there isn't."

Gotham FC had finished the regular season in sixth place with a record of 8-7-7.  In the playoffs they beat North Carolina Courage 2-0 in the quarterfinals and Portland Thorns FC 1-0 in the semifinals in extra time.

OL Reign finished in fourth at 9-5-8.

The championship match was aired in prime time on broadcast television.  The league has announced that they have an agreement for a new, four-year media rights deal worth $60 million per year.  Starting next year, ESPN/ABC, CBS, Prime Sports and ION will combine to broadcast over 100 games.