NJ/NY Gotham FC midfielder Jaedyn Shaw kicks the ball in front of Orlando Pride defender Oihane Hernández and Orlando Pride midfielder Ally Lemos during the second half at Inter&Co Stadium.

The stage is set for the 2025 NWSL championship.

The No. 2 seed Washington Spirit and the No. 8 seed Gotham FC have played to a scoreless tie through on half at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.

The Spirit are back in the final for the second consecutive season following a dominant 2-0 semifinal win over the No. 3 seed Portland Thorns.

Gotham FC ousted the reigning champion Orlando Pride in a thrilling 1-0 semifinal win decided in stoppage time.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2025 NWSL championship:

Gotham strikes first

Rose Lavelle put Gotham FC on the board with a beautiful goal in the 80', getting the ball past defender Hal Hershfelt, who minutes earlier had left the pitch with a leg injury. Washington is minutes away from a second straight defeat in the NWSL championship.

Trinity Rodman makes first appearance

Still making her way back from an MCL injury, Rodman entered the game in the 57th minute to big applause from the crowd at PayPal Park, replacing Sofia Cantore. The Spirit are hoping her presence sparks an offensive spark, as their chances so far in the second half have been few and far between.

Halftime: Gotham FC 0, Washington 0

The action is getting feisty on the pitch with multiple takedowns, but the officials have mostly kept the cards in their pockets, aside from the final minute when Lily Reale received a yellow card. Things heated up at 38' when Midge Purce and Kate Weisner went for the ball near the right side, but Hal Hershfelt came knifing through out of nowhere, sending Purce through the air and onto her back.

There is still only one shot on goal, and Gotham controlled the action in the last five minutes of the half and three minutes of stoppage time, but came away with no chances of breaking through for the first goal of the championship.

Championship nerves quickly go away

In the first 20 minutes, both squads are forcing the issue, getting multiple chances at the goal, but are also cautious, putting pressure on whoever has control of the ball. Both teams have three shots, with only one on goal, and Gotham has a slight edge in possession.

Starting lineups

Gotham XI: Ann-Katrin Berger, Lily Reale, Jess Carter, Emily Sonnett, Mandy Freeman, Rose Lavelle, Jaelin Howell, Sarah Schupansky, Jaedyn Shaw, Esther Gonzalez, Midge Purce

Washington XI: Aubrey Kingsbury, Kate Weisner, Tara McKeown, Rebeca Bernal, Esme Morgan, Rosemonde Kouassi, Croix Bethune, Hal Hershfelt, Leicy Santos, Sofia Cantore, Gift Monday

What time is Washington Spirit vs. Gotham FC?

The No. 2 Washington Spirit and the No. 8 seed Gotham FC will face off in the 2025 NWSL championship at 8 p.m. ET Saturday, Nov. 22 (CBS, Paramount+) at PayPal Park in San Jose, California.

Washington Spirit vs. Gotham FC: Time, streaming for NWSL semifinals

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 22
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)
  • Location: PayPal Park (San Jose, California)
  • TV: CBS
  • Stream: Fubo, Paramount+

NWSL playoff bracket

Quarterfinals

  • No. 8 Gotham FC 2, No. 1 Kansas City Current 1 (extra time)
  • No. 4 Orlando Pride 2, No. 5 Seattle Reign FC 0
  • No. 2 Washington Spirit 1, No. 7 Racing Louisville FC 1 (Washington won 3-1 in penalties)
  • No. 3 Portland Thorns FC 1, No. 6 San Diego Wave FC 0 (extra time)

Semifinals

  • No. 2 Washington Spirit 2, No. 3 Portland Thorns 0
  • No. 8 Gotham FC 1, No. 4 Orlando Pride 0

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Washington Spirit faces Gotham FC for 2025 NWSL title: Live updates

Reporting by Cydney Henderson and Scooby Axson, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect