Gotham FC Edges OL Reign for First NWSL Championship After Megan Rapinoe’s Career Ends With an Injury

Gotham FC Edges OL Reign for First NWSL Championship After Megan Rapinoe’s Career Ends With an Injury
NJ/NY Gotham FC are awarded the NWSL Championship trophy after defeating the OL Reign during the 2023 NWSL Championship game in San Diego on Nov. 11, 2023. Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
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Esther Gonzalez scored the decider just before halftime, Nealy Martin endured some nervy late moments as an emergency goalkeeper, and NY/NJ Gotham FC earned their first NWSL Championship with a 2–1 victory over OL Reign on Saturday night, Nov. 11, in San Diego.

Lynn Williams scored the opening goal for Gotham, which survived a dramatic late twist when goalkeeper Mandy Haught was sent off for handling outside the box and denying Reign an obvious goal-scoring opportunity deep in second-half stoppage time.