Overview
- The championship kicks off Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at PayPal Park in San Jose with national coverage on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
- Gotham advanced past Orlando on Jaedyn Shaw’s stoppage‑time free kick after Rose Lavelle drew the foul, preserved by Ann‑Katrin Berger’s one‑handed save in the 90+9 minute.
- Washington beat Portland 2-0 with goals stemming from a Thorns corner and an attacking‑third throw‑in, highlighted by Rosemonde Kouassi’s length‑of‑field run to set up Gift Monday and a late strike by Croix Bethune.
- Shaw’s postseason form earned her repeat recognition in CBS Sports’ Team of the Week, while Spirit standouts Gift Monday and Kouassi were also cited for decisive contributions.
- Outside the playoff spotlight, Kansas City confirmed Vlatko Andonovski’s move from head coach to sporting director with no successor named yet, and expansion club Denver Summit signed center back Kaleigh Kurtz through 2028.