FootyPop: Gotham FC are NWSL Champions, Sending Ali Krieger Off in Style
The past week of women’s soccer was incredible. Gotham won the NWSL Championships, the NCAA Tournament began, and women’s soccer leagues are in action around the world. Let’s take a look at the week’s highlights.
High of the Weekend
The category is ✨ CHAMPIONS ✨
Your #GothamFC take the 2023 #NWSLChampionship!!! 🦇 pic.twitter.com/gxiUdvIc8G
— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) November 12, 2023
The post-NWSL Championship euphoria has not yet subsided. How about Gotham FC for their first-ever NWSL Championship title? The fact that last season they finished last in the table, and this year came back to win it all is amazing. It was great to see Ali Krieger finish her career on a high note.
Esther González, speaking to @GrinanMarta about the @NWSL:
🗣️ “One of the biggest differences with Liga F, which is a great league, is that here [the NWSL] all the games are like a @UWCL game, played at the highest level”
🗣️ “Here every game is like playing against Barcelona” pic.twitter.com/1v7SFldwcy
— Women’s Transfer News (@womenstransfer) November 13, 2023
Esther Gonzalez, who scored the game-winning goal for Gotham, spoke about the NWSL’s level of competitiveness throughout the season. Additionally, the match broke the attendance record for NWSL Championship games with over 25,000 attendees. This shows the league’s growth leading up to this moment and what’s to come in the future. This league is something else.
Low of the Weekend
Megan Rapinoe says this about her injury and leaving the game early.
“If there was a god, this is proof there isn’t”
🎥 @NWSL pic.twitter.com/Iv6kIaYidz
— Area Sports Network (@AreaSportsNet) November 12, 2023
The low of the match was Rapinoe’s injury. Within the first few minutes of the match, she went down with a non-contact injury, holding her ankle. Later, she spoke about immediately knowing she tore her Achilles. In true Rapinoe fashion, she was incredibly upbeat, considering she didn’t get to play in her last match. This game can be cruel sometimes, and the legacy that Rapinoe is leaving the game is something to behold.
News of the Weekend
— Crystal Dunn | Soubrier | (@Cdunn19) November 9, 2023
Long-time Thorns player Crystal Dunn announced she’s leaving Portland and looking for a new journey come next season.
Player of the Weekend
All she does is LYNN LYNN LYNN (and LYNN) no matter what….@lynnraenie is the first player in @NWSL history to play in and win four NWSL Championships!
🏆 2023
🏆 2019
🏆 2018
🏆 2016 pic.twitter.com/OpD8rXxyYW— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) November 13, 2023
Lynn Williams won her fourth NWSL Championship! She’s the first player to play in and win four Championships. She won in 2016, 2018, 2019, and now in 2023.
Coach of the Weekend
"The Coach of the Year is not won without the team of the year." 🖤@JuanC_Amoros x #NWSL Coach of the Year pic.twitter.com/jD6xIr1aZN
— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) November 7, 2023
Juan Carlos Amoros deservedly won NWSL Coach of the Year for what he’s done for Gotham FC. Gotham players spoke about his coaching style: he picks a new starting lineup for each game depending on performance in training. This culture of competitiveness showed in their final match.
Upset of the Weekend
UC IRVINE DOWNS THE REIGNING CHAMPIONS 🤯#NCAASoccer x @UCIwsoc pic.twitter.com/dKoBvkLMzj
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 11, 2023
The NCAA tournament has begun, and UC Irvine pulled off a huge upset against reigning NCAA Champs UCLA. This is the second time in three years that UCI has upset their SoCal neighbors, and it was huge this time, considering UCLA won the whole tournament last year.
What to Look Forward To
Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, which will host the #NWSL Championship on Saturday, will host the first Concacaf W Gold Cup final on March 10.
The draw for the tournament will take place on Dec. 11. No word yet on other host cities/venues. pic.twitter.com/pr0moAMwXq
— Jeff Kassouf (@JeffKassouf) November 7, 2023
Looking to next year, Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego will host the final match of the first-ever CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup!
Fav Social Media Post
rose lavelle is absurd pic.twitter.com/v0LObdkIe1
— ugh (@838_carlisle) November 12, 2023
This Rose Lavelle highlight is something else.
Featured image via Getty Images
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