SAN JOSE — The best of the National Women’s Soccer League descended on the Bay Area Saturday night at PayPal Park.
Washington Spirit and Gotham FC contested the NWSL championship in front of an announced sellout crowd of 18,000 – there were empty seats visible here and there – in San Jose, bringing together a collection of fans from the East Coast who came to root their teams to a title.
Rose Lavelle’s curling strike in the 80th minute was the decisive tally in a defensive game, as Gotham won 1-0.
Though Saturday was the unquestioned highlight, Lavelle, who was named the match’s most valuable player, enjoyed her time in the Bay Area all week long.
“It’s been pretty fun,” Lavelle said. “We got here on Monday. We didn’t do too much, just because obviously we were preparing for something. But the atmosphere was incredible. It was really good vibes. No notes. We had a lot of fun.”
The out-of-town fans from the East Coast weren’t the only ones represented. Fans wore gear from several teams across the NWSL – and many outside the league – at what became a cosmopolitan celebration of women’s soccer across the United States, and even around the world.
“It’s been great,” Gotham midfielder Jaedyn Shaw said. “I mean, I love California, and it’s been really nice. Weather was nice. The stadium was amazing. The atmosphere was great, although it sounded like there weren’t as many Gotham fans as we would like. But yeah, it was great.”
U.S. women’s national team coach Emma Hayes, an England native, took in her first league title match and was impressed with what the Bay Area had to offer.
“It’s a lovely place to come to,” Hayes said. “I had fond memories of being here with the team, but it’s so great to feel. It’s a little bit like the FA Cup in England. And I know it’s the big day out for everyone, and you can feel that sort of even in the town just drilled up to the game.”
Bay FC sporting director Matt Potter was wandering the concourses before the game and wasn’t sure where he’d watch the match from. He seemed content to take in the scene from any vantage point.
“It’s amazing for everybody involved, whether that’s as a fan, the community, the area,” Potter told this news organization. “It sounds like it’s been an amazing week with the preparations that the league’s put on. So I couldn’t be happier to see a packed stadium, and hopefully that’s inspiring for us as we move forward.”
For Bay FC co-founder Brandi Chastain, a woman synonymous with Bay Area soccer, the championship offered an opportunity to showcase the nexus of the local market and the growth of women’s soccer all over the globe.
It also gave the women’s game its own dedicated spotlight. The match was broadcast on CBS in primetime coast to coast.
“It shows that our community and our fan base and our love for women’s soccer is ever present and means a lot to our league,” Chastain said. “It’s all about women’s soccer, and that is something that we don’t get to say all the time. And the fact that we’re hosting it is even more important to me.”
Even Washington forward Trinity Rodman enjoyed the Bay Area vibe, though the result wasn’t what she had hoped for on the pitch.
“It’s always good here,” Rodman said. “Playing in this stadium, it’s amazing, a great atmosphere. The fans feel closer in this stadium, which is nice. It’s very loud. But yeah, I’m a California girl. So I love being on the West Coast. It was nice for sure.”
