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Rose Lavelle, whose goal in the 80th minute was the only score in Saturday night's 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit, thanked her teammates, the fans, and the team's leadership and staff for making their championship dream a reality.
"We're the ones on the field who get to do the job, but to win a championship, it literally takes every last person" in the organization, Lavelle said as the crowd repeatedly screamed "MVP!" referencing her winning that honor in the title match.
"When you get to do what you love with people you love, it makes the journey much sweeter," she said.
Led by Coach Juan Carlos Amoros, Gotham had defied the odds to make the final, going on the road twice to defeat the top-seeded Kansas City Current 2-1 in the quarterfinals and the defending champions, the Orlando Pride, 1-0, in the semis.
Gotham also became the first eighth-seed to win the NWSL Championship. In 2023, when there were only six playoff spots, Gotham became the first sixth-seed to lift the trophy.
The team, which represents both New York and New Jersey, plays its home games at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J.