2:51 PM
The Washington Spirit won the National Women's Soccer League championship with a 2-1 overtime victory over the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday.
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The ninth season of the NWSL is coming to a close with the championship game at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. coronaviruses caused the Spirit to have to give up two games this season. Kris Ward was in charge of the team after Burke was fired for violating the league's anti-harassment policy.
It was the first league title for the Spirit, who defeated OL Reign in the semifinals.
O'Hara, who was on the U.S. national team that won the World Cup in 2015, scored her first goal of the season. Her game-winning back-post headed ball came off a pass from Trinity Rodman.
The season ended as champion and O'Hara called it the best feeling he had ever had.
"I can't describe it, because of everything we've been though, and the fact that we're ending it as NWSL champion is pretty crazy and very special,'' O'Hara said. I'm very proud of this team. People don't know what we've gone through, and the perseverance of every single player on this team is pretty incredible.
The Washington Spirit defeated the Chicago Red Stars to win the NWSL title.
In the first half of the Red Stars' game against the Wizards, Mallory Pugh left the field with an apparent injury. Rachel Hill scored off a cross from Arin Wright to give the Red Stars a lead.
The Thorns lost 2-0 to Chicago in the semifinals. The Chicago player was taken off with an injury. The Spirit's roster included the Golden Boot winner and Goalkeeper of the Year, as well as the daughter of Dennis Rodman.
Bledsoe said that they did it together. "We never gave up, we never quit, and that second half shows who we are.''
Rodman almost tied the game in the 61st minute when he hit the post. Andi Sullivan made a penalty kick that beat the Chicago goalkeeper. Chicago had a chance in the second extra time period on Makenzy Doniak's shot, but it was stopped by Bledsoe.
"Obviously going to sting but incredibly proud of the team and the players, they never quit,'' Chicago coachRory Dames said. Got two chances late in the second overtime to knot it up, and I think that epitomizes the team. Never give up. They never stop. They always believed in themselves and each other, and as a coach that's all you can ask.
The Red Stars were playing without goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who was injured while playing for the United States in the Olympics, as well as Julie Ertz, who was hurt for most of the season, and Kaelia Watt, who went down with a knee injury during the semifinal.
The season was canceled and players protested after two former players accused North Carolina coach Paul Riley of sexual harassment. Riley was fired in the wake of serious allegations leveled against him by former players. The NWSL and U.S. Soccer commissioned independent investigations after the reports. The league canceled a weekend of games, and when play resumed players stopped matches to gather in a circle in a quiet show of unity.
Fans at Saturday's championship match had signs that said "Sell the team, Steve''.
The attendance for Saturday's game was 10,360. The title game had gone to extra time before.
