How the midfield battle will shape the NWSL Championship

The main takeaway is that the buildup patterns are similar. It involves Howell dropping in to receive or initiate the buildup and two forward-minded players dropping deep to collect the ball from the second phase of play. At times, striker Esther Gonzalez drops very deep to help. Against Orlando Pride, Gotham struggled to play their usual buildup, which instead meant they had to go down the channels directly through the centerbacks (in the above case, Carter) or the goalkeeper. Portilho and Midge Purce were closed down frequently, so it made it harder for Gotham to create chances.

Often, Gotham’s main threat comes from their wide players. When one of the two No. 10s gets on the ball, their task is to play in one of the three attacking players on the ball to create goalscoring chances through wide one-on-ones or, most often, central channel passes. Both wide players do well cutting inside and shooting, and playing in the central channels.

Though Purce enjoys drifting inside, her one-on-one ability is one of the main sources of creativity. She ranks in the 91st percentile for successful take-ons and the 95th percentile for progressive carries in the 2025 NWSL season, which indicates her importance as Gotham’s primary ball carrier in the final third. It’s not hyperbolic to state that play runs through her. Purce allows Gotham to play different styles — both in playing balls in behind the defensive line or building up through midfield passes, which enables Esther to find space in and around the 18-yard box to lurk around and score.

In the above sequence, Shaw drops deeper to receive from Carter. The Pride used several players to engage in a high-pressing structure, but Shaw was able to side-step it and look for a better passing angle. She shrugs off Ally Lemos, then switches play to fullback Bruninha in space on the right. That movement triggers the transition: Bruninha drives forward, releases Purce, and then Gotham turns defense into attack within seconds.

On the other side, the Washington Spirit’s midfield offers a different profile entirely. Hershfelt provides the defensive range and ball-winning, Bethune offers creativity and final-third incision, and then Leicy Santos knits everything together with experience and tempo control. Together, they give the Spirit a balanced trio that can both protect the back line and release forwards Rodman, Gift Monday, and Sofia Cantore in transition.

Gotham will need to be wary of how the Spirit may overrun and penetrate the midfield, but it’s more likely that Gotham’s attacking and midfield lineup should create enough problems for the Spirit to have to sit back and play a more counter-attacking game. This might suit Rodman and Rose Kouassi, but given Howell’s role in midfield, there should be enough protection for Gotham at the back.

Sunday’s final promises a fascinating tactical duel between head coaches Adrian Gonzalez and Amorós — one defined by how each midfield manages pressure, controls transitions, and limits the opposition’s creative engines.

Whichever midfield trio can impose its desired rhythm —  slow the game down, speed it up, or simply disrupt the other — will tilt the match. With so much attacking talent on both sides, the margins will be thin, so the midfield battle will likely decide who walks away as the 2025 NWSL Champions.