2022 NWSL Championship

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Wikipedia

2022 NWSL Championship
Thorns celebrating the win
EventNWSL Championship
Portland Thorns FC Kansas City Current
2 0
DateOctober 29, 2022 (2022-10-29)
VenueAudi Field, Washington, D.C., U.S.
Most Valuable PlayerSophia Smith
(Portland Thorns FC)
RefereeNatalie Simon
Attendance17,624
← 2021
2023 →

The 2022 NWSL Championship was the ninth edition of the NWSL Championship, the championship match of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and took place on October 29, 2022. Portland Thorns FC won 2–0 against the Kansas City Current, becoming NWSL champions for a record third time. The match was played at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.[1][2]

Road to the final

Portland Thorns FC

After winning the NWSL Shield the previous year, Portland Thorns FC placed second in the 2022 regular-season standings.[3] They were led by NWSL Most Valuable Player Sophia Smith, the league's second-highest scorer, and NWSL Best XI midfielder Sam Coffey.[3] The Thorns entered the playoffs in the semifinals against the third seed and expansion team San Diego Wave FC.[3] In the game, Portland's Rocky Rodríguez cancelled out Alex Morgan's early goal before new mother Crystal Dunn scored the 2–1 stoppage-time game winner, sending the Thorns to their fourth NWSL final.[4]

Kansas City Current

After a bottom-of-the-table finish in their expansion year, the Kansas City Current rose to fifth place in the 2022 regular season.[3] In the first round of the playoffs, NWSL Best XI midfielder Lo'eau LaBonta converted an early penalty for the Current before Kate Del Fava scored the 2–1 stoppage-time winner against the fourth seed Houston Dash, the playoff debut for both teams.[5] In the semifinals, Alex Loera and Kristen Hamilton each scored as Kansas City won 2–0 over the NWSL Shield champion OL Reign, advancing the Current to their first NWSL final.[6]

Match

Details

Portland Thorns FC2–0Kansas City Current
[dead link] Smith 4'
Merrick 56' (o.g.)
Attendance: 17,624
Referee: Natalie Simon
Portland Thorns FC
Kansas City Current
GK1United States Bella Bixby
LB25United States Meghan Klingenberg
CB4United States Becky Sauerbrunn
CB20United States Kelli Hubly
LB14Finland Natalia Kuikka
LM11Costa Rica Rocky Rodríguezdownward-facing red arrow 63'
CM17United States Sam Coffey
RM12Canada Christine Sinclair (c)downward-facing red arrow 73'
LW17United States Morgan Weaverdownward-facing red arrow 63'
FW9United States Sophia Smith
RW23United States Yazmeen Ryandownward-facing red arrow 90+3'
Substitutes:
GK35United States Abby Smith
DF5United States Emily Menges
MF8Japan Hina Sugitaupward-facing green arrow 63'
RW13United States Olivia Moultrieupward-facing green arrow 90+3'
FW16Canada Janine Beckieupward-facing green arrow 63'
MF19United States Crystal Dunnupward-facing green arrow 73'
DF29United States Tegan McGrady
DF39United States Meaghan Nally
MF46United States Taylor Porter
Manager:
Canada Rhian Wilkinson
GK21United States Adrianna Franch
CB3United States Kristen Edmonds
CB7United States Elizabeth Ball
CB26United States Addisyn Merrickdownward-facing red arrow 64'
LM4United States Hailie Mace
CM11Canada Desiree Scott (c)downward-facing red arrow 75'
CM22United States Alex Loera
RM8United States Kate Del Fava
LW25United States Kristen Hamilton
FW10United States Lo'eau LaBonta
RW5United States Cece Kizer
Substitutes:
GK31Jamaica Sydney Schneider
GK38United States Cassie Miller
MF14United States Chardonnay Curran
DF18United States Izzy Rodriguezupward-facing green arrow 75'
DF19United States Jenna Winebrenner
FW23United States Elyse Bennettupward-facing green arrow 64'
DF24United States Taylor Leach
MF28United States Addie McCain
MF66Australia Chloe Logarzo
Manager:
England Paul Riley

Most Valuable Player:
United States Sophia Smith

Assistant referees:
Kali Smith (United States)
Alicia Messer (United States)
Fourth official:
Danielle Chesky (United States)

Match rules

References

  1. ↑ "Portland Thorns beat Kansas City Current to win NWSL Championship". ESPN. May 16, 2023. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  2. ↑ Lev, Jacob (October 29, 2022). "Portland Thorns defeat Kansas City Current to win the 2022 NWSL championship". CNN. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "2021 NWSL Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  4. ↑ Schnell, Lindsay (October 23, 2022). "Portland Thorns defeat San Diego Wave in NWSL playoff after wild final minute of stoppage time". USA Today. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  5. ↑ "NWSL Playoffs: Current defeat Dash with last-minute winne". The Equalizer. October 16, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  6. ↑ Azzi, Alex (October 23, 2022). "Kansas City continues historic NWSL playoff run with 2-0 win over OL Reign". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 19, 2025.