O’Hara delivers Washington Spirit its first NWSL title

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kelley O’Hara scored successful the 97th infinitesimal and the Washington Spirit won the National Women’s Soccer League title with a 2-1 extra-time triumph implicit the Chicago Red Stars connected Saturday.

The title crippled closes a tumultuous ninth play for the league. The Spirit had to forfeit a brace of games this play due to the fact that of coronavirus issues. The squad played nether interim manager Kris Ward aft Richie Burke was fired successful September for violating the league’s anti-harassment policy.

It was the archetypal league title for the Spirit, who precocious to the semifinals with a 2-1 triumph implicit second-seeded OL Reign.

O’Hara, a defender who was connected the U.S. nationalist squad that won the World Cup successful 2015 and 2019, scored her archetypal extremity of the season. Her game-winning back-post header came disconnected a walk from Trinity Rodman, the NWSL Rookie of the Year.

Mallory Pugh, who didn’t play successful the semifinals due to the fact that of COVID-19 protocol, started for the Red Stars but near the crippled successful first-half stoppage clip with an evident injury. Shortly aft her departure, Rachel Hill scored disconnected a transverse from Arin Wright to springiness the Red Stars a 1-0 lead. Chicago downed the top-seeded Portland Thorns 2-0 successful the semifinal.

Earlier successful the game, Chicago’s Vanessa DiBernardo was subbed disconnected with an injury.

Despite their struggles, the Spirit boasted a roster with Golden Boot victor Ashley Hatch and Goalkeeper of the Year Aubrey Bledsoe, arsenic good arsenic Rodman, who is erstwhile NBA subordinate Dennis Rodman’s daughter.

Rodman astir tied the crippled successful the 61st infinitesimal with a blast from region that deed the post. But the Spirit pulled adjacent a abbreviated clip aboriginal erstwhile skipper Andi Sullivan made a punishment footwear that bushed Chicago goalkeeper Cassie Miller.

Chicago had a accidental successful the 2nd other play connected Makenzy Doniak’s shot, but it was deftly stopped by Bledsoe.

Games were canceled and players protested during the play aft North Carolina manager Paul Riley was accused by 2 erstwhile players of intersexual harassment and coercion, allegations helium denied.

Burke’s dismissal crippled soon earlier Riley was fired successful the aftermath of the superior allegations leveled against him by erstwhile players Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim. After those reports, NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird resigned and the NWSL and U.S. Soccer commissioned autarkic extracurricular investigations.

The league canceled a play of games. When play resumed, players stopped matches momentarily to stitchery successful a ellipse astatine midfield, successful a quiescent amusement of unity.

Fans astatine Saturday’s title lucifer had signs speechmaking “Sell the team, Steve” successful notation to Spirit proprietor Steve Baldwin.

OL Reign manager Farid Benstiti was besides dismissed implicit the summertime pursuing an incidental successful signifier wherever helium was accused of behaving inappropriately.

Next season, the 10-team league volition grow to 12 teams with the summation of Angel City FC successful Los Angeles and the San Diego Wave.

The announced attendance for the title crippled astatine Lynn Family Stadium was 10,360. It was the 2nd clip the rubric crippled had gone to other time.

Broadcast connected CBS, the crippled came a time aft Nike announced it had extended its sponsorship woody with the league.