Washington edges Utah to reach 3rd straight NWSL Championship - ESPN

The Washington Spirit will play in the NWSL Championship for a third straight season next week — this time on home soil — and star forward Trinity Rodman said that the team is better prepared after losing in the past two finals.

«When you get to these games, sometimes you can't always apply the tactical things you want to, because the game throws things at you that you can't expect,» Rodman said on Saturday after the Spirit's 2-1 semifinal win over the Utah Royals.

— NWSL players demand more respect for women's sports amid playoff venue issues
— First ballot: Rapinoe, Altidore, Ertz to enter HOF; Beckham gets nod
— Thomas named to coach Orlando Pride, first Black woman coach in NWSL history

«So, I wouldn't say it's any different. I definitely think we have more fight and more bite and more passion than we did last year going into the final.»

Rodman provided the game-tying assist on Saturday at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., where the Spirit will play against Gotham FC or the Kansas City Current in the final on Nov. 21.

Rodman said she is personally happier and healthier than the past two seasons, when she battled persistent back and knee injuries and was not 100% for the playoffs.

«I would say I'm definitely happier,» Rodman said. «I'm just really grateful that I've been able to, like I've reiterated a thousand times, just being able to play these high minutes has been amazing.»

The Spirit will be playing in their fifth NWSL Championship match, tying the record for most appearances by a franchise (Western New York Flash/North Carolina Courage). Washington won the 2021 NWSL Championship in Rodman's rookie year.

Spirit coach Adrián González said that each season is different, but the experiences that the team went