The 2014 NWSL Championship was the second edition of the NWSL Championship, the championship match of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and took place on August 31, 2014. FC Kansas City won 2–1 against NWSL Shield holders Seattle Reign FC, becoming NWSL champions for the first time. The match took place at Seattle's home Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Washington.
Road to the final
Seattle Reign FC
After missing the playoffs in the NWSL's inaugural season, Seattle Reign FC won the NWSL Shield in the 2014 season with the best record in the league. They were led by NWSL Most Valuable Player and NWSL Golden Boot winner Kim Little along with NWSL Team of the Year selections Jess Fishlock and Nahomi Kawasumi. In the playoff semifinals, a penalty scored by Little, a penalty saved by Hope Solo, and a goal scored by Megan Rapinoe gave the Reign a 2–1 win over the fourth seed Washington Spirit.
FC Kansas City
After sweeping the NWSL's inaugural major awards, FC Kansas City repeated their success in the 2014 season and again placed second in the league standings. They were led by returning NWSL Most Valuable Player Lauren Holiday, repeating NWSL Defender of the Year Becky Sauerbrunn, and NWSL Golden Boot runner-up Amy Rodriguez. In the playoff semifinals, a rematch from the previous year's playoffs, Rodriguez and Holiday each scored as Kansas City won 2–0 against the defending champion and third seed Portland Thorns FC.
Match
Details
GK 1 Hope Solo DF 14 Stephanie CoxDF 3 Lauren BarnesDF 13 Kendall FletcherDF 7 Elli Reed MF 11 Keelin WintersMF 8 Kim LittleMF 9 Nahomi KawasumiMF 10 Jess FishlockMF 15 Megan RapinoeFW 2 Sydney Leroux Substitutes:FW 17 Beverly Goebel MF 20 Mariah Nogueira Manager: Laura Harvey GK 18 Nicole BarnhartDF 14 Kassey KallmanDF 4 Becky SauerbrunnDF 13 Leigh Ann RobinsonDF 23 Nikki PhillipsMF 6 Jen BuczkowskiMF 7 Jenna RichmondMF 15 Erika Tymrak FW 9 Merritt Mathias FW 8 Amy Rodriguez FW 12 Lauren HolidaySubstitutes:FW 5 Liz Bogus DF 17 Amy LePeilbet FW 24 Sarah Hagen Manager: Vlatko Andonovski
Most Valuable Player: Lauren Holiday
Assistant referees: Marlene Duffy (United States) Danielle Chesky (United States) Fourth official: Katja Koroleva (United States)Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shootout if scores still level. Maximum of three substitutions.
References