How Trinity Rodman, Tara McKeown And Gift Monday Can Power Washington Spirit Past Gotham FC

For the second straight season, the Washington Spirit are back on the biggest stage — the 2025 NWSL Championship. But unlike last year’s painful 1-0 loss to Orlando Pride, this Spirit team feels sharper, deeper, and hungrier. Their journey has included coaching shifts, player rotations, and moments of turbulence, but in the end, it only sharpened their identity.

After a convincing 2-0 victory over the Portland Thorns, the Spirit head to San Jose with confidence — and three players who can flip the final on its head.

Let’s break down how Trinity Rodman, Tara McKeown, and Gift Monday can derail Gotham FC’s Cinderella run.

1. The Gift Of Monday

If there’s one player who has redefined Washington’s attack this season, it’s Nigerian sensation Gift Monday.

She leads the team with seven goals, including the crucial opener in the semifinal against Portland. Her timing, positioning, and flair make her a nightmare for defenders — and her chemistry with Rosemonde Kouassi, Trinity Rodman, and Brittany Ratcliffe has made the Spirit frontline one of the most fluid in the league.

Monday’s ability to:

• Find hidden pockets of space

• Convert half-chances

• Bring infectious energy and creativity

…means she’ll be one of the biggest threats Gotham must contain. Her first season in the NWSL could very well end with a championship moment.

2. Tara McKeown: The Defensive Wall

The 2025 NWSL Defender of the Year, Tara McKeown, is the backbone of this Washington Spirit squad.

Her season numbers are elite:

• 140 clearances

• 55 interceptions

• 44 blocks

McKeown’s positioning and leadership set the tone, but what makes Washington even more dangerous is the cohesion of the entire unit. Esme Morgan brings versatility, while goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury provides the calm, commanding presence behind them.

But the real magic?
The Spirit defend as a full team.
From the attackers applying pressure to the midfield destroying transitions, Washington suffocates opponents long before they reach the box.

Against a counter-attacking, momentum-driven team like Gotham, this discipline could be the difference.

3. Trinity Rodman’s X-Factor Potential

Trinity Rodman doesn’t always need to score to change a match — she bends the game around her.

Her speed, pressing, ball-carrying, and unpredictability constantly force defences into chaotic situations. Even when she’s not on the scoresheet, she opens lanes for players like Monday and Kouassi to strike.

Gotham’s backline has struggled at times against pace and off-the-ball movement — exactly the areas where Rodman thrives.

If she gets space in transition?
Game over.

The Blueprint For Victory

Washington Spirit’s winning formula is simple but powerful:

• Monday’s instinctive goal threat

• Rodman’s chaos and creativity

• McKeown’s defensive command

• A full-team commitment to pressure and structure

This is not the same team that fell short last year. This is a team built for the moment.

If they execute, the 2025 NWSL Championship could very well be theirs.