Saturday’s <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nwsl-tv-schedule-and-streaming-links/">NWSL</a> final wasn’t just something for winners <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/gotham-fc-tv-schedule/">Gotham FC</a> to celebrate. CBS Sports had a fine night as well, with an average of <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGang/status/1724474306040627660" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">817,000 viewers watching</a> the NWSL Championship on the CBS network and Paramount+.



This makes the game only the second NWSL match to surpass 800,000 viewers – last season’s title game which pulled in 915,000 viewers on the same duo of platforms is the only other.



Speaking strictly of streaming, the OL Reign vs Gotham tilt was the most-streamed NWSL match ever.



It certainly helped that the clash was the swan song for two US Women and NWSL legends – Megan Rapinoe and Ali Kreiger. Rapinoe, unfortunately, suffered a non-contact injury just minutes into the game.



<figure class="aligncenter size-full wp-block-image"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="596" height="502" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/16053223/Screenshot-2023-11-14-at-1.27.33-PM-596x502.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-469996" sizes="(max-width: 596px) 100vw, 596px"></figure></div><figcaption>Big figures for the NWSL and CBS</figcaption></figure>



<h2>New deal is on the horizon</h2>



This game was the last under the previous NWSL media deal, which had exclusively been with CBS Sports. CBS remains a league partner moving forward as part of a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/nwsl-tv-deal-boosts-revenue-but-makes-it-harder-to-find-games-20231109-WST-468746.html?utm_source=Klaviyo&amp;utm_medium=campaign&amp;_kx=ik-Ogu0_iUD23oE9Z8CcQASHGz2oG4sbLlUgU5kjJwAKMCXwlHAdXgIYzBM_aZ7C.SDRVpV">four-year, multi-broadcaster deal</a>, with several games including the final remaining on CBS and Paramount+.



While the 2023 Championship was not quite as big of a ratings hit as the 2022 edition, it’s still a seriously impressive number. It’s a positive trend for the league in general, and for CBS who’ll have the final in the next four years as well.



Something to keep an eye on however was how NWSL and CBS presented the game’s availability. It was not made clear leading up to the match that to watch live on Paramount+ required the upper tier “Paramount+ with Showtime” plan.



<figure class="aligncenter size-full wp-block-image"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="583" height="655" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/16053223/Screenshot-2023-11-14-at-2.06.14-PM-583x655.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-470017" sizes="(max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px"></figure></div><figcaption>Just regular Paramount+ right? As it turned out, not so much.</figcaption></figure>



Fans who do not have the premium Paramount+ account, nor cable/satellite/antenna, and were expecting to be able to watch the game were <a href="https://old.reddit.com/r/NWSL/comments/17tf207/paramount_plus_cut_feed/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">understandably upset</a>. Previous games on CBS had been available to all Paramount+ subscribers.



That wasn’t the only thing that had some fans irked. Field conditions at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego were less than appropriate for a league final. While it was not as poor as the previous week’s semifinal hosted by the San Diego Wave at the venue, a few patchy areas remained on the grass field and American football markings and logos could be seen peeking through in places.



<h2>Top local markets for NWSL Championship</h2>



It’s no surprise that the #1 market for the game was the home base of one of the finalists. Seattle-Tacoma was tops overall but were surely left disappointed with their side not taking the trophy:



1 -Seattle-Tacoma 2- Louisville 3- Knoxville 4- Nashville 5- New Orleans 6- St. Louis Portland 8- Fort Myers 9- Raleigh-Durham Hartford Albuquerque Dayton



It’s a testament to the difficulty in cracking the metro-New York area market that NYC is not on the list, despite being Gotham’s home turf. Also interesting is that of these top markets, only four have NWSL sides. 



None of the others are (at least publically, anyway) even on the radar for expansion. You’d have to think that both the NWSL and the upcoming USL Super League will be considering where WoSo fans are watching these big games when scouting for future club locations.



Photo: Imago.

NWSL Championship draws 800K viewers on CBS

It was a big night for the NWSL and CBS, with the Championship drawing the second-most viewers ever for a league game.

NWSL Championship draws 800K viewers on CBS - World Soccer Talk

As the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season came to a close on Saturday, Gotham FC completed an improbable run from the depths of the league to the summit by defeating the OL Reign 2-1 in the championship game.



It was meant to be a sendoff for legends <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/uswnt-sends-off-megan-rapinoe-with-win-in-final-game-20230925-WST-458350.html">Megan Rapinoe</a> and Ali Krieger in the most anticipated <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nwsl-tv-schedule-and-streaming-links/">NWSL championship</a> game in the league’s short existence. 



However, the plot of the game was abruptly altered by the early injury to Rapinoe.



In the third minute of a scoreless contest, Rapinoe fell down with an injury that wasn’t caused by contact. She made a run at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/gotham-fc-tv-schedule/">Gotham</a>‘s Maitane Lopez, who was dribbling just beyond the penalty area when she abruptly fell down.



After lying on the field for almost two minutes, the 38-year-old athlete was eventually helped up by the training personnel. After that, she returned to the Reign’s bench at Snapdragon Stadium by walking along the sideline.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="409" height="471" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/16053302/image-6-409x471.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-469551" sizes="(max-width: 409px) 100vw, 409px"></figure></div><figcaption>Megan Rapinoe montage after her last game</figcaption></figure>



Ali Krieger of Gotham FC and the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/uswnt-tv-schedule/">U.S. Women’s National Team</a>, who is also retiring from the sport like Rapinoe, went up to give her a hug at the conclusion of the game. The veteran winger’s injury was not immediately known to be serious. In a postgame interview with CBS, the Olympic gold medalist, however, revealed that she may have ruptured her Achilles tendon in the incident.



Despite the match being promoted as a battle between legends Rapinoe and Krieger, it was the latter who ended up on top, lifting her first NWSL title in her 18-year-old career.



<h2>Gotham’s new signings overshone veterans’ efforts</h2>



Interestingly, the New Jersey club had the worst record in the whole National Women’s Soccer League a year ago, finishing at the bottom of the table. Gotham made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history thanks to some key personnel changes, a new coaching staff, and an overhauled attitude.



On Saturday in San Diego, two of the new recruits shone as unsung heroes. One of them was Lynn Williams, a two-time NWSL champion who was acquired in a trade with Kansas City on draft day.



Williams matched Kristen Hamilton for the most NWSL championships finals played when she took the field for Gotham in this, her fifth appearance. However, with the victory, she became the league’s first four-time champion, a feat that had never been accomplished before. She significantly contributed to that achievement by opening the scoring in the 24th minute.



Five minutes later, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/ol-reign-tv-schedule/">OL Reign</a> midfielder Rose Lavelle replied with a goal of her own, a beautiful left-footed effort that beat goalie Mandy Haught. Then, Esther Gonzalez scored in first-half stoppage time to give Gotham the lead for good after the Seattle opponents had tied the game.



<h2>Contest peaked in dying minutes</h2>



There was a lot of tension in the game’s closing minutes. Gotham FC almost lost control of the clash after their goalie Mandy Haught was sent out in extra time, but they were able to hang on to their advantage.



After the <a href="https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/var-101" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-ever VAR review</a> in NWSL Championship history, Haught was sent off for a handball infraction and the evident missed goal-scoring chance that resulted from the play. After all of Gotham’s subs were used up, defensive back Nealy Martin suited up in goal.



Reign midfielder Rose Lavelle took the subsequent free kick, but it was blocked by a group of players before it could reach the back of the goal. A few seconds later, the referee sounded the final whistle, officially giving Gotham the win.



Photo credit: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Rapinoe forced to exit early as Gotham secure first NWSL title

On Saturday, Gotham FC beat Megan Rapinoe's OL Reign 2-1, forcing her to leave her final game in her professional career with an injury.

Rapinoe forced to exit early as Gotham secure first NWSL title - World Soccer Talk

2023 NWSL kits reviewed ahead of new season

The new National Women's Soccer League season is nearly here, and that means the 2023 NWSL kits are also hitting the pitch. The league-wide uniform supplier deal with Nike continues in 2023, with each of the league's twelve clubs getting at least one new top this season (well, maybe for each team, nothing from the [&hellip;]

We rate and review the 2023 NWSL kits for each team to analyze which clubs did best at designing memorable shirts for the new season.

2023 NWSL kits reviewed ahead of new season - World Soccer Talk

main

Latest news from OL Reign. Find out about all the news related to OL Reign on worldsoccertalk.com

ALL POSTS TAGGED "OL Reign"

News

NWSL Championship draws 800K viewers on CBS

News

Rapinoe forced to exit early as Gotham secure first NWSL title

News

2023 NWSL kits reviewed ahead of new season