SAN DIEGO — Two days ahead of the highly anticipated 2023 NWSL championship between NJ/NY Gotham FC and OL Reign — and shortly after the league announced a historic new media rights deal that includes a package of matches across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, as well as ESPN+ — both rosters and coaching staffs met with journalists for a media day Thursday.
We identified how Saturday’s NWSL championship could play out, from key players to tactical matchups that could define the game. Then we asked players and coaches about their views of each. Here’s what they had to say.
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The stars saying farewell: Ali Krieger (NJ/NY Gotham FC) and Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign)
There is no doubt about the headline matchup of Saturday’s final. Krieger and Rapinoe, two long-time friends and former USWNT teammates, will play their final games. Rapinoe is still a game-changing talent, while Krieger had one of the best club seasons of her career in 2023.
“It’s really special, to be honest,” said Rapinoe about playing Krieger in the final. “I mean obviously only one of us is going to be able to win and that’s going to be sad for whoever the person is that doesn’t win. But it’s really special to share the…
