Clara Luvanga strikes as Washington Spirit beat Utah to reach third straight NWSL final

Clara Luvanga scored her second goal of the postseason in the 57th minute, capitalizing on an errant pass as the Washington Spirit reached their fifth NWSL Championship and third straight with a 2-1 semi-final victory over the Utah Royals on Saturday.

Luvanga raced on to Nuria Rábano’s ill-advised ball after it rolled past Utah center-back Tatumn Milazzo, then chipped it delicately over the advancing goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn for the winner.

It was her fourth goal in all competitions since her September transfer from Saudi club Al-Nassr.

“We didn’t have too much time to work with her, but she’s doing amazing,” Washington coach Adrián González said. “Learning so quick. Knowing what the team needs from her and what this league demands.”

Luvanga also played a crucial pass to create Sofia Cantore’s eighth-minute equalizer for the No 3-seeded Spirit, who will seek their second championship on home turf after being awarded hosting rights in June.

Washington, who won the 2021 title, will face either top-seeded Gotham FC or the fourth-seeded Kansas City Current, who meet in the other semi-final on Sunday.

“Hopefully it’s third time lucky,” Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver said. “I think that we’re more motivated than ever, and the fact that we’ve got this game here at Audi [Field], we couldn’t ask for a better venue.”

Luvanga’s contributions made up for her hesitation on Cloé Lacasse’s second-minute opener from a corner kick for Utah. Luvanga and MacIver both failed to react as Lacasse’s inswinging delivery sneaked in at the near post.

It was the fastest goal in NWSL playoff history and the second of Utah’s first postseason appearance.

Luvanga made amends six minutes later, playing a diagonal ball to release Trinity Rodman down the left. Rodman drove in a low cross toward the near corner of the six-yard box, and Cantore arrived ahead of her defender for a first-time finish.

If the Spirit face Gotham FC in the championship match, it would be a rematch of Gotham’s 1-0 victory in the 2025 NWSL final in San Jose, California.