NWSL Championship Activation, Including Three-Year Extension For Berman
Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 08:12PM By Barry Janoff
November 20, 2025: The NWSL and its media and marketing partners have a full-schedule of plans leading to the 2025 Championship presented by Google Pixel Nov. 22, not the least of which was signing Jessica Berman to a multi-year extension as commissioner.
Berman, who took the position in March 2022, will now remain with the league at least though the 2028 season.
"Jessica's leadership has been instrumental in transforming the NWSL into a global sports property," Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, Gotham FC owner and NWSL executive committee chair., said via the league. "Her vision for sustainable growth, along with her ability to fuel enduring momentum, has positioned the league for long-term success."
Berman and the league’s movers-and shakers are in San Jose for the title game between the Washington Spirit and Trinity Rodman and Gotham FC in PayPal Park.
"It's been the honor of my career to lead the NWSL during such an extraordinary period of growth," Berman said via the league regarding her contract extension.
"Every success we've achieved, from expansion to investment to the player experience, is the result of collaboration across this league. I'm proud of what we've built and even more excited about where we're headed. The best is yet to come."
Via the NWSL, either the Washington Spirit or Gotham FC will leave San Jose two-time NWSL Champions. The will be the 44th time these clubs have met, more than any other two teams in league history. The last time these teams met in the playoffs was the 2024 semifinals, where the Washington Spirit won in a PK shootout.
Pregame coverage begins on CBS Sports Golazo Network and YouTube (6:30 PM ET), and continues on CBS and Paramount+.(7:30 PM ET).
A multi-media campaign shows that the NWSL takes its championship seriously.
In the anchor TV spot, “The Proof . . . It's in the Championship,” we see players from both clubs in action as a voiceover offers, “No room for doubt. No second chances. It’s where pressure peaks. Legends are tested. And greatness demands its moment.
“Because the championship — it’s the proof. Proof in every heartbeat. In every scene. Proof that’s etched in history. Just watch.”
Yesterday (Nov. 19), the league held its NWSL Awards, presented by AT&T, in events venue San Jose Civic. The show aired on ESPN2,
Among the trophies: MVP, presented by AT&T: Temwa Chawinga, Kansas City Current
Rookie of the Year, presented by Ally: Lilly Reale, Gotham FC
Coach of the Year: Beverly Yanez, Racing Louisville
Lauren Holiday Impact Award, presented by Nationwide: Sam Hiatt, Portland Thorns
Best XI First Team, presented by Amazon Prime
(See all the awards here.)
On Friday Nov. 21 the NWSL Skills Challenge, presented by CarMax, is scheduled at Spartan Soccer Complex at San Jose State University.
It will feature NWSL stars competing in three skills: Relay, Gauntlet, and Crossbar Challenge for a $30,000 prize pool, courtesy of CarMax. People will have the opportunity to meet participants following the competition.
Prior to the championship game on Nov. 22, the NWSL will hold its FanFest, a free celebration at The Lot at Creekside in San Jose, located three miles from PayPal Park.
It will feature live music, interactive games and opportunities to meet NWSL players. Participating sponsors are scheduled to include Ally, Amazon Prime, AT&T, Bobbie, Canon, CarMax, Delta Mini Prints, E.L.F., Tylenol and Unwell FC; as well as FIFA and host club Bay FC.
Following the game, people have been invited to continue the celebration at the official NWSL post-game party, being held in INDIVISA HQ — an event space created with adidas — located in San Jose’s San Pedro Square Market. It is free and open to the public.
Both clubs are holding watch parties for people in their respective areas.
• Official Washington Spirit Watch Party Hubs
• Gotham FC Watch Parties
For the second consecutive year, CBS Mornings will begin coverage a day prior to the game (Friday, Nov. 21).
Co-hosts Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil and Nate Burleson will be at PayPal Park, joined by guests scheduled to include Berman, soccer legends Brandi Chastain and Briana Scurry, and country music artist and national anthem performer Mickey Guyton.
CBS Sports’ pre-match, halftime and post-match coverage will air live from PayPal Park on the dedicated women’s soccer show Attacking Third, hosted by Poppy Miller with analysts Darian Jenkins, Kelley O’Hara, and Ali Riley.
In addition to match coverage, CBS Sports will deliver comprehensive coverage of championship week events across CBS Sports’ digital platforms – CBS Sports HQ, CBSSports.com, the Golazo Starting XI newsletter – and social channels @WGolazo and @WeNeedToTalk.
CBS Sports will air the 2025 NWSL Skills Challenge Nov. 29 on CBS and Paramount+.
According to ESPN, the 2025 NWSL Playoffs presented by Ally delivered year-over-year growth across ESPN platforms, highlighted by double-digit increases in both quarterfinal matchups.
Overall, the three 2025 NWSL Playoffs games averaged 388,000 viewers across ABC and ESPN+, marking a 12% increase over the postseason average of 345,000 on the same networks in 2024.
“The strong performance underscores the league's continued momentum and growing fan engagement,” said ESPN.
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