NWSL Championship score: Orlando Pride's Barbra Banda scores winner as Marta and company top Washington Spirit

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Thanks again for joining us. We hope you enjoyed what was a thrilling and tense game. Be sure to keep locked in to CBS Sports in the coming days for more fallout from this match and what's next for NWSL next season!

Washington Spirit are building an undeniable contender

Our Pardeep Cattry wrote about what's next for the Spirit and the foundation they've built to continue to contend in the NWSL.

Should a foul have been called on the lone goal?

See you next year, maybe? Marta discusses future

Marta post-game interview

Marta joined the CBS Sports post-game after winning the NWSL title for the first time. Here's what she said.

Marta emotional

The Brazilian legend ran to the corner of the stadium to greet her mother upon winning the title. She went to her news to celebrate and said "this is for you" to her mother while making a heart gesture. What an emotional moment as her mom is in tears in the stands.

One last corner for the Spirit?

90'+8 The Spirit earn a corner and Kingsbury comes up for it, and after two weeks of late heroics for the Spirit, it looks like their luck may finally have run out as Moorhouse takes a goal kick.

No penalty for the Spirit

90'+6 Kouassi, as she's done many times before, makes her way into the box and makes contact with Yates in a clash that could go either way. The referee is quick to say it isn't a penalty despite the collision.

Spirit keep going for goal

88' The Spirit's search for an equalizer continues into the final minutes of the game, during which their shot quality has gotten better. As good as the Pride's defense has been -- and defender of the year Sams has really stood out -- it seems quite difficult to resist the kind of pressure the Spirit's putting on for 90 minutes. There are just a few minutes left on the clock, though, and the game state still favors the Spirit even if the scoreline doesn't.

Substitution for the Pride

74' Now it's the Pride's turn to change things up, doing so across the front line by taking off Watt for Doyle.

Another change for the Spirit

73' Silano comes on for Morris as the Spirit continue their search for an equalizer.

Spirit's pressure persists

70' The Spirit keep hanging out in and around the Pride's box and are racking up the shots, but nothing seems to be coming off for them. That includes a recent moment where the Pride strung together a few bad clearances in their box but the Spirit players can't actually get a real touch on the ball to do much damage. The motions of play include a challenge on McKeown by Banda, with McKeown awkwardly falling on her right arm and receiving treatment for several minutes.

A change for the Pride

66' Adriana comes off and Yates comes in for the Pride.

Substitution for the Spirit

61' The Spirit make the first substitution of the day, with Carle coming on for Metayer.

Spirit still looking for the equalizer

61' The Spirit are starting the second half much like they did the first half -- they have nearly 70% of the ball this half and have spent basically all of that time in and around the penalty area, mustering four shots in the process. The Pride seem perfectly able to absorb that pressure just fine, though -- the Spirit have been stifled to low xG shots and have just one shot on target so far and 0.3 xG, even if it's better than the Pride's 0.07 xG.

Moorhouse with a big save

47' The Spirit begin their pursuit for an equalizer quickly after the break, with Kouassi's header forcing a big save out of goalkeeper of the year nominee Moorhouse. She already had a save on the board but it's definitely the first big save she's had to pull off tonight, and more could be coming if that start is anything to go by.

Back for the second half

No changes for either side at the half.

Halftime viewing

The Attacking Third socials team captured an incredible angle on Banda's goal, including the celebration.

HT: ORL 1, WAS 0

The game started in the Spirit's favor but the Pride survived the initial storm just fine, working their way into the half and then reaping the rewards with Banda's goal in the 37th minute. Though the Spirit got close to an equalizer with Hatch's 45th minute header that came off the post, there's no doubt they'd like to make some adjustments after the break -- they took eight shots but put just one on target. Perhaps all is not lost, though, as the Opta fun fact below suggests.

Hatch off the post

45' The Spirit muster their best shot at an equalizer so far as Hatch leaps up for a corner, making the necessary positional adjustments to get a good touch on the ball. Her header hits the post, though, before heading out of play.

Pride on the attack

43' The Pride have had a steady spell of possession since Banda's goal, continuing to hover around the Spirit's box. Marta just won a corner after forcing a save out of Kingsbury, taking a shot from an angle. The Spirit handle the corner with ease, but the game seems very much suited to the Pride's preferences right now.

GOAL! ORL 1, WAS 0

37' The deadlock is broken by none other than Banda, who gives the Pride the lead. It's essentially a solo effort after receiving the ball in the Spirit's half, and she dances around several defenders as she makes her way from the right side of the pitch to a more central position. She doesn't miss from there, notching her 17th goal of the season and her fourth of the postseason.

Kouassi with a shot

33' Kouassi finds a little bit of space on the edge of the penalty area and takes a shot, but she's unable to hit the target.

Kouassi booked

29' Kouassi receives the first yellow card of the game after committing a foul to stop Banda from making a run towards goal. The Pride have a freekick in the Spirit's half, which Marta takes but the Spirit's defense is able to clear the ball with little issue.

McKeown goes for goal

22' The Spirit have dominated possession, which is not so much of a surprise considering the Pride's tactical preferences. The Pride's strength is their league-best defense, which continues to stifle the Spirit's offense even as they continue to keep hanging out around the penalty area. McKeown ends up taking a shot at goal but it's not a terribly clinical shot and so Moorhouse collects it with ease.

Marta takes a shot

16' Hershfelt's pocket is picked and suddenly it's Banda who's making a run towards goal. She makes a pass to Marta on her right but the angle isn't quite right so her shot is easily saved by Kingsbury.

Play resumes

14' Dyke is up and running and is back on the field.

Dyke receiving treatment

11' Play has been stopped temporarily after Dyke went down following a challenge with Kouassi. Nothing intentional on Kouassi's end but Dyke's receiving treatment on her left leg after receiving studs in the middle of her shin.