Gotham's trip to City Hall, though, is the result of several different successful journeys all coming together in the same place at the same time. The victory lap in New York is well-earned on both a collective and individual basis, this year's triumph serving as a catalyst for growth in multiple forms.

In one of the most dramatic finishes of the year, Benedict College (D-II) erased a 24-0 deficit and executed a miraculous 86-yard backward pass play as time expired to beat Wingate University, 25-24, and win the first playoff game in school history.

Gotham won its second NWSL Championship in three years, defeating the Washington Spirit 1–0, with a mix of star power and pure determination.