The 2013 NWSL Championship was the inaugural edition of the NWSL Championship, the championship match of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and took place on August 31, 2013. It was contested between Portland Thorns FC and the Western New York Flash to determine the champion of the inaugural 2013 season. Portland won the match 2âÂÂ0 at Western New York's home Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester, New York.
The Western New York Flash, led by NWSL Golden Boot runner-up Abby Wambach, won the inaugural NWSL Shield by topping the 2013 regular-season standings on goal difference. They entered the playoffs in the semifinals as the top seed. In the semifinals, Carli Lloyd scored two goals to lead the Flash to a 2âÂÂ0 win over the fourth seed Sky Blue FC.
Portland Thorns FC were predicted to perform well in the 2013 season on the strength of their attacking pair of Alex Morgan and Christine Sinclair. The internationals indeed led the Thorns to finish third in the standingsâÂÂtied with the top on pointsâÂÂand set up a semifinal meeting with the second place FC Kansas City. In the semifinals, goals from Tobin Heath and Tiffany Weimer erased Kansas City's early 2âÂÂ0 lead before Allie Long scored the 3âÂÂ2 winner in extra time.