District v. Empire: Rivals NY/NJ Gotham FC and Washington Spirit face off in NWSL final

The National Women's Soccer League final is set to be a grudge match between NY/NJ Gotham FC and Washington Spirit, a fierce regional rivalry.

The National Women's Soccer League final is set to be a grudge match between NY/NJ Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit, a fierce regional rivalry known for its high-energy play on the field.

The East Coast opponents will meet at PayPal Park in San Jose, California, at 8 p.m. ET Saturday (CBS/Paramount+) in the culmination of a highly competitive season for the women's league. It's their fourth matchup this year, in what fans have dubbed the "District v. Empire" feud.

Spirit defender Tara McKeown said after the semifinal that every time her team faces NY/NJ, "something crazy happens."

Emily Sonnett of NJ/NY Gotham FC clears the ball against Trinity Rodman of the Washington Spirit on Aug. 9.Rich Graessle / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images fileFor the Spirit, it is a chance at redemption after having fallen short in the championship game last year.

Gotham, meanwhile, aims to prove the naysayers wrong after a major offseason shake-up. It will also look to avenge its loss to a Spirit team that knocked it out of contention last year in a nail-biting playoff semifinal that ended in a penalty shootout. Gotham defeated the Spirit 3-0 this season, and the following two matches this year ended in draws.