Gotham FC stuns Kansas City with late overtime winner for huge NWSL playoff upset

Eighth-seeded Gotham FC was only minutes away from pulling off an all-time playoff upset Sunday before the top-seeded Kansas City Current scored an equalizer in stoppage time and forced overtime.

In the end, it didn’t matter because Gotham managed to win anyway as they put a stunning end to the Current’s historic season.

Katie Stengel scored the game-winning goal in the 121st minute to lift Gotham to a 2-1 win in the quarterfinals.

Gotham FC celebrates Katie Stengel’s game-winning goal over Kansas City on Nov. 9, 2025. NWSL via Getty Images

Not only did Sunday mark Gotham’s first win in club history against Kansas City but it also resulted in the Current’s first loss at CPKC Stadium this season.

With the victory, Gotham are headed to their third straight semifinals and are set to play the fourth-seeded Orlando Pride after the defending champions toppled fifth-seeded Seattle Reign 2-0 Friday.

Despite both teams having generated good looks, the game was scoreless at halftime.

Jaedyn Shaw got Gotham on the board in the 67th minute with her first career playoff goal and second since the New Jersey-New York-based club paid an NWSL-record $1.25 million transfer from the North Carolina Courage in early September.

All Gotham had to do was hold the line as they had done all game up to that point.

Obviously, that’s easier said than done. And six minutes into stoppage time, Ellie Wheeler scored the near-post equalizer as Gotham goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger misread the shot.

Jaedyn Shaw (r.) celebrates her goal with Gotham FC teammates on Nov. 9, 2025. NWSL via Getty Images

In the first minute of stoppage play of the overtime period, Shaw found Stengel for the go-ahead score.

This season hadn’t at all gone to plan for Gotham, who have seen a lot of turnover since winning the 2023 NWSL championship.

But the trademarks that helped Gotham win its first championship only two years ago were on display Sunday.

Gotham showed grit and determination. They didn’t at all look phased by the Current, despite Kansas City having been on historic tear this season.

The final semifinal spot is up for grabs, with third-seeded Portland Thorns and sixth-seeded San Diego Wave scheduled to play Sunday at 3 p.m.

The winner of that game is slated to face the second-seeded Washington Spirit, who overcame seventh-seed Racing Louisville Saturday in a thrilling shootout 3-1.