2016 NWSL Championship
| Event | NWSL Championship | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| After extra time Western New York wins 3–2 on penalties | |||||||
| Date | October 9, 2016 | ||||||
| Venue | BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas, U.S. | ||||||
| Most Valuable Player | Sabrina D'Angelo (Western New York Flash) | ||||||
| Referee | Matthew Franz | ||||||
| Attendance | 8,255 | ||||||
The 2016 NWSL Championship was the fourth edition of the NWSL Championship, the championship match of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), and took place on October 9, 2016. It was contested between the Washington Spirit and the Western New York Flash to decide the champion of the 2016 season. The match was played at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Both teams reached the final by winning their semifinal matches in extra time. The championship game was tied 1–1 after regulation with early goals scored by Crystal Dunn and Sam Mewis. Dunn put the Spirit ahead at the start of extra time before Lynn Williams equalized in the 120+4th minute. Western New York won 3–2 in the first penalty shootout in NWSL history, with Sabrina D'Angelo saving three penalty kicks. The following year, Western New York relocated and became the North Carolina Courage; the team reached each of the next three NWSL Championships, winning two. Washington would win their first championship in 2021.