PROVO, Utah – Utah United had the best offense and one of the best defenses in the USL W League this season.
Both of those were on display Saturday night at Brigham Young University’s South Field.
Utah United scored a goal in the first half and tacked on three more tallies in the second half – all within a six-minute stretch – to rout defending USL W League champion North Carolina Courage U23, 4-0, in the national finals on Utah United’s home field at BYU.
A total of 510 games have been completed by 93 teams and Utah United left no doubt – as an expansion team no less – which side will raise the trophy high above the crowd
Utah United (13-1-0) dominated for 90-plus minutes and in all phases of the game to send North Carolina Courage packing without championship hardware for the second straight season..
Utah United outshot North Carolina Courage by a sizable 20-9 margin, including 7-6 with shots on goal, and even held a 7-1 advantage off cornerkicks.
Utah United ends the season with some gaudy numbers – really gaudy numbers. United outscored the opposition 70-6 this season – 9-1 in four postseason games with three shutouts – and finishes with a .929 win percentage, a 5.00 goals-per-game average, nine shutouts, and a stellar 0.43 goals-against-average over 14 games.
United also put the state of Utah on the soccer map and the Mountain Division of the Western Conference on the map as well
Attacking in waves and with the identity of playing high pressure and forcing North Carolina’s back line and midfielders into making mistakes – Utah United was relentless in this game and all season trying to track down championships.
Utah United won the USL W League-Mountain Division with a 9-1-0 record, with its only loss coming in Game 7 of the regular season at home to the Colorado Storm, last year’s USL W League runner-up, back on June 14 by a 2-1 count. Utah United responded by closing out the season on a seven-game win streak.
In this finals, Utah United’s consistent pressure finally broke down the North Carolina Courage’s defense with a goal in the 37th minute. Ellie Walbruch’s initial shot was blocked and sent back out of the box and with plenty of open space Anna McKenzie Evans-Tostado uncorked a 22-yard banger that sailed high near the left post and just under the crossbar for the 1-0 lead.
That eventually was the official game-winner but not the last time Utah United would find the back of the net in this game.
Forward Seven Castain – recently named the 2025 USL W League Golden Boot thanks to 17 goals and two assists in the regular season – scored her fourth goal of the postseason and 21st of the year in the 54th minute. Lilliah Blum broke free on the right side and sent a low cross into the center of the box with Ellie Walbruch flicking the ball over to Castain in the mixing bowl and Castain buried her opportunity to open up a 2-0 cushion.
Just two minutes later in the 56th minute, Blum scored an unassisted goal off a failed clearance when she ripped a 14-yard laser into the back of the net.
Ruby Hladek capped the scoring when she headed home a Lucy Kesler cornerkick from the right side in the 60th minute.
Taylor Rath recorded six saves – two in the first half and four in the second half – to earn the clean sheet, her team’s ninth shutout of the season and third in four postseason games. Rath and her stingy back line only conceded one goal in four postseason matches.
North Carolina Courage was making its third straight finals game appearance and slipped to 1-2 in those matches. The Courage suffered their first loss of the season to finish 13-1-2 over 16 games – all while surrendering a season-high four goals to the nation’s top offensive juggernaut.
North Carolina Courage finishes with a 36-15 scoring edge and a .813 win percentage. The Courage also finished with a respectable 0.94 goals-against-average and 2.25 goals-per-game average – but couldn’t send one home against Utah United’s stout defense.
Utah United became the fourth different team to win a national title in the four seasons of the amateur/pre-professional league. South Georgia Tormenta FC (2022), Indy Eleven (2023) andNorth Carlina Courage U23 (2024) won the first three USL W League national championships.
UTAH UNITED’S RUN TO THE USL W LEAGUE TITLE
Def. Stockton Cargo (2-0)
Def. Minnesota Aurora FC (1-0)
Def. North Carolina Courage U23 (4-0)
USL W LEAGUE – ALL-TIME NATIONAL FINALS RESULTS
Below are the year-year USL W League national championship game results. The league started back in 2022 and this will be the fourth national championship being played in 2025.
2022: South Georgia Tormenta FC 2, Minnesota Aurora FC 1 (2OT)
2023: Indy Eleven 2, North Carolina Courage U23 1 (2OT)
2024: North Carolina Courage U23 3, Colorado Storm 2
2025: Utah United 4, North Carolina Courage U23 0
MOST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
1 – North Carolina Courage U23
1 – South Georgia Tormenta FC
2 – North Carolina Courage U23
1 – Colorado Storm
MOST NATIONAL FINALS APPEARANCES:
3 – North Carolina Courage U23
1 – South Georgia Tormenta FC
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