The NWSL Final took place on Saturday, as NY/NJ Gotham FC defeated OL Reign in a hard-fought battle. Almost all players on both rosters played college soccer in the NCAA at some point in their careers. Here is a list of 3 schools that were represented in the NWSL Final and 17 players that represented them:

1. UCLA

Taylor Smith: Gotham

Gotham forward Taylor Smith played college soccer for the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) from 2012 to 2015. In her four seasons, Smith scored 27 goals and had 22 assists. Smith was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team and was first-team All-Pac-12 the next year. She also became an NCAA National Champion in 2013.

Delanie Sheehan: Gotham

Delanie Sheehan played four seasons with UCLA from 2017-2020. She was awarded Pac-12 All-Freshman team, first-team All-American, Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year, and was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist. She ended her college career with 15 goals and 18 assists. 

McCall Zerboni: Gotham

McCall Zerboni attended UCLA from 2005 to 2009. The midfielder ended her three seasons with 6 goals and 11 assists. She was drafted in 2009 as the 49th pick by the Los Angeles Sol in the WPS.

Lauren Barnes: OL Reign

Lauren Barnes played four seasons with UCLA from 2007 to 2010. The defender was a Freshman All-American, third-team All-American, first-team All-Pac-10, and she started 95 out of 97 matches with the Bruins. 

Olivia Athens: OL Reign

Olivia Athens played for UCLA from 2017 to 2021. She earned All-Pac-12 and All-Pacific-Region honors, Academic All-District first-team honors, and she totaled 12 goals and 15 assists as a midfielder.

Marley Canales: OL Reign

Midfielder Marley Canales was at UCLA at the same time as Athens (2017 to 2021). Despite tearing her ACL during her sophomore year, Canales totaled 11 goals and 15 assists, started 65 out of 79 games, was named second-team All-Pac-12, earned a United Soccer Coaches College Player of Distinction Award, and was team captain for her last two seasons. 

2. Virginia

Sinead Farrelly: Gotham

Sinead Farrelly started every game for the University of Virginia from 2007 to 2010. Farrelly totaled 20 goals and 22 assists in her career, and was a 2x All-American, 4x All-ACC, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, and 2x MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist. 

Taryn Torres: Gotham 

Taryn Torres played for UVA from 2017 to 2021. She scored 14 goals and had 14 assists, started 76 out of 77 games played, was a 4x All-ACC selection, and Top Drawer Soccer Best XI second team and freshman team.

Emily Sonnett: OL Reign

Emily Sonnett played four seasons at UVA from 2012 to 2015. She was selected to the ACC All-Freshman team and was awarded second-team Best IX, 2x first-team All-ACC, College Cup Most Outstanding Player, third-team All-American, ESPNW National Player of the Year, MAC Hermann Trophy finalist, first-team All-American, and ACC Defensive Player of the Year. 

Laurel Ivory: OL Reign

Goalkeeper Laurel Ivory was at UVA from 2017 to 2021. While playing with (now rival) teammate Taryn Torres, Ivory was named to the Freshman Best XI Team, All-ACC third-team, second-team All-ACC, totaled 42 career shutouts (second all-time at UVA), recorded 68 wins (second all-time at UVA), and ended with 194 career saves (fourth all-time at UVA).

Phoebe McClernon: OL Reign

Phoebe McClernon played for the Cavaliers from 2016 to 2019. McClernon played with both Laurel Ivory and Taryn Torres during her time at UVA. She was All-ACC third-team, All-American third-team, Best IX third-team, and All-ACC first-team.

Veronica Latsko: OL Reign

Veronica Latsko played forward for UVA from 2014 to 2017. In her time with the Cavaliers, Latsko played with OL Reign teammates McClernon, Ivory, and Sonnett. She also played with now NWSL rival, Taryn Torres. Latsko was awarded All-ACC third-team, All-ACC first-team, National Player of the Week, and totaled 26 goals and 14 assists.

3. Stanford

Kelley O'Hara: Gotham

Kelley O'Hara was absolutely dominant for Stanford University from 2006 to 2009. She was a 3x first-team All-Pac-10 selection, 3x All-American, and was named Soccer America's Player of the Year, Top Drawer Soccer's co-Player of the Year, Pac-10 Player of the Year, and the Mac Hermann Trophy winner. In her four seasons, O'Hara scored 57 goals and had 32 assists (both school records at the time).

Alana Cook: OL Reign

Alana Cook was a star defender for the Cardinal from 2015 to 2018. She was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, 2x All-Pac-12 second-team, All-Pac-12 first-team, first-team All-American, third-team Academic All-American, a Mac Hermann Trophy semifinalist, and an NCAA National Champion. As a defender, Cook scored 5 goals and had 7 assists.

Sam Hiatt: OL Reign

Sam Hiatt played for Stanford from 2017 to 2019 (after playing her freshman year at Boston College). In her three seasons, Hiatt was a 2x National Champion, 3x Pac-12 Champion, All-Pac-12 third-team, and was a team captain. 

Krieger vs. Rapinoe

Though these players did not have as many alumni representing their schools at the NWSL Final, it feels wrong to leave them out for their professional last game. 

Ali Krieger: Gotham

Ali Krieger played for Pennsylvania State University from 2003 to 2006. Krieger started every match that she played in and totaled 11 goals and 19 assists as a defender. She was a 2x All-American, 4x Big Ten Champion, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Megan Rapinoe: OL Reign

Megan Rapinoe played for the University of Portland from 2004 to 2008. After suffering injuries and playing in the World Cup, Rapinoe played three full seasons with Portland. She was a first-team All-American, West Coast Conference Player of the Year, and totaled 30 goals and 25 assists in her career.

Image Credit: University of Portland Athletics/Penn State Athletics