'We won the league!' - Bullish Casey Stoney refuses to accept Gotham FC as NWSL champions after San Diego Wave defeat rivals in Challenge Cup

Stoney, 41, was quick to correct a reporter who questioned San Diego Wave's title as league winners, after Gotham FC won the NWSL championship during last season's campaign. The interview came after Stoney's side kickstarted the 2024 season in impressive style with a 1-0 win over Gotham in the NWSL Challenge Cup. Alex Morgan scored the only goal of the evening in the 88th minute, after coming on to replace Kyra Carusa at the start of the second half.

"We won the league," said Stoney. To which the reporter stated that Gotham FC won the championship, with Stoney adding: "Yeah, but the league is played over the season. We won the league.

"I don't think it's about us versus them and the satisfaction piece. They finished sixth and we finished first, so we won the league. Tonight was about how we want to start this season off. Last season just enabled us to be in this position to play for this cup. Really pleased that we won. It gives the players confidence and belief."

Despite ending the 2023 regular season campaign at the top of the NWSL table - two points clear of Portland Timbers in second - San Diego were eventually knocked out of the playoffs by Seattle Reign FC last November. The Reign would go on to face Gotham in the final, which they lost 2-1 thanks to goals from Lynn Williams and Esther Gonzalez Rodriguez.

After starting the campaign on a positive note with the Challenge Cup win, the Wave will now look ahead to the first game of the league against Kansas City Current next Sunday (March 24). The Current finished second from bottom last time out and will be eager to right those wrongs in the new season.