Seven UCLA women's soccer alumnae will play for the 2016 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Championship on Sunday, Oct. 9 in Houston, Texas. Five UCLA alumnae from the Western New York Flash will face off against two UCLA alumnae from the Washington Spirit in the title match that will be televised live at 2pm PT on Fox Sports 1.

Representing UCLA on the Western New York Flash are defender Abby Dahlkemper (2011-14), midfielder Sam Mewis (2011-14), goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland (2011-14), forward Taylor Smith (2012-15) and midfielder McCall Zerboni (2005-08). Defenders Caprice Dydasco (2011-14) and Megan Oyster (2011-14) are UCLA's representatives on the Washington Spirit.

Six of the seven Bruins on the two teams were teammates and starters on UCLA's 2013 NCAA Championship team. Dahlkemper, Dydasco and Oyster made up three-quarters of the dominant back line, and Oyster provided the championship-winning assist. Rowland stopped two penalty kicks in the semifinals and earned the shutout in the championship match. Mewis was a team co-captain in 2013 and won the Honda Award in 2014, following Dahlkemper, who won in 2013. Smith scored the game-winner in double overtime in the quarterfinals to send UCLA to the College Cup. Zerboni played in the College Cup all four years at UCLA.

This will be the first appearance in the Championship for either team. The Spirit advanced after a 2-1 double overtime victory over Chicago on Sept. 30, and the Flash upset top-seeded Portland on the road, 4-3 in double overtime. Mewis had the game's first goal and assisted on the game-winner.