Before a champion was crowned during the MLS Cup final between the Columbus Crew and the Seattle Sounders, history was made.
Kathryn Nesbitt, who earlier this year became the first woman to work the final of an MLS tournament, has become the first woman to officiate a championship match in professional men’s sports in North America.
The history-making occasion caps off a year of firsts for Nesbitt.
Last month, she won the MLS’ top honour for assistant referees, becoming the first woman official to earn year-end recognition in any of North America’s top five men’s sports leagues.
Nesbitt made her MLS debut in 2015 and was selected to officiate the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France last year.
There are 12 women currently in the MLS’ pool of referees, an increase from just three in 2019.
