[4] Both the United States and Japan began the 2015 Women's World Cup as favorites to win the tournament.

[8] It was also the third consecutive time that a major women's football tournament final featured Japan and the United States, after the 2011 World Cup and 2012 Olympics.

Goals by Carli Lloyd and Kelley O'Hara in the Olympic Stadium ended the match 2–0, with the United States progressing to the 2015 final.

[18] Japan's final group stage match was against Ecuador in Winnipeg ended in 1–0, thanks to a fifth-minute goal by Yūki Ōgimi.

[20] In the quarter-finals, Japan faced 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup Final opponents Australia in Commonwealth Stadium.

Two penalties in the first half and an own goal by Laura Bassett in the 92nd minute ended the match at 2–1 to send Japan into their second consecutive World Cup final.

[22] The match was played under hazy conditions due to nearby wildfires and winds that carried the smoke towards the Lower Mainland region.

Three of those goals were scored by midfielder Carli Lloyd, giving her the fastest hat-trick in World Cup history.

[24] Lloyd's first goal at the 3rd minute was the fastest in a Women's World Cup final,[25] as she drove in a corner kick from Megan Rapinoe.

Holiday scored in the 14th minute after Japan defender Azusa Iwashimizu failed to clear the ball on a header and turned over possession.

[27] The stunning goal was nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award and meant Lloyd became the first woman to score a hat-trick in a World Cup Final and the first player, male or female, to do so since Geoff Hurst did so for England against West Germany in 1966 at Wembley.

Striker Yūki Ōgimi scored with a left-footed shot to give Japan's first goal in the 27th minute,[28] outmaneuvering United States defender Julie Johnston.

[30] An own goal off the head of Johnston from an Aya Miyama free kick added to Japan's scoreline in the second half, at the 52nd minute.

Midfielder Tobin Heath scored the final goal of the game off of a pass from Morgan Brian for the United States two minutes later.

[31] Player of the Match: Carli Lloyd (United States) Assistant referees: Nataliya Rachynska (Ukraine) Yolanda Parga (Spain) Fourth official: Claudia Umpierrez (Uruguay) Fifth official: Loreto Toloza (Chile) Match rules:

Christie Rampone, the only player remaining from the United States 1999 winning team, and Abby Wambach came on as subs late in the game.

[36] It also marked the first time since 1999 the United States held two major trophies in women's football (the Olympics medal and the World Cup).