Gotham FC enter Friday with an opportunity to extend their unbeaten streak to eight consecutive games.
The first-place Bats are also riding a three-game winning streak. For Gotham to make it four straight wins, they’ll have to defeat a familiar foe in the visiting Kansas City Current.
When these sides last met, Gotham FC claimed its first-ever NWSL Challenge Cup in a 2-0 victory on June 26 at Columbus, Ohio’s ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. In their previous regular-season meeting, Kansas City defeated Gotham 2-1 at CPKC Stadium on April 4.
Gotham’s goalkeeping tandem of Ann-Katrin Berger and Shelby Hogan has strung together three consecutive 1-0 shutouts and kept opponents scoreless for 358 minutes.
Kansas City most recently drew 1-1 away to the Houston Dash last Saturday and previously tied Angel City FC 1-1 on August 1.
Latest Lineup and Injury News Ahead of Friday’s Gotham-Current Match
The Current will be shorthanded by several missing players. That includes two-time NWSL Most Valuable Player Temwa Chawinga, who could lead Malawi to glory in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final against Cameroon on Sunday.
Forward Michelle Cooper is listed as questionable on the latest NWSL availability report. Below is the full Kansas City availability report:
OUT: Ellie Bravo-Young (thigh), Alana Cook (knee -SEI), Clare Gagne (head -SEI), Mary Long (d-45 list), Laney Rouse (knee), Kolo Suliafu (thigh)
QUESTIONABLE: Michelle Cooper (thigh)
INTERNATIONAL DUTY: Temwa Chawinga (Malawi), Meila Brewer (U.S. U-17)
Denise O’Sullivan Remains Out With Knee Injury but Closing in on Return
Aside from defenders Kayla Duran and Emily Sonnett, who both suffered season-ending knee injuries, midfielder Denise O’Sullivan is Gotham’s only other absence.
OUT: Kayla Duran (knee – SEI), Denise O’Sullivan (knee), Emily Sonnett (knee – SEI)
UPDATE: 7:05 P.M.:
Gotham FC announced the following starting XI vs. Kansas City:
Berger, Dudley, Howell, Shaw, McCaskill, Davidson (C), Lavelle, Reiten, Kerr, Purce, Carter.
Subs: Hogan, Bruninha, Cook, Freeman, Kitahata, Schupansky, Sommer, Speck, Torres
On Thursday, Gotham acting head coach Shaun Harris described O’Sullivan as “day-by-day” in her recovery from a knee injury.
“She’s progressing really well,” Harris explained. “It’s day-by-day, getting her back out on the pitch and doing her runs. It’s just day-by-day, and I think we’re getting closer to having her back with the team fully. It’s about her progressions and how she feels day-to-day.
“The medical team will keep us updated, but I don’t anticipate it being too long.”
O’Sullivan has been limited to 38 minutes played for Gotham after she arrived from Liverpool on an initial one-year loan deal on July 14. The agreement includes an obligation for Gotham to purchase O’Sullivan after the loan expires.
Speck Could Make Gotham Debut
Recent signing Meredith Speck could be in line to make her Gotham debut on Friday.
The 33-year-old midfielder was part of the matchday squad for last Friday’s 1-0 home victory over San Diego Wave FC, but she wasn’t called into action.
“I’ve said it before, she’s an incredible person,” Harris said of Speck. “The energy she brings, the attitude and commitment she brings to just giving 100 percent every single day, with a smile on her face, goes a long way and really affects the rest of the group.
I think she’s been an incredible addition. People really get on with her. She really gets people to gravitate towards her.”
The Long Island native is looking forward to playing in front of Gotham supporters after several years of visiting Sports Illustrated Stadium as an opponent. Speck will also have a large gathering of family and friends in attendance.
“It was really fun to experience it from the perspective of the atmosphere is for you instead of against you,” Speck said of last Friday’s match. “I really just have to honestly take a second to really appreciate how much being back around the game means to me and my family. They’re so excited. They were at the game; they’ll be at the game [Friday]. So it’s really been a wonderful experience.”
Friday’s match is scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. Eastern Time and will be broadcast on Prime Video.
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