No. 1-seeded Gotham FC will defend their NWSL championship crown in Sunday’s quarterfinal playoff opener in a long-awaited postseason home match.
It’s been just under two years since the Bats last hosted a playoff home match. That will change on Sunday afternoon when Gotham squares off against eighth-seeded Seattle Reign FC.
One week ago, Gotham lifted the NWSL Shield for the first time in club history in front of their supporters at Sports Illustrated Stadium. After tasting Shield success, the Bats took a moment to celebrate before turning full attention to their matchup against the Reign.
“I think it’s a very special moment for us after all the work securing this game at home,” Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amorós explained during Saturday’s press conference. “It was really important for the group, for the fans. Obviously, last year we had to go the long way, and for us to be playing in front of our fans is always special. We could see that last week after a couple of games away, and we are very excited.
“We are ready. We’re ready to compete, we’re ready to be ourselves, ready to play and ready to win. But it’s going to be a tough one. But it’s going to be exciting.”
Amorós on his Gotham Squad: ‘Animals of Experience’
Amorós described his squad as “animals of experience.” World-class midseason acquisitions Sam Kerr, Guro Reiten and Denise O’Sullivan have added to Gotham’s galaxy of stars with large silverware collections.
But no Gotham star is placed above the team’s identity. For Amorós’ fast-paced, high-pressing, positionally fluid system to succeed, every player must be willing to put in the necessary defensive work and interchange between positions.
The combination of Gotham’s vast talent and team-first ethic could lead the club to a second consecutive NWSL championship, which would complete a first-ever domestic treble in NWSL history.
“We have a great squad, and I think you’ve seen the depth in it,” Reiten said on Saturday. “Yes, there’s new faces. Some have disappeared; some others have stepped up. We’ve had injuries where other players have needed to start the game and done really well.
“So, you see the depth in our squad, and that’s going to be key going into this playoffs as well. Everyone needs to contribute and they know it, they can feel it. Everyone is ready to step up when it matters.”
The winner of Sunday’s quarterfinal will face the Kansas City Current in the semifinal round.
Latest Lineup and Injury News Ahead of Sunday’s Gotham-Reign NWSL Playoff Quarterfinal Match
Amorós described Jaelin Howell, Rose Lavelle, Jaedyn Shaw and Tess Boade as questionable during Saturday’s media availability in Whippany, New Jersey.
UPDATE 12:06 PM:
Gotham FC announced the following starting XI vs. Seattle Reign FC:
Berger, Freeman, Carter, Davidson (C), Reiten, Howell, O’Sullivan, Lavelle, Shaw, Purce, Kerr
Subs: Hogan, Ouahabi, Torres, McCaskill, Sommer, Cook, Kitahata, Speck, Wingate
South Ward Central observed training on Saturday morning and reported that Howell could be involved in Sunday’s match after she participated in full training alongside teammates after she initially worked through individual training.
Howell was substituted in the first half of last Sunday’s 2-0 NWSL Decision Day victory over the Utah Royals, which clinched the NWSL Shield. She was substituted in the 23rd minute after sustaining a right ankle injury.
Gotham Quartet Push To Be Involved on Sunday
After Saturday’s media availability ended, South Ward Central spoke with Boade via phone call regarding her hamstring injury. The 27-year-old midfielder offered an encouraging update.
“Good, good,” Boade replied when asked about the injury. “We’re still trying to figure out for tomorrow, doing everything we can to be in the best shape possible. So it’s just that time of year, we’ve got to figure out what it’s going to look like tomorrow.”
UPDATE: 12:05 PM:
Boade was unable to be fit in time for Sunday’s contest.
Lavelle and Shaw each made second-half appearances last Sunday against Utah.
Defenders Bruninha, Kayla Duran and Emily Sonnett as well as rookie forward Jordynn Dudley remain on the season-ending injury list.
OUT: Bruninha (knee – SEI), Jordynn Dudley (foot – SEI), Kayla Duran (knee – SEI), Emily Sonnett (knee – SEI)
QUESTIONABLE: Tess Boade (hamstring), Jaelin Howell (ankle), Rose Lavelle (neck), Jaedyn Shaw (knee)
For Seattle, former Gotham FC forward Lynn Biyendolo is on maternity leave and winger Maddie Dahlien is out due to a season-ending knee injury.
OUT: Lynn Biyendolo (maternity leave), Maddie Dahlien (knee – SEI)
Sunday’s quarterfinal meeting against Seattle is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The match will be broadcast nationally on ABC and ESPN Deportes. It will also be available to stream on the ESPN App for ESPN Unlimited subscribers.
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