First-place Gotham FC enter Friday’s meeting with Chicago Stars FC riding a 10-match home unbeaten streak, the longest in the club’s history.
Gotham will return to Sports Illustrated Stadium on Friday after completing a three-game road trip where the Bats won two of three matches.
After clinching a fourth consecutive NWSL playoff berth last Sunday, Gotham are focused on capturing its first-ever NWSL Shield. With five regular-season matches remaining, Gotham are currently five points ahead of the second-place Washington Spirit and six points above the third-place San Diego Wave FC.
Tierna Davidson: ‘This Such a Critical Stretch for Us’
Captain Tierna Davidson is taking a game-by-game approach. Davidson and the rest of Gotham’s leadership group, along with the technical staff, are focused on perfecting a winning formula ahead of the playoffs.
“The team’s feeling good coming into this week,” Davidson said during Thursday’s press conference. “We’re really excited to play at home and have a few games in a row at home. This is such a critical stretch for us. We all know that clinching the playoffs wasn’t the ultimate goal for us. It’s just a step along the path. So we’re very focused coming into this game.
“The job’s not done just because we’ve qualified for playoffs. It’s not nearly done. We have a group that naturally wants to focus on the little details and are not content with just what we have now and know that we can bring so much more. Luckily, we don’t have to do much. Everybody is certainly on that page, and it’s been that way all season. So we’re really happy with how the group is feeling and how we’re all thinking about the next five games.”
Davidson Thankful For Lessons Learned During Early Chicago Years
Back in 2019, Davidson was selected first overall by Chicago in the NWSL College Draft. She spent five years in the Windy City before joining Gotham as an unrestricted free agent in 2024.
On Thursday, Davidson recalled her early NWSL years with Chicago, which was then known as the Red Stars.
“I feel very fortunate to the team that I came into at Chicago,” Davidson said. “There were a plethora of leaders on the team. You look around the league and there’s actually a number of people who are captains for different clubs now that were at Chicago. When you’re looking at Sarah Gorden, Vanessa DiBernardo, Danny Colaprico at a time and myself, Alyssa [Naeher], who’s still there, you see a
lot of captains around. Arin Wright as well. There’s so many.
“To have been put into that environment with so many natural leaders and been able to observe and grow under them was a really critical part of my career and something that I’m very, very thankful for. So I do think about my first few years there and how young I was and how much I had to learn. I’m so appreciative for the players that were there that helped me grow and become the player that I am.”
Davidson Praises Chicago’s Hire of Former USWNT Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski
Chicago recently hired Vlatko Andonovski as the club’s Chief Soccer Officer. Andonovski won two NWSL championships while coaching the now defunct FC Kansas City.
Davidson spent just short of four years playing under Andonovski during his 2019-2023 run as head coach of the United States women’s national team.
“Acquiring Vlatko is a great hire for them,” Davidson stated. “He’ll be very helpful in rebuilding what they have there and bringing a tone of excellence and pushing the club to the next level. He’s definitely what they need. I’m excited to see what he builds there, and I’m happy that they have someone like him at the helm there.”
The Stars are currently last among all NWSL clubs, having collected 17 points through 25 matches. Andonovski appears set to oversee a deep roster overhaul.
Latest Lineup and Injury News Ahead of Friday’s Gotham-Stars Match
Gotham midfielder Sofia Cook remains out due to an ankle injury. Defenders Kayla Duran and Emily Sonnett are both considered long-term absences due to their season-ending knee injuries.
OUT: Sofia Cook (lower leg), Kayla Duran (knee — SEI), Emily Sonnett (knee — SEI)
UPDATE: 7:15 PM:
Gotham FC named the following starting XI and substitutes:
Gotham FC starting XI: Berger, Dudley, O’Sullivan, Howell, Shaw, Davidson (C), Lavelle, Reiten, Kerr, Purce, Carter.
Subs: Hogan, Boade, Bruninha, Freeman, Kitahata, McCaskill, Sommer, Speck, Torres
Chicago has four confirmed absences.
UPDATE 7:05 PM:
Chicago Stars FC named the following starting XI and substitutes:
Chicago Stars FC starting XI: Naeher (C), Gomes, Staab, Maitane, Wood, Pinto, Gasper, Grosso, Egizii, Swanson, Bike
Subs: Atkinson, Alozie, Valdezate, Evans, Charley, Franklin, Johnson, Farmer, Dellarose
OUT: Ryan Connaughton (knee), Jordyn Huitema (knee — SEI), Natalia Kuikka (knee — SEI), Leila Ouahabi (thigh)
Further lineup information including starting XI and substitutes for both teams will be posted here closer to kickoff.
Kickoff for Friday’s contest at Sports Illustrated Stadium is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time. The match will be streamed on Prime Video.
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