Only two matches remain in Gotham FC’s quest to capture the NWSL Shield. If the Bats go on to raise a first NWSL Shield in their history, it will be an incredible achievement given the pileup of injuries that have come with every turn in 2026.
With Emily Sonnett (knee), Kayla Duran (knee), Jordynn Dudley (foot) and Bruninha (knee) on the season-ending injury list, head coach Juan Carlos Amorós is taking all precautions ahead of the NWSL playoffs as Rose Lavelle (neck) and Jaedyn Shaw (knee) are being rested ahead of Sunday’s road match against the Orlando Pride.
“With Rose and with Jaedyn, we’re trying to be precautionary,” Amorós explained during Saturday’s press conference. “They got some knocks from training, from the games. Obviously, we could see Jaedyn couldn’t really come back fully after the camp. That’s why she didn’t play last week. Then with Rose also, she picked up a little knock in the last game and through training. So for us, it’s always first the health of the players.”
Midfielder Sofia Cook could also be held out of Sunday’s contest as she recovers from an ankle injury. Cook most recently appeared for Gotham FC on August 23 in a scoreless away draw against Angel City FC.
“Sofia is here,” Amorós said. “She’s training with us. She’s not going to be probably playing. But we’re trying to get her involved in the day-to-day of the club as much as possible. She’s been out without completing a full training session for 154 days until the other day she completed the first training session. She will be probably rostering, but she will not be playing.”
With Lavelle out, Savannah McCaskill could be recalled to the starting XI for the first time since the Bats’ 2-1 away victory over Racing Louisville on September 11.
Latest Lineup and Injury News Ahead of Sunday’s Gotham-Pride Match
Gotham is expected to field several changes to the starting XI.
Veterans McCaskill, Leila Ouahabi, Meredith Speck and Tess Boade, along with rookies Talia Sommer and Andrea Kitahata, could see increased minutes over the final two matches of the regular season.
“Yeah, those players have been playing little bits here and there,” Amorós responded to a question about Speck and Boade. “Obviously, we have others like Talia [Sommer], Leila [Ouahabi], there is a new player already with a start. I think when we were talking about the beginning of the year, I think we’ve changed between the injuries, the transfers, the loans. I think we are around, if you look back to January, probably I think we are around the mark of 14, 15 players that are different right now.”
OUT: Bruninha (knee — SEI), Jordynn Dudley (foot — SEI), Kayla Duran (knee — SEI), Rose Lavelle (neck), Jaedyn Shaw (knee), Emily Sonnett (knee — SEI)
QUESTIONABLE: Sofia Cook (ankle)
The Pride are eliminated from playoff contention and will be without star forward Barbra Banda due to U.S. travel protocols surrounding the Ebola outbreak.
Forward Sanne Lekven and midfielder Zoe Matthews are confirmed to miss Sunday’s match due to injury.
OUT: Barbra Banda (excused absence), Sanne Lekven (ankle), Zoe Matthews (hip)
Check back closer to kickoff for complete lineup information for both clubs.
Amorós Impressed by Olivia Wingate’s Fast Adaptation
Forward Olivia Wingate made an impressive 31-minute substitute appearance in her Gotham debut against the rival Washington Spirit on October 17. Wingate completed five of six passes, created one chance and made four touches inside the opposition box.
“I think she’s been fantastic in the connection with the players, with the staff from day one,” Amorós explained. “She’s trying to learn how we do things, and she’s a player that can give us that extra bit of energy with her speed, with her strength in the final third and help the team on the press as well.
“[She’s] someone we’re very excited who has joined us, who is contributing on and off the pitch and someone who’s going to really help us between now and the end of the year.”
Amorós on NWSL Shield Race: ‘Everything Is in Our Hands’
Amorós and Wingate stressed that Gotham controls its destiny in the NWSL Shield race. Gotham enters Sunday in first place with 55 points, trailed closely by second-place San Diego Wave FC (54 points) and Washington (52 points).
If the Bats take care of business with victories against Orlando and in their regular season finale at home on November 1 against the Utah Royals, the Shield will be theirs regardless of results elsewhere.
“Top of the league, obviously only now by one point, but still top of the league — everything is in our hands going into these last two games,” Amorós said. “I have to praise the group for their attitude, the commitment throughout the whole year, the football they played that got us to this place and now being in this position is a privilege, it’s an honor. But then we also have a responsibility to go out there and play our game and win our game.”
“We’ve been sitting at the top of the table for weeks now and I think that it’s time to close it out,” Wingate added. “Everybody knows that. So coming into this game being really clinical in the final third is our main goal, and obviously coming out with a win and a win next weekend and just coming home with that Shield.”
Sunday will be Gotham’s final road match of the regular season. Kickoff at Inter.co Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m. Eastern Time. CBS Sports Network and NWSL+ will carry the broadcast.
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