Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit will meet in a showdown match under the lights of Citi Field at The Queens Classic on Wednesday night.
The highly anticipated match will receive national broadcast attention on ESPN and will be the first time that the longstanding rivals have met since Rose Lavelle’s dramatic 80th-minute goal won the 2025 NWSL Championship for Gotham.
A Rivalry Ready for the New York Spotlight
“What a game,” Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amorós said during Tuesday’s pre-match press conference. “We are super excited to have the opportunity to play at Citi Field in New York City in front of so many fans. It’s a day that’s definitely writing history for women’s soccer and women’s sport in the city of New York City and in the United States.
“It’s an amazing opportunity, but at the same time, for us it’s about playing the game and not the occasion. We’re facing a fantastic team in Washington, and that’s been our focus. It’s for everyone else to enjoy and for us to play it, and hopefully be able to enjoy the 90 minutes and the whole day. But our focus is obviously on the game and getting ready for it.”
Trinity Rodman Back at the Center of the Rivalry
Washington star forward Trinity Rodman was limited to a substitute appearance in the NWSL Championship Game due to her recovery from a sprained right MCL. This time around, the United States women’s national team ace will play a major role from the outset.
Lavelle, Rodman and a galaxy of stars split between the two NWSL powerhouses give The Queens Classic a genuine playoff feel. Sam Kerr’s arrival at Gotham has taken the star power up a notch.
The all-time NWSL regular-season goalscorer could have a say in Wednesday’s contest as she is available for selection after she returned to Gotham following a trophy-laden spell at Chelsea.
Mandy Freeman Embraces Gotham and Washington’s ‘East Coast Rivalry’
“I feel like the Spirit and Gotham have turned into an East Coast rivalry, so there’s always that added pressure whenever we play them,” Gotham defender Mandy Freeman stated. “We want to win in front of our home fans, in front of our crowd. The atmosphere is going to lead to a great environment, and we want to really use the audience as a 12th man on the field.
“There is definitely pressure to win, but at Gotham, everyone knows we really rise to that pressure, and so we’re coming at the game wanting to leave it with three points.”
Both teams enter The Queens Classic with very few players unavailable. That said, Gotham FC defender Kayla Duran will miss out due to a season-ending knee injury. Bats midfielder Taryn Torres is also listed on the season-ending injury list, though she is closing in on a return.
The second-place Spirit will be without Ashley Hatch, Aubrey Kingsbury and Casey Krueger, who are all on maternity leave. Washington is currently on a three-match NWSL win streak. Rodman and fellow star attacker Leicy Santos were on the scoresheet in the Spirit’s 2-0 victory over the North Carolina Courage last Saturday.
UPDATE (7:35 PM EST): Midge Purce and Sarah Schupansky replace Jess Carter and Savannah McCaskill in the Gotham starting XI. Kerr makes the bench.
Gotham Starting XI vs. Washington Spirit:
Berger, Dudley, Sonnett, Howell, Esther, Shaw, Schupansky, Davidson, Lavelle, Reiten, Purce.
Subs: Hogan, Bruninha, McCaskill, Sommer, Kerr, Cook, Freeman, Kitahata, Carter.
Most recently, fourth-place Gotham earned a 3-1 road win over the Utah Royals last Friday with Esther González netting a brace. González was named NWSL Player of the Week on Tuesday.
Kickoff for The Queens Classic is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. Given the talent on both sides and the playoff-like atmosphere, it could deliver a midseason classic.
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