Gotham FC can move closer to its first NWSL Shield in club history when it visits the Orlando Pride on Sunday, with two regular season matches remaining and the top spot in the standings still up for grabs. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET at Inter&Co Stadium.
Gotham (16-5-7, 55 points) sits atop the standings, holding a one-point lead over the San Diego Wave and a three-point advantage over the Washington Spirit. A win Sunday, coupled with a San Diego loss and a Washington loss or draw, would clinch the Shield for Gotham.
Juan Carlos Amorós’ side enters the matchup looking to rebound from a 1-0 loss to the Spirit. Lucia Di Guglielmo scored in the 70th minute to hand Gotham its first defeat in six matches across all competitions and end its five-match unbeaten streak against Washington.
Amorós said the team is eager to return to the field after working throughout the season to put itself in position to compete for the trophy.
“Super excited now. The whole team, the whole club is really looking forward to the ref to blow the whistle and that game to start. I think we’ve worked incredibly hard, the players and the staff and everyone in the club, to be in the position we are in. Top of the league, obviously only now by one point, but still top of the league. Everything is in our hands going into this, into these last two games,” Amorós said.
The Spaniard praised his players’ commitment throughout the campaign and emphasized the responsibility that comes with their position in the standings.
“And 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. That’s how the team is feeling,” he said.
Gotham will be without the star attacking duo of Rose Lavelle and Jaedyn Shaw against Orlando, as both players are being held out for precautionary reasons after picking up knocks.
“With Rose and with Jaedyn, we’re trying to be precautionary,” Amorós noted. “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. So that’s why tomorrow they will not be with the team.”
Orlando (11-14-3, 36 points) has already been eliminated from playoff contention but enters Sunday’s match following a 2-1 win over the Houston Dash. Luana converted a first-half penalty before rookie Solai Washington scored her first professional goal to secure the victory.
The Pride have scored in 10 consecutive league matches, their longest such streak since 2024. That run of attacking production could test a Gotham defense looking to respond after conceding against Washington.
The sides played to a scoreless draw March 29 at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Gotham created several scoring opportunities but was unable to find the breakthrough, leaving the teams level after 90 minutes.
Sunday’s meeting also marks Gotham’s first trip to Orlando since its dramatic victory over the Pride in the 2025 NWSL semifinals. Shaw scored on a direct free kick in the 97th minute to send Gotham to the championship match, where it defeated Washington 1-0 to claim its second NWSL title in three years.
Gotham will look to put last week’s defeat behind it and strengthen its position atop the standings before closing the regular season at home against the Utah Royals on Nov. 1.
