Fresh off a big 2-0 rivalry week win over Portland, Seattle Reign head to the east coast this morning to begin a three-match road trip while the temporary grass surface at Lumen Field is removed. Their opponent, Gotham FC, has also been pushed out of their regular home temporarily while Sports Illustrated Stadium serves as a training ground ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final.
Today’s game instead takes place at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island in New York City, a 5,000 seat venue which normally hosts NYCFC’s reserve team as well as USA Track and Field events. Gotham also just played a midweek match against the Spirit at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, but that venue is hosting a Noah Kahan concert this weekend.
Wednesday’s Gotham game was marred by high heat and extremely poor air quality due to wildfire smoke from fires burning in northern Minnesota and western Ontario. Air quality remains a concern this morning, but storms are expected to pass through today to clear the air. Those might include periods of heavy rain and potentially strong thunderstorms through the day.
Susie Rantz
Keys to the game
- Build on last week’s momentum
- Make a fatigued Gotham side chase the game
- Win the midfield battles
Notes
- Sofia Huerta picked up a knock near the end of last week’s game and did not travel with the team to New York, adding to the list of unavailable fullbacks with Madison Curry and Shae Holmes both still out. Ryanne Brown will almost certainly get the nod again on one side. Emily Mason and Phoebe McClernon have past experience at fullback, and the Reign have also previously experimented with a three-centerback formation which saw Maddie Dahlien used as a wingback.
- Claudia Dickey has cleared the injury list and is eligible for selection today, although from comments made by Laura Harvey to media pregame it sounds like Cassie Miller might get the start again, both to ride the hot hand and to give Dickey a little more time to ensure she is 100% healthy.
Injuries, absences, suspensions
Reign: OUT: Lynn Biyendolo (Maternity Leave), Madison Curry (Ankle), Shae Holmes (Knee), Sofia Huerta (Leg)
Gotham: OUT: Jordynn Dudley (Head), Kayla Duran (Knee - SEI), Taryn Torres (Knee - SEI)
QUESTIONABLE: Esther González (Foot)
Recent form
Reign: LWLLW (5-6-2, -3 GD; 10th place)
Gotham: WWLWW (8-3-3, +8 GD; 4th place)
Officials
REF: Calin Radosav; AR1: Sharon Gingrich; AR2: Adam Cook; 4TH: Marie Durr; VAR: Shawn Tehini; AVAR: Melissa Gonzalez
How to Watch
Match date/kickoff time: Saturday, July 18th, 9 AM PT
Venue: Icahn Stadium, New York City
Broadcast: ABC TV (English; Jenn Hildreth & Lianne Sanderson), ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
Is this game available to stream for free in the US? No
Lineups
Today's starting XI in NY 👑 Lineup Notes ➡️ rgnfc.com/4ysBjRj
— Seattle Reign FC (@reignfc.com) 8:06 AM · Jul 18, 2026
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Highlights
Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.
Join the discussion in our Discord gamethread (Supporter tier and above), or in the comments below.
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