Seattle Reign begin their ninth playoff campaign today in New Jersey, facing the Shield winners, Gotham FC, in the quarterfinal round. The Reign pulled out a gritty 1-0 win over Orlando last weekend in Jess Fishlock’s final home game in order to secure the #8 seed, while Gotham earned their first-ever NWSL Shield thanks to a 2-0 home win over Utah.
Notably, Gotham was the bottom seed in the playoffs both times they won the championship, last season and against the Reign in 2023. Seattle will be looking for some payback in this match as they aim to reach their fourth championship game and to lift the trophy for the first time.
The Reign are also seeking their first win against Gotham since April 2023, having gone 0-5-3 in all competitions since then. Gotham won both prior meetings this season, a 2-0 win in Seattle in May followed by a 3-2 comeback win at Icahn Stadium in July. In the latter match Mia Fishel converted a penalty followed by a Maddie Mercado goal within the first half-hour, but Maddie Dahlien missed a second-half penalty and Gotham scored three very late goals, including two in second-half stoppage time, to claim all three points.
Susie Rantz
Keys to the game
- Start strong, end strong
- Win the midfield battles
- Get the ball into the box
Notes
- The Reign are as healthy as any team in the post-season, with only Lynn Biyendolo and Maddie Dahlien out. Gotham lost Emily Sonnett to a patellar tendon injury earlier this summer and has several other key players questionable, including Rose Lavelle, Jaedyn Shaw and Jaelin Howell, although all three featured in limited roles last weekend.
- If the match is tied at the end of regulation time, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played. Should the game still be tied at that point, it would to go kicks from the spot.
- The winner of this game will face the the KC Current in the semifinals. Kansas City defeated Angel City, 1-0, in extra time on Saturday.
- If the Reign win, they will travel to KC for a 9 AM PT match on Saturday 11/14. If Gotham wins, they will host the Current with date and venue to be determined following the Spirit/Thorns game later today.
Injuries, absences, suspensions
Reign: OUT: Lynn Biyendolo (Maternity Leave), Maddie Dahlien (Knee - SEI)
Gotham: OUT: Bruninha (Knee - SEI), Jordynn Dudley (Foot - SEI), Kayla Duran (Knee - SEI), Emily Sonnett (Knee - SEI)
QUESTIONABLE: Tess Boade (Hamstring), Jaelin Howell (Ankle), Rose Lavelle (Neck), Jaedyn Shaw (Knee)
Recent form
Reign: WLWDW (14-11-5, +4 GD; 8th place)
Gotham: WDLWW (18-5-7, +16 GD; 1st place)
Officials
REF: Brad Jensen; AR1: Ben Rigel; AR2: Marcus Barnett; 4th: Jeremy Scheer; VAR: Matthew Corrigan; AVAR: Matt Rodman
How to Watch
Match date/kickoff time: Sunday, November 8th, 9:30 AM PT
Venue: Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, NJ
Broadcast: ABC TV (English; Mark Donaldson & Jordan Angeli), ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
Is this game available to stream for free in the US? No
Lineups
To be announced
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.
This is Seattle Reign at Gotham FC; watch with us
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