Guro Reiten returns to the beginning XI whereas Sam Kerr makes her first begin since her Sky Blue FC days when Gotham FC takes on Portland Thorns FC on Friday evening.
The 2026 signings are the one modifications made by performing head coach Shaun Harris following the membership’s thrilling 3-2 comeback victory in opposition to Seattle Reign FC final weekend. Harris will lead the staff for the following 5 weeks whereas head coach Juan Carlos Amorós takes parental go away.
Gotham FC (9-3-3, 30 factors) enters the match stage on factors with the Washington Spirit on the high of the desk. A victory would break the tie and be the fourth-straight win for the membership in common season play.
Kickoff is ready for 10 p.m. ET at Providence Park in Portland, Ore., with Prime Video carrying the nationwide broadcast.
Kerr will make her first begin for the staff since her return to the NWSL rather than Esther González on the assault, who’s out with an excused absence per the provision report. The Australian worldwide handed the ten,000 common season minutes mark and recorded her twenty fifth profession help in final Saturday’s victory.
Kerr will play in Providence Park for the primary time since August 2019, with Midge Purce on the correct and Jaedyn Shaw to her left. Purce will make her 81st common season look, passing Kailen Sheridan for seventh in Gotham FC historical past. Shaw leads the membership with three assists this yr after recording two in opposition to Seattle for the primary multi-assist efficiency of her profession.
Rose Lavelle shifts again into the midfield to exchange Sarah Schupansky after final week’s look as a left winger, paired alongside Jaelin Howell and Savannah McCaskill. Lavelle, making her 51st common season look for Gotham FC, is coming off two consecutive game-winning targets for the membership. Howell and McCaskill are two of 4 gamers on the staff to have performed each common season match in 2026.
Center backs Emily Sonnett and captain Tierna Davidson anchor the backline, flanked by Jess Carter and Reiten rather than Mandy Freeman. Gotham FC has solely conceded 5 targets away from dwelling this season, tied with Angel City FC for the fewest street targets allowed within the NWSL this season.
Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger will make her sixteenth common season begin and search her thirty fourth profession goalkeeper win. A clear sheet can be her ninth of the season, tying the second-highest single-season complete in membership historical past and shifting her inside one of many membership report she set in 2025.
Forward Jordynn Dudley returns to the matchday squad for the primary time since sustaining a head harm in opposition to Washington on July 15. Gotham FC’s bench additionally consists of goalkeeper Shelby Hogan; defenders Bruninha and Mandy Freeman; midfielders Sofia Cook, Denise O’Sullivan, Sarah Schupansky and Talia Sommer; and ahead Andrea Kitahata.
Defender Kayla Duran (knee) and midfielder Taryn Torres (knee) are each on the season-ending harm record.
Gotham FC lineup vs. Portland Thorns FC
30 – Ann-Katrin Berger (GK)
27 – Jess Carter
6 – Emily Sonnett
15 – Tierna Davidson ©
18 – Guro Reiten
7 – Jaelin Howell
13 – Savannah McCaskill
16 – Rose Lavelle
23 – Midge Purce
20 – Sam Kerr
10 – Jaedyn Shaw
Substitutes: 1 – Shelby Hogan (GK), 2 – Jordynn Dudley, 3 – Bruninha, 5 – Denise O’Sullivan, 11 – Sarah Schupansky, 14 – Talia Sommer, 21 – Sofia Cook, 22 – Mandy Freeman, 24 – Andrea Kitahata
