Orlando Pride vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

Welcome to your match thread as the Orlando Pride (1-0-0, 3 points) head out on the road for the first time this year to face NJ/NY Gotham FC (0-0-1, 1 point) in New Jersey. This is the first of two times these teams will face off during the regular season. The return game in Orlando is scheduled for Aug. 29.

Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.

History

The Pride have faced Gotham 25 times since joining the NWSL in 2016. They’re 8-10-7 in all competitions and 4-3-5 away from home. The Pride’s record in NWSL regular-season games is 8-7-5 with a mark of 4-3-3 in New Jersey.

The most recent meeting between the two teams was on Oct 20, 2024 in New Jersey. Sam Hiatt gave the hosts the lead in the 13th minute before Adriana equalized in the 31st. However, Gotham scored on either side of halftime with goals by Rose Lavelle and Ella Stevens to win 3-1. The game on Sept. 1 in Orlando was delayed by inclement weather, but the Pride took control when it began. Adriana gave the hosts the lead in the sixth minute and completed her brace in the 19th minute. Those were the only two goals as the Pride won 2-0.

The first meeting of 2023 was a regular-season clash on April 15 in Orlando. It looked to be headed for a draw, but Gotham struck twice in the dying minutes. Midge Purce converted a penalty 10 minutes into stoppage time and then assisted on Lynn Williams’ goal seven minutes later, setting a record for the latest goal in NWSL history as the Pride fell 2-0. They played again on May 14 in New Jersey, where the Pride were the better team and created more chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. The game ended in a scoreless draw.

The Pride and Gotham met twice in the NWSL Challenge Cup following those regular-season matchups. The first was on July 23 in Orlando. A Megan Montefusco header gave the Pride an early lead, but they were unable to hold on. Jenna Nighswonger converted a penalty later in the first half and Gotham took over in the second half with goals by McCall Zerboni and Yazmeen Ryan, beating the Pride 3-1. On Aug. 9 in New Jersey, Messiah Bright gave the Pride the lead in the first half, and the team was in line for all three points until Meleana Shim equalized in second-half stoppage time, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

The two teams met four times during the 2022 season — twice in the NWSL regular season and twice in the Challenge Cup. The first was a Challenge Cup meeting March 30 at Exploria Stadium. It looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw before Purce scored a late winner. The next Challenge Cup meeting was April 23 at Red Bull Arena. Gunny Jonsdottir gave the Pride the lead, but Toni Pressley got tangled up with Ifeoma Onumonu, resulting in a penalty. Kristie Mewis leveled the game from the spot just before the half. Neither team could find a winner and it ended 1-1.

The teams met in the 2022 NWSL regular-season opener on May 1 in Orlando. After two close matchups in the preseason tournament, this one was all Gotham, as goals by Zerboni, Purce, and Mewis lifted the visitors to a 3-0 win. On Aug. 20, they played for the final time in 2022 at Subaru Park in Chester, PA. Celia and Ally Watt built the Pride a 2-0 lead. Mewis got one back for the hosts, but the Pride held on for a 2-1 win.

The Pride and Gotham also met four times in 2021, with the first coming in the Pride’s inaugural Challenge Cup campaign. On April 14, Paige Monaghan’s goal lifted Gotham to a 1-0 win. The first regular-season game that year came on June 20 in Orlando. The visitors took the lead through Caprice Dydasco, but Courtney Petersen equalized for a 1-1 draw.

On Aug. 29, the teams played at Red Bull Arena. Erika Tymrak’s long-range goal lifted the Pride to a 2-1 win. The teams played one final, high-scoring game on Oct. 9. It was a bad start for the Pride as Gaetane Thiney scored a brace and Purce made it 3-0 late. The Pride came storming back with goals by Tymrak and Marta, falling just short in a 3-2 final.

The Pride and Gotham were in different groups for the 2020 Fall Series, so the last time they met prior to 2021 was in 2019, when the New Jersey-based club was still called Sky Blue FC. They first met that year on June 22 at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, NJ. Chioma Ubogagu gave the Pride the lead from the penalty spot and Sarah Killion equalized. The difference was a Gina Lewandowski own goal as the Pride won 2-1.

On July 20 the teams met at Exploria Stadium. Marisa Viggiano’s goal won it for the Pride, 1-0. The final game occurred on Sept. 29 in New Jersey. Shelina Zadorsky gave the Pride the lead, but Carli Lloyd equalized in a 1-1 draw.

The teams met three times in 2018, starting on June 16 in Orlando, when a Sydney Leroux brace led the Pride to a 3-2 win. They met again in Orlando on Aug. 5, with the Pride giving up a 1-0 lead after Marta’s opening goal. But Dani Weatherholt equalized in a 2-2 draw. The final meeting in 2018 came on Sept. 8 in New Jersey — the final game of the season. There was only one goal in this one as Lloyd won it for Sky Blue FC.

The 2017 season saw the Pride and Sky Blue meet three times. The first was May 27 in New Jersey, where the Pride lost 2-1. They met again in New Jersey on June 28 and the Pride won, 3-2. The final meeting was on Aug. 12 in Orlando and the Pride won by its largest margin in team history to that point, beating Sky Blue, 5-0.

The 2016 season was the first time the two teams met, with the inaugural game coming on Sept. 7 in New Jersey. Alex Morgan and Sam Kerr swapped goals in a 1-1 draw. They met again three days later in Orlando, with Sky Blue winning, 2-1.

Overview

The Pride got 2025 off to a disappointing start by drawing 1-1 with the Washington Spirit in the Challenge Cup and falling on penalties. However, they took their frustration out on Chicago Stars FC on Mar. 14. Haley McCutcheon got the scoring started in the seventh minute and they didn’t stop. Watt and Julie Doyle goals were split by a Hannah Anderson own goal before Barbara Banda netted a late brace. The 6-0 win tied a club record, matching last year’s 6-0 win over the Utah Royals.

Apart from the six goals, Rafaelle got more time on the field in the most recent game. After coming off at halftime against Washington, she played 62 minutes against Chicago as she continues to build her fitness following her season-ending injury last year.

The excitement about Rafaelle’s return is quelled by the injury to Doyle, who came off with a knee injury after only 11 minutes on the field against Chicago. The attacking midfielder came off the bench in the first two games, and it looks she could be out for a considerable amount of time.

Gotham drew its season opener in Seattle 1-1 without two key players in Lavelle and Purce. Lavelle remains out after undergoing off-season ankle surgery and Purce only recently signed a new deal to return to Gotham.

This is a different Gotham team than Pride fans saw last year. Delanie Sheehan, Hiatt, and Ryan left while remaining in the league. Crystal Dunn left for Paris Saint-Germain, and Nighswonger went to Arsenal this off-season.

Gotham had a strong attack last year with 41 goals and should be at least as good this year. In addition to Purce, tonight’s hosts return Esther Gonzalez and Stevens, while new Brazilian Gabi Portilho — who scored in her debut — joins the squad. The losses of Hiatt and Nighswonger hurt defensively, but the team returns Jess Carter, Emily Sonnett, and Tierna Davidson.

While the Pride looked great in their season-opening game, this is the first time they’ve played away from home this season. It will tell us a lot about how this team will do away from the friendly confines of Inter&Co Stadium. Regardless, you can expect to see the same lineup from the Chicago game as the Pride look to get on a roll early in the 2025 season.

“I thought we were terrific (against Chicago). I thought it was a pretty much complete performance from our side,” Pride Head Coach Seb Hines said about tonight’s game. “And going into this game, we want to build on that. Build on that momentum from the first game. We know it’s going to be a competitive game. We know that it’s always a tough environment to go play in. But we’ve shown our quality in the last two games that we’re more than capable of getting something out of this game against Gotham.”

There aren’t any surprises in the injury report for the Pride this weekend. They’re without Simone Charley (ankle), Luana (illness), Amanda Allen (shoulder), Aryssa Mahrt (knee), and Doyle (knee). Gotham will be without Sofia Cook (thigh), Mandy Freeman (suspension), Lavelle (ankle), Purce (knee), and Jessica Silva (eye).

Official Lineups

Orlando Pride (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Anna Moorhouse.

Defenders: Kerry Abello, Rafaelle, Kylie Nadaner, Emily Sams.

Defensive Midfielders: Haley McCutcheon, Morgan Gautrat.

Midfielders: Angelina, Marta, Ally Watt.

Forward: Barbra Banda.

Bench: McKinley Crone, Prisca Chilufya, Cori Dyke, Viviana Villacorta, Grace Chanda, Summer Yates, Ally Lemos, Brianna Martinez, Zara Chavoshi.

NJ/NY Gotham FC (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Ann-Katrin Berger.

Defenders: Jess Carter, Tierna Davidson, Emily Sonnett, Lilly Reale.

Midfielders: Ella Stevens, Nealy Martin, Gabi Portilho.

Forwards: Jaelin Howell, Esther Gonzalez, Sarah Schupansky.

Bench: Shelby Hogan, Ryan Campbell, Bruninha, Cece Kizer, Taryn Torres, McKenna Whitham, Khyah Harper, Stella Nyamekye.

Referees

REF: Brad Jensen.
AR1: Jennifer Garner.
AR2: Zeno Cho.
4TH: Ryan Homik.
VAR: Elijio Arreguin.
AVAR: Tom Felice.

How To Watch

Match Time: 5 p.m.

Venue: Red Bull Arena — Harrison, NJ.

TV: ESPN 2.

Streaming: ESPN+.

Twitter: For live updates and rapid reaction, follow @TheManeLand and the Orlando Pride’s official Twitter feed (@ORLPride).

Enjoy the game. Go Pride!