The Thorns hit the road to take on No. 3 Gotham FC on Friday, September 26th at Sports Illustrated Stadium (5 pm PST). With both teams tied in points, and only differ by goal differential, this match has massive implications on the playoff picture.
Portland is coming off a draw against No. 5 San Diego Wave, where Reyna Reyes put away a lovely ball from a free kick by Olivia Moultrie. A downside to that match was Julie Dufour's injury. She is now out for the remainder of the season after rupturing her cruciate ligament.
Currently, only three points separate third place from eighth place, meaning every game counts in the final push towards the playoffs.
Both teams enter Friday’s game in good form: The Thorns, who also secured a 1-1 draw in Week 21, are unbeaten in their last three (1-0-2). Gotham is unbeaten in its last eight matches across all competitions, including a 3-0-2 stretch in NWSL play.
Friday’s match will be the 33rd all-time meeting between the clubs, with the series record nearly even. Portland holds a slight edge, with a 13-11-8 record against Gotham. Before falling to Portland in April, Gotham had strung together a four-match winning streak in the series, including two playoff victories. At home, Gotham has posted a 5-5-4 record all-time against the Thorns.
Players to watch –
Portland Thorns
- Mackenzie Arnold - made six saves, the highest count she's registered in a home match.
- Reyna Reyes - I feel like she's underrated, even though she's one of Portland's most solid defenders. She also just signed a contract extension through 2030.
NJ/NY Gotham FC
- Rose Lavelle - she's always solid, and recently she's come into her stride, putting away goals for the NYC side.
- Esther Gonzalez - just finished 22nd in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting. The Spanish forward is currently tied for the NWSL Golden Boot lead with 13 goals.
NJ/NY Gotham FC Match Preview with Jayden "JP" Perry and Rob Gale
Credit: Portland Thorns FC
You can watch the match at 5 pm PST on NWSL+ or Fox 12 Plus.
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