Team News: Freeman Rejoins Gotham FC Lineup for Angel City Showdown

Veteran defender Mandy Freeman rejoins Gotham FC’s starting lineup for Sunday’s highly-anticipated showdown with red-hot Angel City FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

The 31-year-old defender will make her third start of the 2026 campaign after missing the first half of the season through injury.

Freeman represents the only change to head coach Juan Carlos Amorós’s lineup since Gotham FC’s 3-1 win over Chicago on Sept. 25. Gotham FC can extend a club-record 11-match home unbeaten streak and tighten its grip on first place in the NWSL when it kicks off at 1 p.m. ET against Angel City, with ABC set to carry the national broadcast.

Gotham FC (16-4-6, 54 points) already clinched its fourth consecutive postseason berth, and today’s match could cement the team hosting a quarterfinal match at Sports Illustrated Stadium. A win could also push Gotham FC closer to securing at least a top-two seed in the NWSL Playoffs, presented by Google Pixel.

To get there, Amorós turns to a familiar team selection. With rookie forward Jordynn Dudley ruled out through injury, Freeman slots in at right back to allow Midge Purce to push up to Dudley’s usual spot on the right wing. It’s Purce’s 21st start of the season, her sixth with Gotham FC.

Center backs Jess Carter and Tierna Davidson, who wears the captain’s arm band, line up next to Freeman, sharing the defensive unit with left back Guro Reiten. Gotham FC’s defense is the best in the NWSL, having conceded just 20 goals through 26 matches, with 13 clean sheets.

Goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who has 10 of those shutouts, continues her record-setting run as Gotham FC’s shot-stopper, making her 24th start of the season. The German keeper has the highest save percentage in the league at 76.7%.

Purce’s addition up front pairs her with Australian striker Sam Kerr and red-hot left winger Jaedyn Shaw, who leads the team with nine goals and is tied with Reiten with a team-best five assists. Kerr and Shaw combined for Gotham FC’s three goals against Chicago.

In the midfield, newly re-signed Rose Lavelle works with Jaelin Howell and Denise O’Sullivan for a third consecutive game. Lavelle, a Ballon d’Or nominee, has assists in each of the past two games.

Gotham FC’s bench includes goalkeepers Shelby Hogan and Teagan Wy; defender Bruninha; midfielders Savannah McCaskill, Tess Boade, Talia Sommer, Meredith Speck and Taryn Torres; and forward Andrea Kitahata.

Midfielder Sofia Cook (lower leg) and the forward Dudley (foot) are unavailable, per the player availability report. Defenders Kayla Duran (knee) and defender Emily Sonnett (knee) remain on the season-ending injury list.

Gotham FC lineup vs. Angel City FC

30 – Ann-Katrin Berger (GK)

22 – Mandy Freeman

27 – Jess Carter

15 – Tierna Davidson (c)

18 – Guro Reiten

5 – Denise O’Sullivan

7 – Jaelin Howell

16 – Rose Lavelle

23 – Midge Purce

20 – Sam Kerr

10 – Jaedyn Shaw

Substitutes: 1 – Shelby Hogan (GK), 31 – Teagan Wy (GK); 3 – Bruninha, 8 – Taryn Torres, 13 – Savannah McCaskill, 14 – Talia Sommer, 24 – Andrea Kitahata, 25 – Meredith Speck, 28 – Tess Boade