Team News: Unchanged Lineup Ahead of Chicago Matchup

Gotham FC returns to Sports Illustrated Stadium for the first time since August with an unchanged lineup for its second meeting of the season with Chicago Stars FC.

Head coach Juan Carlos Amorós made no changes to the starting XI following Gotham FC’s thrilling 2-1 victory over North Carolina last Saturday. Rookie sensation Jordynn Dudley delivered the game-winner in stoppage time to complete her first professional brace and help Gotham FC clinch its fourth consecutive postseason appearance, extending the longest playoff streak in club history.

Gotham FC (15-4-6, 51 points) enters Friday atop the NWSL standings for the eighth consecutive matchweek, five points clear of the second-place Washington Spirit. A victory would strengthen the club’s pursuit of the NWSL Shield and a home playoff match, its first postseason game in New Jersey since 2024.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, with Prime Video carrying the national broadcast.

Striker Sam Kerr leads the attacking unit alongside Dudley and the club’s leading scorer this season, Jaedyn Shaw. Dudley, who has recorded seven goal contributions, leads Gotham FC with 26 shots on target and has created the second-most chances among NWSL rookies this season with 35. Kerr has scored three goals in four matches against Chicago in her career, all during her previous stint with the club.

Denise O’Sullivan makes her third start for Gotham FC, joining Jaelin Howell and U.S. Women’s National Team star Rose Lavelle in the midfield. Howell will make her 100th career start and her 39th straight regular-season start, tying Katy Freels for third-longest in club history. O’Sullivan is 51 minutes shy of 15,000 career regular-season minutes, in which she would be the 21st NWSL player to reach the milestone.

Midge Purce and Guro Reiten flank center backs Jess Carter and captain Tierna Davidson on the backline for the 13th time this regular season, with goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger between the posts. Gotham FC has conceded only one goal across its last five meetings with Chicago in all NWSL competitions, keeping four clean sheets during that span.

Gotham FC’s bench includes goalkeeper Shelby Hogan; defenders Bruninha and Mandy Freeman; midfielders McCaskill, Tess Boade, Talia Sommer, Meredith Speck and Taryn Torres; and forward Andrea Kitahata,.

Midfielder Sofia Cook (lower leg) is 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. Chicago Stars FC

30 – Ann-Katrin Berger (GK)

23 – Midge Purce

27 – Jess Carter

15 – Tierna Davidson (c)

18 – Guro Reiten

5 – Denise O’Sullivan

7 – Jaelin Howell

16 – Rose Lavelle

2 – Jordynn Dudley

20 – Sam Kerr

10 – Jaedyn Shaw

Substitutes: 1 – Shelby Hogan (GK); 3 – Bruninha, 8 – Taryn Torres, 13 – Savannah McCaskill, 14 – Talia Sommer, 22 – Mandy Freeman, 24 – Andrea Kitahata, 25 – Meredith Speck, 28 – Tess Boade