Gotham FC vs Kansas City Current preview: The Summer Cup finals

It has been a great week so far for NJ/NY Gotham FC.  The Bats beat the Orlando Pride 3-1 to force the Shield-winning side to lose only their second game of the NWSL season.  Then, five Gotham players featured in the USWNT win over Iceland on Thursday.  Rose Lavelle, Jenna Nighswonger, Emily Sonnett, and Lynn Williams all started the game while Yazemeen Ryan made her official debut as a substitute. 

The week is not over, for the Bats will face the Kansas City Current in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup finals.  The game is being played at a neutral site in Texas, so one should not expect too many fans to be there.  Still, it should be an exciting match, for Gotham and the Current shared the points in both 1-1 draws in the NWSL.  In addition, the sides are all missing players due to the international break.

As a result, the NJ/NY side signed seven National Team Replacement Players, including their youngest signing in team history, Mak Whitham.  The player’s contract does not start until January, so that is why she had to sign the short-term deal.  The reinforcements, especially with some of the injuries as well, are helpful entering the Summer Cup.  Even better, Abby Smith is finally off the season-ending injury list and is available for selection.  It is unknown whether she will play, but it is good to see the goalkeeper back.

Gotham FC might be short-handed, but there is still plenty of talent to compete with the KC Current.  Here is a preview of the Summer Cup final.

Date 

Gotham FC and Kansas City will play for the trophy on Friday, October 25.

Time

The fixture is at 8:00 PM ET.

Location

The match will take place at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas.

How to watch

Fans can watch the game on the CBS Sports Network or Paramount+.

Weather

The Summer Cup finals might be happening in the fall, but it will feel like summer.  It will be 86 degrees but thankfully low humidity.  There is no chance of rain so the skies will be clear.

Injury Report

Kelley O’Hara (knee) and Midge Purce (knee) are out for the year on the season-ending injury list.  Thankfully, Smith is finally back.

In addition, Tierna Davidson (thigh), Crystal Dunn (excused absence), Svava Guðmundsdóttir (excused absence), Cece Kizer (foot), and Jéssica Silva (knee) are all unavailable. Esther González (shoulder) and Maitane López (lower leg) are questionable.

The following players are away on international duty: Ann-Katrin Berger, Jess Carter, Lavelle, Nighswonger, Ryan, Sonnett, and Williams.

Players to watch

Gotham FC fans should watch Mandy Freeman.  After struggling immensely in the last CONCACAF W Champions Cup game, she played fantastically against Orlando.  She will need to capture the defensive work from that win against a team like the Current.

That is why fans should watch Temwa Chawinga on Kansas City.  The forward has 20 goals in 25 games and is consistently a problem for many sides in the NWSL.  She also scored in both meetings against the Bats.  The NJ/NY team will have to try to stop her because Chawinga could score against them for a third time.

Prediction

Truthfully, it is difficult to predict this game.  Gotham is missing many players due to international duty and injury while the Current is only missing a few.  However, the Bats still have plenty of talent that can start in the finals.  Therefore, the prediction is that Gotham FC and Kansas City will end the fixture 1-1, and the Current will win via a penalty kick shootout.