NJ/NY Gotham FC will wrap up a busy three-game week with a visit from Racing Louisville FC. The Bats are coming off another strong performance on Wednesday night when they beat Chicago Stars FC 2-0. Meanwhile, Louisville is coming off a 1-0 loss to the Washington Spirit. It has been a frustrating start to 2026, which sees the team in 15th place with just one win from their opening six games.
Now, Gotham FC has had a quick ascent up the table after a frustrating start to the 2026 season. Their two wins this week have seen them jump all the way up to fourth in the standings after originally being as low as 13th. This is in part due to playing one more match compared to most of the other teams. But they have also played significantly better in the last two games than they had earlier in the season. Even if they can only play at about 80% of what they've shown in those two fixtures, a finish near the top of the table should be within reach.
At the same time, Gotham can take advantage of Racing Louisville. The visitors' hopes of building off of last season's first-ever playoff appearance in club history have so far been dashed. One win in six games and currently sitting in 15th is far from what many fans expected heading into this season.
Another win and strong performance from Gotham on Sunday will further solidify the opening of the season as more of a blip rather than a true indicator of where the club truly is performance-wise. And the timing could not be better with the CONCACAF W Champions Cup knockout rounds coming up in just a few weeks. Here's a preview of Sunday's match.
Gotham FC vs Racing Louisville preview
Date
The game will be played on Sunday, May 3.
Time
The match is scheduled to begin at 5:00 PM ET.
Location
The game will be played at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.
How to watch
The fixture will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Weather
It looks like it could be Gotham's "warmest" game of the year so far with temperatures in the upper-50s throughout the match. Humidity will be low, at about 30%, with around 50% of cloud cover. The big factor will be the wind, with speeds around 15 mph and gusts reaching as high as 25 mph. There is a 0% chance of rain.
Injury report
Bruninha (hamstring), Kayla Duran (knee - SEI), Mandy Freeman (lower leg), Emily Sonnett (lower leg), and Taryn Torres (knee - SEI) remain out for the Bats.
Players to watch
Despite not scoring, Esther González had a great game on Wednesday. She produced .45 xG, more than any Gotham player not named Rose Lavelle, making her one to watch. The Spanish international has just two goals on the season, but if she can find the form that saw her finish as the second-highest scorer in NWSL in 2025, it would be a big help for Gotham to continue this good run of form they currently find themselves in.
Fans should also watch Louisville's Sarah Weber. She has clearly taken a step forward in her game. The second year forward has already matched her goal and assist output from 2025 in 20 fewer games. While she was held scoreless on Wednesday, she had been on a three-game goal contribution streak heading into the last match.
Prediction
Gotham FC will continue both their winning and clean sheet streak with a 2-0 victory. González and Jordynn Dudley will be the goal scorers, with the rookie finding the back of the net in her second consecutive game. With Louisville not in great form and the Bats really turning a corner in recent matches, this should be a pretty straightforward victory.
