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NJ/NY Gotham FC will look to put last week's loss to San Diego Wave FC behind them when they take on another top-of-the-table team in Utah Royals FC. This loss put an end to their six-game unbeaten run in NWSL play. The Bats are in the midst of a run of just two home matches in eight, with both home matches having to be at alternate home venues before returning to Sports Illustrated Stadium on August 7th.
In contrast to their history against the Wave, Gotham has seen great success against Utah since the club returned to NWSL in 2024. Gotham leads the all-time series with three wins and a draw in four matches against Utah Royals 2.0. Their last visit to Utah saw them win 3-0 with a goal from Jaelin Howell and a brace from Esther González.
The Royals, meanwhile, have seemingly figured out how to play in the first half of a season. After accumulating just 12 total points in the first half of the 2024 and 2025 seasons combined, they have 24 points so far in 2026, good enough for fourth in the table. The question will be whether or not they can maintain this form for a full 30-game season.
Then, this is Gotham's last game before the Queens Classic at Citi Field on July 15 against the Washington Spirit. The NJ/NY side will want to go into that game with three points and some momentum, given not only the special circumstances of that game but also their impending move to Etihad Park across the street in 2028. Here's a preview of Friday's match.
Gotham FC vs Utah Royals preview
Date
The game will take place on Friday, July 10.
Time
The fixture will begin at 10:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM local time.
Location
The match will take place at America First Field in Sandy, Utah.
How to watch
The match will be streamed on Victory+.
Weather
It looks to be a hot one with temperatures around 96 degrees at kickoff. There will be some respite, though, with just 10% humidity and a UV index of 0. Temperatures will drop to around 86 by the end of the match. Wind speeds will be around 8 mph with a 0% chance of rain. Sunset is set for 8:59 PM local time, which should fall at some point during the halftime break.
Injury report
The injury report remains unchanged, with Kayla Duran (knee - SEI) and Taryn Torres (knee - SEI) out due to their long-term injuries.
Players to watch
Notably, this is the last game before Sam Kerr is eligible to play. González's spot as the starting striker in the XI is pretty clearly under threat from Kerr. Hence, she is someone to watch. This has been her quietest season with the NJ/NY team, scoring just four goals in 14 matches so far. She has shown in the past that she can go on a scoring binge and go on a prolonged run of goals in consecutive games. She will need to start one of those soon if she wants to keep her spot in the Starting XI.
For Utah, Cloé Lacasse has emerged as Utah's most dangerous attacker, making her one to watch. She has five goals and three assists in 13 matches, including three goal contributions in her last three games. The Royals will need her to continue with this form in order to maintain their spot around the top of the table.
Prediction
It is predicted that Gotham FC will get back on track and win in Utah by a score of 2-1. Goals will come from Jaedyn Shaw and Jordynn Dudley, while Lacasse will score the one goal for Utah. While this is a seemingly much-improved Utah team compared to their previous two seasons in the league, Gotham FC still has more talent than the Royals and should have the edge in this match even while playing on the road.
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