Portland Thorns FC vs New York Gotham FC

atThorns FC at Gotham FC

August 28 · 8:00 PM EDT

· GFC -220 · O/U 2.5

The read

Portland has won three straight while Gotham sits atop the table on strong recent form. We have Gotham FC in a tight one, though the match figures to be competitive. Portland's three-game winning streak and Gotham's four wins in their last five mean both sides arrive with momentum on their side.

Keys to the game

Portland will need to find answers against an opponent that's had their number historically.
Portland's offense has been the engine, with 35 goals on the season to Gotham's 26. If Portland can maintain that attacking pressure, it won't matter who's been more clinical in previous matchups.
Gotham FC's edge in wins this season—13 to Portland's 11—underscores their consistency. That kind of reliability in closing matches is what separates first place from third in tight competition.

Our predictionMedium confidence

Where they standLast 5Last 5Record

Portland Thorns FCWWWLDWWLDL11-6

New York Gotham FCDWWWWWWWWD13-3

Our pick, projected final

Thorns FC1

Gotham FC2

Gotham FC to win

In the table

Where each club sits going in, with the rows either side. Points per game matters more than raw points this far into a season, the schedule is rarely even.

#NWSL StandingsGPW-D-LGDPts

1Gotham FC2113-5-3+1344

2Washington Spirit2111-4-6+1137

3Portland Thorns FC2111-4-6+637

4Utah Royals2111-3-7+1036

5North Carolina Courage2111-3-7+836

Projected starting lineups

Each club's XI from its most recent match, not a team sheet. The real ones post about an hour before kickoff, and sides rotate.

Portland Thorns FC4-2-3-1 · from Aug 22

Mackenzie Arnold#18Goalkeeper

Jayden Perry#24Left center back

Sam Hiatt#16Right center back

M.A. Vignola#25Left back

Carolyn Calzada#4Right back

Deyna Castellanos#10Attacking midfield

Nina Nijstad#20Left midfield

Jessie Fleming#21Right midfield

Sophia Wilson#9Forward

Pietra Tordin#19AM-L

Renee Lyles#41AM-R

New York Gotham FC4-3-3 · from Aug 23

Ann-Katrin Berger#30Goalkeeper

Tierna Davidson#15Left center back

Jess Carter#27Right center back

Guro Reiten#18Left back

Midge Purce#23Right back

Jaelin Howell#7Center midfield

Savannah McCaskill#13Left midfield

Rose Lavelle#16Right midfield

Sam Kerr#20Forward

Jaedyn Shaw#10Left forward

Jordynn Dudley#2Right forward

League standings

The full ladder, with both clubs marked.

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1New York Gotham FC13-3.619WWWWD

2Washington Spirit11-6.524DLLWW

3Portland Thorns FC11-6.524WWLDL

4Utah Royals11-7.524WLWLW

5North Carolina Courage11-7.524WLWWW

6San Diego Wave FC11-7.524DLWLD

7Kansas City Current9-8.429LDDWL

8Seattle Reign FC8-8.400LWDWW

9Los Angeles Angel City FC7-8.350DDDDL

10Houston Dash7-9.333WWDLW

11Orlando Pride8-11.381LLLWL

12Denver Summit FC6-8.300DWLDL

13Racing Louisville7-12.333WWWWL

14Bay Area Bay FC6-10.300LDLLL

15Boston Legacy FC5-11.238LLDWL

16Chicago Stars FC5-15.238LLDLL

Thorns FC at Gotham FC

Portland

Thorns FC

New York

Gotham FC

Post Game SummaryStat Savant

atThorns FC at Gotham FC

August 28 · 8:00 PM EDT

· GFC -220 · O/U 2.5

The read

Keys to the game

Portland will need to find answers against an opponent that's had their number historically.
Portland's offense has been the engine, with 35 goals on the season to Gotham's 26. If Portland can maintain that attacking pressure, it won't matter who's been more clinical in previous matchups.
Gotham FC's edge in wins this season—13 to Portland's 11—underscores their consistency. That kind of reliability in closing matches is what separates first place from third in tight competition.

Our predictionMedium confidence

Where they standLast 5Last 5Record

Portland Thorns FCWWWLDWWLDL11-6

New York Gotham FCDWWWWWWWWD13-3

Our pick, projected final

Thorns FC1

Gotham FC2

Gotham FC to win

In the table

Where each club sits going in, with the rows either side. Points per game matters more than raw points this far into a season, the schedule is rarely even.

#NWSL StandingsGPW-D-LGDPts

1Gotham FC2113-5-3+1344

2Washington Spirit2111-4-6+1137

3Portland Thorns FC2111-4-6+637

4Utah Royals2111-3-7+1036

5North Carolina Courage2111-3-7+836

Projected starting lineups

Each club's XI from its most recent match, not a team sheet. The real ones post about an hour before kickoff, and sides rotate.

Portland Thorns FC4-2-3-1 · from Aug 22

Mackenzie Arnold#18Goalkeeper

Jayden Perry#24Left center back

Sam Hiatt#16Right center back

M.A. Vignola#25Left back

Carolyn Calzada#4Right back

Deyna Castellanos#10Attacking midfield

Nina Nijstad#20Left midfield

Jessie Fleming#21Right midfield

Sophia Wilson#9Forward

Pietra Tordin#19AM-L

Renee Lyles#41AM-R

New York Gotham FC4-3-3 · from Aug 23

Ann-Katrin Berger#30Goalkeeper

Tierna Davidson#15Left center back

Jess Carter#27Right center back

Guro Reiten#18Left back

Midge Purce#23Right back

Jaelin Howell#7Center midfield

Savannah McCaskill#13Left midfield

Rose Lavelle#16Right midfield

Sam Kerr#20Forward

Jaedyn Shaw#10Left forward

Jordynn Dudley#2Right forward

League standings

The full ladder, with both clubs marked.

#ClubW-LPCTStreak

1New York Gotham FC13-3.619WWWWD

2Washington Spirit11-6.524DLLWW

3Portland Thorns FC11-6.524WWLDL

4Utah Royals11-7.524WLWLW

5North Carolina Courage11-7.524WLWWW

6San Diego Wave FC11-7.524DLWLD

7Kansas City Current9-8.429LDDWL

8Seattle Reign FC8-8.400LWDWW

9Los Angeles Angel City FC7-8.350DDDDL

10Houston Dash7-9.333WWDLW

11Orlando Pride8-11.381LLLWL

12Denver Summit FC6-8.300DWLDL

13Racing Louisville7-12.333WWWWL

14Bay Area Bay FC6-10.300LDLLL

15Boston Legacy FC5-11.238LLDWL

16Chicago Stars FC5-15.238LLDLL

Portland Thorns FC vs New York Gotham FC — Aug 28, 2026

The read

Keys to the game

In the table

Projected starting lineups

League standings

Portland Thorns FC vs New York Gotham FC — Aug 28, 2026

The read

Keys to the game

In the table

Projected starting lineups

League standings