Gotham FC vs KC Current preview: a Pride game showdown with the league leaders | OneFootball

In their first game since winning the inaugural CONCACAF W Champions Cup, NJ/NY Gotham FC will return to NWSL action. They will welcome the league-leading Kansas City Current for the team's annual Pride game. This will be the two teams' first meeting of the season, and their last three meetings in league play have all ended in draws. Not only has Gotham not beaten Kansas City in their last three meetings, but they have never beaten this team since moving back to Kansas City and rebranding as the Current following a stint as the original Utah Royals.

The main storyline for this game is the current disparity in points between the two sides after they finished just one point apart at the end of 2024. The Current sits 12 points and eight spots higher than Gotham in the standings. In addition to this, the Current are on a three-game winning streak while the Bats are not only winless in their last three, but goalless as well.

Despite this gap in the table, this would still be an impressive win for Kansas City. Outside of their 4-1 loss to Portland Thorns FC, Gotham has not been a pushover or an easy win in 2025, so getting a win on the road should be considered a very good result for them. For the home side, while a win is the main goal, getting a draw with a good performance would be a positive for them. The following two games before the midseason break are more winnable, so getting a good result against Kansas City would be a plus.

A big piece of news for Gotham is the potential return of Rose Lavelle, who has so far missed the beginning of the season after offseason surgery. Head coach Juan Carlos Amorós confirmed in his pregame media availability on Thursday that, barring any setbacks between then and Saturday, she could be available for selection. Do not expect her to start or even get a lot of minutes off the bench on Saturday, but a late 10-15 minute cameo certainly is not out of the question.

Gotham FC vs Kansas City Current preview

Date

The match will be played on Saturday, June 7.

Time

This game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM ET.

How to watch

The fixture will be broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.

Location

The game will be played at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.

Weather

There is a chance of rain throughout the day, including during the match. Right now, there is over a 90% chance at the start of the fixture. Temperatures will be in the mid-70s throughout, with humidity at 75% and plenty of cloud cover providing some relief from the heat and humidity. Winds will be a nonfactor with wind speeds barely getting over five mph.

Injury report

TBD

Players to watch

For Gotham, watch out for Esther González. This normally goes without saying, but the Spanish forward has gone three games without a goal. Now, she scored in the Champions Cup Final, her second game-winning goal in a championship game for the Bats, and also bagged a brace for Spain against Belgium over the international break. Many fans will remember that it was her pair of braces for Spain back in April that were the potential catalyst for her run of seven goals in four NWSL games. Maybe, supporters will see something similar over the next three games as well.

For Kansas City, Watch out for Lo'eau Labonta. Yes, Temwa Chawings is typically the one garnering all of the headlines, but it's Labonta who has arguably been Kansas City's best player this season. At 32, she just became the oldest player to earn her first cap for the USWNT when she came on as a second-half substitute last Saturday against China. The 11-year NWSL veteran, and former Sky Blue FC draft pick, has run Kansas City's midfield for years now, and she has shown absolutely zero signs of slowing down.

This is a tough game for both sides, and either will feel like they managed a big result if they get a win. That is why this one will probably end up in another draw, this time by a score of 1-1. Expect goals from the usual suspects, Chawinga for Kansas City and González for Gotham FC.