Gotham FC vs Bay FC: How to watch, time, and more of Juneteenth celebration

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·20 June 2025

Gotham FC vs Bay FC: How to watch, time, and more of Juneteenth celebration

The NWSL break is almost here, and NJ/NY Gotham FC will play their last game until August. That is not to say that they will play a few friendlies in July, but for now, that is the case. As such, the final match before the break is a home fixture. The Bats will welcome Bay FC to Sports Illustrated Stadium for their Juneteenth celebration game. They will aim to win their second match in a row after the fantastic road win against Utah Royals FC.

Of course, Gotham FC is in a bit of a pickle since they will be without two players after they received red cards last week: Jess Carter and Jaelin Howell. There are other solid options for the midfield, so losing Howell is not the end of the world. However, losing Carter makes things a little more difficult for the backline since the team is already thin with their defensive depth.

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As such, Juan Carlos Amorós will have to play around with the lineup. He could have Emily Sonnett and Mandy Freeman partner up as the center-backs, and then Lilly Reale and Bruninha can play as the left-back and right-back, respectively. At the same time, one of the midfielders, like Nealy Martin, could step into the backline. The versatility of the squad eases the losses. Still, some of the injured players might not be available, which makes this match a puzzle for the head coach to solve.

It will not be easy either. Bay FC is tied with Gotham with 15 points. On paper, the Bats are the stronger team, but they have struggled this season. Yet, with the missing players, the visitors might have a slight advantage. The NJ/NY team must win, though, because otherwise they will enter the break with disappointment.