Gotham FC vs Orlando Pride: How to watch, time, and more of the 2025 home opener

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·22 March 2025

Gotham FC vs Orlando Pride: How to watch, time, and more of the 2025 home opener

The last time NJ/NY Gotham FC was at Sports Illustrated Stadium, formerly known as Red Bull Arena, the Bats hosted and won their first-ever home playoff game. It was a memorable night that fans will remember for a long time. The high number of fans and the win over Portland Thorns FC heightened the magic of such a historical event.

Now, Gotham FC will return to the New Jersey stadium for the first time since that night. The team will host the Orlando Pride for the 2025 home opener. The early evening match is the team’s Blue Out game, which encourages supporters to wear blue in honor of the new secondary kit. It is also to honor the side’s Sky Blue FC days, where the main color was sky blue.

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It will be a difficult home opener since Orlando is still one of the best teams in the NWSL. After all, they won the NWSL Shield and are the reigning 2024 NWSL Playoffs Champions. Unlike Gotham, the Pride did not have a drastic overhaul to their roster. Their biggest loss was Adriana, but the stars like Marta and Barbra Banda are still with the club. There is no question they will be trying to go back-to-back, and potentially could do so.

At the same time, the Bats beat Orlando at home last year and it was toward the end of the season. It was one of two NWSL losses suffered by the champions, and Gotham FC did so in style, winning 3-1. The home team’s roster was very different though. Four starters departed the club in the offseason and five of the players available on the bench are also gone. Plus, Rose Lavelle is not available for this match, since she is still recovering from her offseason surgery. As such, it is difficult to pinpoint where this game will go.