Seattle Reign face Gotham on the road amid weather delay
The Seattle Reign Gotham matchup kicks off Saturday at Icahn Stadium in New York, with kickoff delayed by lighting in the area. Fresh off a 2-0 win over Portland, the Reign open a three-match road trip against the defending NWSL champions, who have won four of their past five. Watch at 9 a.m. PT on ABC.
Seattle begins a three-game stretch away from home while the temporary grass surface at Lumen Field is removed. Gotham FC is also displaced, with Sports Illustrated Stadium in use as a training ground ahead of Sunday's World Cup final. For more celebrity breaking news and sports buzz, follow BlasterPost coverage throughout the day.
Key Takeaways
- Kickoff for Seattle Reign at Gotham was delayed Saturday morning due to lighting near Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island.
- The Reign enter on a 2-0 rivalry win over Portland; Gotham sit fourth (8-3-3) after winning four of their last five.
- Emily Mason starts in place of injured Sofia Huerta; Phoebe McClernon wears the captain's armband for the first time in 2026.
- Cassie Miller earns a third straight start in goal; Claudia Dickey has cleared the injury list but may wait for full fitness.
- Broadcast is on ABC (English) and ESPN Deportes (Spanish) at 9 a.m. PT.
Where and when is Seattle Reign vs Gotham?
The NWSL clash is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, at Icahn Stadium in New York City, a roughly 5,000-seat venue that usually hosts NYCFC's reserve side and track and field events. Planned kickoff was 9 a.m. PT, but an 8:40 a.m. update from Sounder at Heart said the league was monitoring weather after lighting delays and had not yet given a new start time.
Storms were expected to move through the area, potentially bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms while also helping clear wildfire smoke that affected air quality earlier in the week. Gotham's midweek match against the Spirit had been played at Citi Field for similar venue constraints.
Who starts for Seattle Reign against Gotham?
Head coach Laura Harvey made one change from the Portland lineup: Emily Mason replaces Sofia Huerta, who did not travel after picking up a leg knock. Huerta joins Madison Curry (ankle), Shae Holmes (knee), and Lynn Biyendolo (maternity leave) on the unavailable list.
According to Seattle Reign FC, Mason, Phoebe McClernon, Jordyn Bugg, and Ryanne Brown start together across the backline for the first time. McClernon, the only Reign player to start every match this season, captains the side for the first time in 2026. Goal scorers Ryanne Brown and Maddie Mercado start, as do assist providers Ainsley McCammon and Sam Meza. Cassie Miller, seven saves from 100 career regular-season stops, gets her third consecutive start.
Gotham are without Jordynn Dudley (head), Kayla Duran (knee), and Taryn Torres (knee); Esther González is questionable with a foot issue. Ann-Katrin Berger leads the league with eight clean sheets, and Gotham have allowed just eight goals this season.
Why does this Seattle Reign Gotham match matter?
Seattle (5-6-2, 10th) need to prove last week's defensive and attacking fixes travel after a May shutout loss to Gotham at Lumen Field. The Reign still lead the all-time series 12-11-10 since 2013, but face a fatigued yet surging champion side pushed into a temporary home.
Harvey has used just one repeat lineup in 2026, so another unique XI underscores how injury chaos at fullback is shaping Seattle's road form. Keys flagged by local coverage include building on Portland momentum, forcing a tired Gotham side to chase, and winning midfield battles—exactly where Meza and company shone in the rivalry win.
Officials: referee Calin Radosav, with VAR Shawn Tehini. Highlights and further updates will follow as the weather clears and play begins.