Team News: Howell, Lavelle, Shaw to Start in Gotham FC Playoff Quarterfinal

Jaelin Howell, Rose Lavelle and Jaedyn Shaw will start for Gotham FC in today’s quarterfinal of the NWSL Playoffs, presented by Google Pixel, giving the reigning champions a significant boost as they begin the 2026 postseason campaign.

The NWSL’s regular season champions kick off at 12:30 p.m. ET at Sports Illustrated Stadium, hosting eighth-seeded Seattle with ABC and ESPN Deportes carrying the national broadcast in English and Spanish, respectively. The winner plays Kansas City in the NWSL semifinals next weekend.

Lavelle and Shaw represent the two changes to coach Juan Carlos Amorós’s lineup from last week’s 2-0 win over Utah in the regular season finale. The U.S. Women’s National Teamers came off the bench in that game, with Shaw registering 30 minutes and Lavelle playing 11. Howell, who started every regular season game, came off in the 23rd minute vs. Utah because of an ankle concern but trained Saturday and returned to the mix.

This is the second time this specific XI will start together – the previous occasion was the 0-0 draw at Angel City in Los Angeles on Oct. 4.

Like last time, Shaw joins attacking partners Midge Purce and Sam Kerr up front. The 21-year-old led Gotham FC with 16 goal contributions this season, including a team-best 11 goals. Her second-half flick-on rolled just inside the back post in the 80th minute of the win against Utah, providing vital insurance in the critical match.

Purce ties Bruninha for the most playoff appearances in club history, with eight. She has started all eight of those games, a club high.

In midfield, Howell and Lavelle pair with Denise O’Sullivan, the fifth time this particular trio will start together. They have five NWSL Shields and three NWSL Championships between them, a midfield loaded with experience. Each will hit new milestones on Sunday.

Both Lavelle and O’Sullivan join an elite group of players, becoming the 13th and 14th players in NWSL history to make 10 playoff starts.

Defensively, goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger can tie the NWSL record and set the club record for playoff shutouts with a clean sheet. The German will have a veteran back four in front of her, led by captain Tierna Davidson, who partners with Jess Carter, Mandy Freeman and Guro Reiten.

Gotham FC’s bench includes goalkeeper Shelby Hogan; defender Leila Ouahabi; midfielders Sofia Cook, Savannah McCaskill, Talia Sommer, Meredith Speck and Taryn Torres; and forwards Andrea Kitahata and Olivia Wingate. Tess Boade, who started Gotham FC’s final two matches of the season in Lavelle’s place, missed out on selection because of a hamstring ailment.

Defenders Bruninha (knee), Kayla Duran (knee) and Emily Sonnett (knee) and forward Jordynn Dudley (foot) are on the season-ending injury list.

Gotham FC lineup vs. Seattle Reign FC

30 – Ann-Katrin Berger (GK)

22 – Mandy Freeman

27 – Jess Carter

15 – Tierna Davidson (c)

18 – Guro Reiten

5 – Denise O’Sullivan

7 – Jaelin Howell

16 – Rose Lavelle

23 – Midge Purce

20 – Sam Kerr

10 – Jaedyn Shaw

Substitutes: 1 – Shelby Hogan (GK); 4 – Leila Ouahabi, 8 – Taryn Torres, 13 – Savannah McCaskill, 14 – Talia Sommer, 21 – Sofia Cook, 24 – Andrea Kitahata, 25 – Meredith Speck, 29 – Olivia Wingate