Team News: Ouahabi to Make Gotham FC Debut with Start vs. Washington

New Gotham FC defender Leila Ouahabi is set to start in her club debut, representing the only change to coach Juan Carlos Amorós’s lineup ahead of the rivalry showdown against the Washington Spirit on Saturday in the capital.

Gotham FC (16-4-7, 55 points) is in position to clinch the NWSL Shield, given to the league’s regular-season champion, with a win paired with a North Carolina win over San Diego later tonight. A win in Washington, regardless of results elsewhere, would cement a top-two finish in the league table.

Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. ET at Audi Field, with CBS carrying the national broadcast.

With Ouahabi in the mix, Norwegian international Guro Reiten moves up the left flank into a more advanced attacking position, replacing 21-year-old Jaedyn Shaw, who is available off the substitutes bench after picking up a knock while training with the U.S. Youth National Team last week.

Ouahabi, the Spanish left back who signed with the club on Oct. 4, joins a defensive group that also features captain Tierna Davidson, Jess Carter and Mandy Freeman. She made 11 appearances with the Chicago Stars in her previous stop, including 89 minutes in a Sept. 20 match against Washington in her final game with Chicago.

Gotham FC’s defensive record is the best in the NWSL, conceding just 21 goals through 27 matches. Starting goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger leads the league in clean sheets, with 10, and her next will break the club’s single-season clean sheet record that she set.

Up front, Reiten, Gotham FC’s top assist provider alongside Shaw, starts alongside Sam Kerr and Midge Purce, who claims the right winger spot for the second consecutive match since Jordynn Dudley’s season-ending foot injury.

With five assists, Reiten is one away from tying the club single-season record, held for the past 13 years by Katy Freels. Kerr could tie Esther González for most goals in club history if she scores today, and she’d also move into sole possession of second place among all-time NWSL goal scorers.

The midfield trio consists of Ballon d’Or nominee Rose Lavelle paired with Denise O’Sullivan and Jaelin Howell, who had an impactful appearance in the U.S. Women’s National Team draw against Spain on Tuesday. It’s the fourth consecutive game the three have worked together in the middle of the park.

This is Howell’s 41st consecutive start, the third-longest streak in the club record books. Lavelle, who has assisted goals in each of the past three games, could set a new club mark with another today.

In addition to Shaw, Gotham FC’s bench includes goalkeeper Shelby Hogan; midfielders Savannah McCaskill, Tess Boade, Talia Sommer, Meredith Speck and Taryn Torres; and forwards Andrea Kitahata and Olivia Wingate. Shaw could make her 100th career NWSL appearance if she enters the match today.

Midfielder Sofia Cook (lower leg) is unavailable, per the player availability report. Defenders Bruninha (knee), Kayla Duran (knee) and defender Emily Sonnett (knee) and forward Jordynn Dudley (foot) are on the season-ending injury list.

Gotham FC lineup at Washington Spirit

30 – Ann-Katrin Berger (GK)

22 – Mandy Freeman

27 – Jess Carter

15 – Tierna Davidson (c)

4 – Leila Ouahabi

5 – Denise O’Sullivan

7 – Jaelin Howell

16 – Rose Lavelle

23 – Midge Purce

20 – Sam Kerr

18 – Guro Reiten

Substitutes: 1 – Shelby Hogan (GK); 8 – Taryn Torres, 10 – Jaedyn Shaw, 13 – Savannah McCaskill, 14 – Talia Sommer, 24 – Andrea Kitahata, 25 – Meredith Speck, 28 – Tess Boade, 29 – Olivia Wingate