Seattle Reign FC fought their way into the NWSL quarterfinal, grabbing that final playoff spot with a gritty 1-0 win against Orlando Pride on Decision Day. Now, the Emerald City’s finest are heading cross-country to face the NWSL Shield winners, Gotham FC, this Sunday, November 8, in a 9:30 a.m. PT kickoff that you can catch on ABC, ESPN Deportes, and the ESPN app. This isn’t just any playoff game, folks. This is for all the marbles, and for the heart and soul of our club.
Playing For Legacy: Jess Fishlock and the Reign’s Fire
This team isn’t just playing for a playoff run, they’re playing for Jess Fishlock. She’s the last original Reign player still rocking the pitch, a true OG, and her teammates are *all in* on extending her legendary career as long as humanly possible before she hangs up her boots at the end of the season. It’s a vibe both the Reign and Gotham know well, remembering how both teams were inspired by retiring legends like Ali Krieger and Megan Rapinoe in the 2023 NWSL Championship.
Defender Phoebe McClernon summed up the current mood perfectly: “We’re carrying a lot more optimism with us right now than maybe we were last season. The closeness of this group and our willingness to face adversity head-on. We’ve done it. All throughout the season. I wish you guys could have an inside track on the things that we’ve gone through. It’s been crazy, and I think it’s for the best. I think we’re prepared for these moments because of what we’ve been through.” You hear that, Gotham? Our Reign are battle-tested, forged in the fires of a tough season, and they are ready. Plus, our squad is coming into this quarterfinal healthy and fired up.
The Gotham Gauntlet: A Formidable Challenge Awaits
Let’s be real, Gotham FC isn’t just any team. They snatched the NWSL Shield for a reason, finishing first with an impressive 18-5-7 record and 61 points, while our Reign snuck in at eighth with 14-11-5 and 47 points. Their home record is scary good, too, at 9-1-5, compared to our 5-7-3 road record. And the head-to-head this season? Not great, Bob. The Reign went 0-2-0 against Gotham this season, losing 2-0 at home and famously conceding three goals after the 80th minute to fall 3-2 on the road back in July. Gotham has also been unbeaten in eight consecutive meetings with Seattle Reign dating all the way back to May 2023. This is a tough matchup, no doubt about it.
Gotham looks fairly healthy, which is a bit of a bummer for us. Jaelin Howell, who had an ankle injury from their Decision Day match, is back in full training and is a game-time decision. Rose Lavelle and Jaedyn Shaw also returned from injury last week as subs and are listed as questionable. We need to find every edge we can get against these Shield winners if we want to keep Jess’s dream alive.
Win or Go Home: The Road Ahead
This NWSL playoff structure is brutal, a single-elimination, win-or-go-home sprint. There’s no room for error. If the game is tied after 90 minutes of regulation, we go straight into two 15-minute extra time periods, no golden goals. If it’s still knotted up, then it’s penalty shootout time, baby, and anything can happen there. The winner of this intense Reign/Gotham showdown will move on to face the Kansas City Current, who already earned their spot by beating Angel City in extra time.
So clear your schedule, set your alarms, and get ready to yell at your TV! This is it. Our Reign, fighting for Jess Fishlock’s legacy, against the NWSL’s best, on the road, with everything on the line. It all goes down bright and early Sunday, November 8, at 9:30 a.m. PT. Let’s send all our Emerald City energy to the team. Let’s go, Reign! Keep Jess dancing!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Sounder at Heart.
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