Gotham FC v. Seattle Reign: NWSL Playoffs in Harrison Sun. 11/8/2026

Defending NWSL champions and 2026 Shield winners Gotham FC face Seattle Reign FC in a win-or-go-home playoff match Sunday, November 8, at 12:30 p.m. at Sports Illustrated Stadium. A victory would move Gotham one step closer to another national championship, while Harrison residents can expect another busy day of stadium traffic.

Professional women's soccer takes center stage in Harrison on Sunday, November 8, 2026, when NJ/NY Gotham FC hosts Seattle Reign FC in the quarterfinal round of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) playoffs.

Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at Sports Illustrated Stadium, where Gotham FC will attempt to continue its remarkable run of success in women's professional soccer.

Unlike a regular-season match, Sunday's contest is a single-elimination playoff game. The winner advances to the NWSL semifinals, while the losing team's season comes to an end.

The matchup features two of the league's most established franchises, both with championship histories and rosters that include internationally recognized soccer players.

For Gotham FC, the stakes are particularly high. The club enters the postseason as the defending NWSL champion, having won the 2025 championship, and as the winner of the 2026 NWSL Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record.

Gotham finished the regular season with 18 victories, five losses and seven draws, earning 61 points and the No. 1 playoff seed.

Seattle Reign, meanwhile, enters as the No. 8 seed after finishing with 14 victories, 11 losses and five draws, totaling 47 points.

Gotham FC has undergone one of the most remarkable transformations in American women's professional soccer. The franchise began in 2007 as Sky Blue FC and was among the founding members of the NWSL when the league launched in 2013.

Originally based in New Jersey, the club rebranded as NJ/NY Gotham FC in 2021, adopting an identity intended to represent the greater New York metropolitan area.

Gotham plays its home matches at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, the same facility used by the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.  Gotham however plans to leave Harrison behind in 2028 with its planned move to Queens, New York for a stadium of their own, Etihad Park.  It is not clear whether the move has anything to do with the planned Toxic Sludge Plant EPA is seeking to place at the PSE&G property three blocks from the Sports Illustrated Stadium.

The team won its first NWSL championship in 2023 and captured a second title in 2025. Both championships were particularly impressive because Gotham entered those postseason tournaments as a lower-seeded team.

This season, however, Gotham enters the playoffs as the favorite rather than the underdog. The club's 2026 campaign produced franchise records for points, victories and shutouts, culminating in its first NWSL Shield.

The Shield was secured on November 1, when Gotham defeated the Utah Royals 2-0 at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Guro Reiten scored in the ninth minute, and Jaedyn Shaw added a second goal in the 80th minute.

The victory gave Gotham the league's best regular-season record and home-field advantage throughout the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.

Seattle Reign FC: A Founding NWSL Franchise With a Rich History

Seattle Reign FC is one of the original eight franchises that began competing in the National Women's Soccer League in 2013.

The club is based in Seattle, Washington, and plays its home games at Lumen Field, the stadium also used by the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders.

Seattle has been one of the league's most consistently competitive teams, winning three NWSL Shields in 2014, 2015 and 2022.

Despite that regular-season success, Seattle has never won the NWSL Championship.  The Reign reached the championship game in 2014, 2015 and 2023 but lost all three appearances.

Head coach Laura Harvey, one of the most respected figures in American women's professional soccer, has guided Seattle through much of its history.  Under Harvey, the Reign have qualified for the playoffs seven times.

Seattle secured its ninth playoff appearance in franchise history on November 1, defeating the Orlando Pride 1-0.  The victory earned the Reign the eighth and final playoff position and set up Sunday's trip to Harrison.

Seattle enters the postseason having won nine matches following the league's summer break, demonstrating that the team's regular-season record may not fully reflect its current form.

A Rematch of the 2023 NWSL Championship

One of the most intriguing aspects of Sunday's matchup is that Gotham FC and Seattle Reign previously met in the 2023 NWSL Championship.

That match, played in San Diego, ended with Gotham defeating Seattle 2-1 to capture the franchise's first championship.

Lynn Williams, now known as Lynn Biyendolo, scored Gotham's opening goal in the 24th minute.  Rose Lavelle, then playing for Seattle, equalized five minutes later.

Esther González scored the decisive goal in first-half stoppage time, giving Gotham the championship.  There are several interesting connections between the two teams today.

Lavelle now plays for Gotham FC, while Biyendolo is a member of Seattle Reign.  That reversal adds another dimension to Sunday's playoff contest.

The teams also met twice during the 2026 regular season, with Gotham winning both matches.  Their most dramatic encounter came in July, when Seattle established a 2-0 lead at Icahn Stadium in New York.  Gotham staged a remarkable late comeback.  Esther González scored in the 81st minute and again during stoppage time to tie the game.

Rose Lavelle then delivered the winning goal deep into stoppage time, completing a 3-2 Gotham victory.  Seattle will undoubtedly remember that collapse when the teams meet again Sunday.

Sunday Playoff Festivities at Sports Illustrated Stadium

Gotham FC has planned several special activities for supporters attending Sunday's quarterfinal.  The first 4,000 fans entering the stadium will receive a Gotham FC jersey rally towel, presented by CarMax.

Fans will also have an opportunity to take photographs with the 2026 NWSL Shield trophy at the stadium's Fan Fest.  New York recording artist MarissaAnn, who appeared on NBC's The Voice, will perform the national anthem before kickoff.

At halftime, Brooklyn United Academy will provide entertainment. These activities are intended to create a championship atmosphere for what could be Gotham's final home game of the season if the team fails to advance.

What Happens if the Match Ends in a Tie?

Unlike regular-season NWSL matches, which may end in a draw, playoff matches must produce a winner.

If Sunday's contest is tied after 90 minutes of regulation, the teams will play two additional 15-minute periods.  If the score remains tied after extra time, a penalty-kick shootout will determine which club advances.

The winner of Gotham versus Seattle will face the Kansas City Current.

Because Gotham is the No. 1 seed, a victory Sunday would also give the club the opportunity to host its semifinal match in Harrison.  The semifinal round is scheduled for November 14–15, followed by the NWSL Championship on Saturday, November 21, at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

Two Consecutive Days of Professional Soccer in Harrison

The NWSL playoff game follows Saturday's Major League Soccer match between the New York Red Bulls and Atlanta United FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

The Red Bulls game was Saturday, November 7, at 4 p.m., while Gotham's playoff match begins Sunday at 12:30 p.m.  The Red Bulls game caused major traffic with bridge closures.

The two events will bring professional soccer supporters to Harrison on consecutive days..

For residents, however, the games also mean additional vehicle traffic and street closures causing disruptions along streets surrounding the stadium.

Harrison Traffic, Parking and PATH Considerations

Sports Illustrated Stadium is located at 600 Cape May Street in the southern redevelopment section of Harrison, near the Harrison PATH station.

The 25,000-seat stadium draws visitors from throughout New Jersey, New York City and the surrounding metropolitan region.

Residents and motorists should anticipate heavier traffic before Sunday's 12:30 p.m. kickoff and following the conclusion of the match.

The most affected streets may include South Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard, Cape May Street, Peter B. Higgins Boulevard, Crucible Drive and the approaches to the Jackson Street Bridge.

The Harrison Police Department has historically established temporary traffic restrictions during major stadium events to accommodate spectators and maintain pedestrian safety.

However, specific road closures for Sunday's match have not been independently confirmed.

Motorists should check Harrison Police Department announcements for any official traffic advisories and parking restrictions.

For spectators traveling from Manhattan, Jersey City or Newark, PATH service to the Harrison station provides an alternative to driving and searching for parking near the stadium.

Because Sunday's match is a playoff game, spectators should also remember that extra time and penalty kicks could extend the event beyond the usual conclusion of a regular-season match.

Harrison Takes Center Stage in Women's Professional Soccer

The continued success of Gotham FC has helped establish Harrison as an important destination for women's professional soccer.

The club's two NWSL championships, its growing national profile and its roster of international stars have brought additional attention to Sports Illustrated Stadium and the surrounding community.

Sunday's match represents another opportunity for Harrison to host a nationally televised professional sporting event.

For Gotham FC, the objective is clear: defeat Seattle, advance to the semifinals and continue the pursuit of a third NWSL championship in four seasons.

For Seattle Reign, the game offers a chance to eliminate the defending champions and move one step closer to winning the first NWSL title in franchise history.

Regardless of the outcome, Sunday's quarterfinal promises a competitive afternoon of professional women's soccer in Harrison, with championship ambitions on the line.

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