Gotham Stakes Its Playoff Hopes Sun. Aug. 17 ’25 Against Houston Dash

As the National Women’s Soccer League’s race for post-season positioning intensifies, NJ/NY Gotham FC welcomes the Houston Dash to Sports Illustrated Stadium this Sunday, August 17, at 4 p.m. ET, in the second leg of its weekend doubleheader at the former Red Bull Arena's renamed soccer venue.

Gotham’s Surge and the Road Ahead

Gotham currently occupies eighth place, the final playoff spot, with a 5‑5‑ 5  record totaling 20 points, maintaining a slim one-point cushion above the North Carolina Courage. Their form has picked up lately—riding a four–match unbeaten streak and most recently earning a gritty 0‑0 draw with Washington Spirit, despite being down to ten players for nearly an hour. That stalwart defensive effort also yielded a sixth clean sheet this season, with Gotham conceding just seven goals at home, tied for the fewest in the league alongside Orlando, Portland, and North Carolina.

Remarkably, keeper Ann‑Katrin Berger racked up three critical saves in that draw, earning her 13th career regular-season clean sheet—the second-most among active NWSL goalkeepers since last season. Gotham’s defense has also held strong over recent meetings with Houston, surrendering just one goal in their last three matchups dating back to May 2024. Their overall season total of 14 conceded across 15 games (0.9 average per match) ranks third-best in the league

Dash on the Charge

Houston arrives in 12th place, with a 4‑8‑3 record and 15 points—five shy of the playoff threshold. Still, they bring momentum, unbeaten in their last two matches, including a dramatic 2‑1 stoppage-time win over North Carolina courtesy of Sophie Schmidt’s heroics. On the road, however, the Dash remain inconsistent: their road record—2‑3‑1—is among the league’s worst.

History and Head-to-Head

Sunday marks the 27th clash between the two clubs. Gotham leads the series with an 11–9–6 edge overall and holds a positive home record of 5–6–2, remaining unbeaten in three straight meetings (two wins, one draw). The two sides last met in a scoreless draw in Houston earlier this season.

Club Backgrounds

Houston Dash, established in December 2013, compete in the NWSL and are the sister club to MLS’s Houston Dynamo. They play at Shell Energy Stadium in downtown Houston, which seats approximately 20,656 spectators. Some sources note a higher capacity figure—around 22,000—but for NWSL matches or certain configurations, the official figure remains 20,656

NJ/NY Gotham FC, based in Harrison, N.J., also compete in the NWSL and routinely host matches at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The venue continues the tradition of providing a state-of-the-art, soccer-specific arena for Gotham fans.

Pre-Match Festivities and Fan Experience

Gotham will host an energetic Boardwalk Bash starting at 1:30 p.m., well before kickoff. Families and fans can create their own signs, enjoy face painting, groove to live music from Atomic Funk on the Crossbar Stage, and test their skills in various challenges: the Mini-Pitch, Dunk Tank, and Penalty-Kick competitions promise plenty of pre-game fun and bragging rights. Going to a Gotham FC game is an all-day outing if you get to the stadium early.  It’s not just about the game.  It’s about who you meet at the game.

Logistics and Local Impact                     

With expectations of high attendance, the Harrison Police Department is expected to issue a traffic and parking bulletin ahead of the game—vital information for fans navigating this matchday doubleheader weekend, especially as the New York Red Bulls host the Philadelphia Union on Saturday at the same complex. 

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