Gotham FC have yet another likelihood to clinch the NWSL Shield this weekend.
But they will have to do it with out Jaedyn Shaw and Rose Lavelle, two of the membership’s main scorers.
Coach Juan Carlos Amorós confirmed Saturday that Shaw (knee) and Lavelle (neck) won’t be obtainable for Sunday’s match in Orlando.
It’s yet another damage blow to a crew wanting to cap off its regular-season success with some silverware.
Rose Lavelle (16) advances the ball up discipline during the second half of Gotham FC’s 1-0 loss to the Washington Spirit on Oct. 17, 2026 at Audi Field in Washington. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Earlier this month, Gotham lost defender Bruninha and rookie ahead Jordyn Dudley to season-ending accidents.
“For us, it’s part of the game,” Amorós informed The Post on Friday. “When there is a problem, you can focus on the problem or find the solution. We always find the solutions.”
Gotham have lost virtually a dozen gamers over the previous seven months, according to Amorós. That contains Esther González, who surprisingly signed with a Saudi membership after Gotham mutually agreed to terminate her contract in July.
“An individual doesn’t win the competition, it’s a whole roster, it’s a whole team,” Amorós said. “So that’s where we put a lot of effort on, to be honest, is making sure that everyone is ready. So when the time to contribute is there, then… they are ready.”
Gotham FC have sat close to or at the prime of the NWSL standings for most of this season.
With two video games left in their common season, Gotham now discover themselves in the thick of a fiercely contested hunt for the NWSL Shield, the trophy awarded to the crew with the greatest regular-season file.
Gotham still stay in first place with 55 factors. But the San Diego Wave (54 factors) and Washington Spirit (52) are closing in on the Bats.
In order for Gotham to safe the Shield on Sunday, the Bats not only want to win, but also want the Wave to lose to Boston Legacy FC and the Spirit to draw or lose to the Kansas City Current.
Angel City FC defender Savy King (3) dribbles the ball previous Gotham FC midfielder Jaedyn Shaw (proper) defends against Savy King during the second half of Gotham FC’s 1-1 draw to Angel City FC on Oct. 4, 2026 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Amorós said the crew hasn’t mentioned the varied clinching situations.
“Obviously, we know that’s a possibility, but that’s not in our hands,” he said. “But what is in our hands is to win the game.”
Being with out Shaw, who’s scored a team-leading 10 targets this season, and Lavelle, who’s netted 4 targets, will make that problem even more durable.
Gotham’s offense has struggled at occasions to capitalize on alternatives. The Bats’ 35 targets are the league’s third fewest.
Meanwhile, Gotham’s calling card has been on the defensive finish. They’ve conceded a league-low 22 targets this season.
“We need to take care of the little details that go around the game and then go and play the game, go and be ourselves,” Amorós said. “That’s always in our DNA.”