Gotham FC on verge of history as NWSL Shield race comes down to final day

Gotham forward Midge Purce finds it not only “really exciting” but actually quite fitting that the NWSL Shield is coming down to the final day of the regular season.“We, I think, as a club tend to wait to the last minute to do some things, historically,” Purce said after Wednesday’s training session.Gotham won last year’s championship thanks to a Rose Lavelle goal in the 80th minute.And over the past three years, the club has earned a reputation for being able to flip a switch in November.After all, Gotham has won two of the past three NWSL championships despite entering the postseason as the lowest seed.But the defending champions vowed this season would be different.

They wanted to be the team to beat throughout the regular season.And for most of the summer, Gotham has been successful at that.They’ve led the NWSL standings, despite roster turnover and a string of injuries.And yet, the NWSL Shield, awarded to the league leader in points, remains up for grabs Sunday.

It’s the first time since 2023 and only the fifth time in league history the Shield race came down to the wire.“It wasn’t the plan to wait to the last minute,” Purce said.“But here we are, and we’re pumped and ready to go.”Gotham (17W-7D-5L) enters the final weekend leading the NWSL with 58 points — three points ahead of the second-place San Diego Wave (17-4-8).To clinch the first Shield in franchise history, Gotham needs to record a win or draw against the Utah Royals.If they lose, San Diego would steal the Shield with a win against Bay FC (via tiebreaker, by virtue of having a superior goal differential).Talk about drama and pressure.But Gotham, who will host a playoff quarterfinal next Sunday either way, isn’t dwelling on what’s at stake.

The message within the team has remained the same.“Be ourselves,” coach Juan Carlos Amorós said.“It’s important that we go out there ready to play the game and know the occasion, obviously, it’s a big one for the club...