Gotham FC Defeats Washington Spirit 1-0 in Queens Classic Amid Challenging Conditions
History repeated itself in the Queens Classic, as Gotham FC battled against the Washington Spirit in New York’s Citi Field — come rain, come shine, come smoke.
In a rematch of the 2025 NWSL Championship, the two east coast rivals faced off in a star-studded matchup. And just like last fall’s final, it was a lone goal from Rose Lavelle that ended up being the difference in a 1-0 win.
The match was able to kick off as scheduled, despite being threatened by smoke, heat, and rain — the bad weather trifecta. Temperatures in the high 80s and plenty of humidity, along with a rainstorm that moved through the area a few hours before kickoff, posed early threats. However, it was the smoke that proved most concerning, as smoke from wildfires in Ontario made its way to New York City.
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Under NWSL rules, an air quality index (AQI) between 150 and 180 means that the game must have two hydration breaks per half; an AQI of over 150 is considered “unhealthy” for all groups, per the EPA. According to the EPA’s AirNow site, the AQI in Flushing was over 170 when the match kicked off.
Despite this, the stands were pretty full at Citi Field. The stadium reported a sold-out crowd of 42,175, though that likely represented tickets sold rather than fans in attendance. Still, this crowd is the second-largest in NWSL history and breaks a New York City record for the largest crowd at a women’s professional sporting event.
(The number did fall short of the national record of 63,004, which was set by the Denver Summit at Mile High Stadium in March.)
Citi Field was modified to host a soccer field for Wednesday’s game (Photo by Dustin Satloff/NWSL via Getty Images)
(Dustin Satloff via Getty Images)
Reflective of the weather and the smoke, the first half was a bit sluggish, with several stoppages for hydration and a few injuries. Rookie forward Jordynn Dudley exited the game early with a potential head injury, heading to the locker room in the 32nd minute; defender Jess Carter came on shortly afterward as a concussion substitution.
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Rose Lavelle broke through in the 37th minute with a stellar goal, weaving through the Washington defense and finding the back of the net with a tricky shot. (Citi Field’s infamous home run apple also popped up to celebrate the goal.)
The crowd also eagerly awaited Australian forward Sam Kerr, who joined Gotham last month but had yet to make her debut. In the second half, Kerr took to the pitch, replacing Sarah Schupansky in the 64th minute. She made her impact felt right away, attempting a shot on goal less than a minute after entering the game.
Washington had multiple scoring chances in the final minutes, with players like Trinity Rodman and Leicy Santos getting shots on target. However, the Gotham defense, alongside keeper Ann-Katrin Berger, held strong to secure the 1-0 victory.
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While the game didn’t completely meet the NWSL’s hype, it provided plenty of exciting moments. The inclement weather added an element of challenge, and the modified baseball field proved somewhat distracting. Nevertheless, Gotham managed to draw a crowd of 42,000 fans, celebrating a hard-fought win.
The matchup in Queens also gave Gotham fans a glimpse of the future: In 2028, the team is set to join New York City FC at Etihad Stadium, which is currently under construction.