July 15, 2026 - Gotham FC vs. Washington Spirit (NWSL: The Queens Classic)

The Queens Classic marked a landmark moment for women’s sports as Gotham FC defeated the Washington Spirit 1–0. Held at Citi Field in Flushing, Queens, the event made history as the first-ever women’s professional sporting event hosted at the home stadium of the New York Mets. With over 40,000 tickets secured, the match set an all-time attendance record for a women’s sporting event in New York City, surpassing the previous record held by the 2023 U.S. Open Women's Singles Final.

Beyond setting attendance milestones, the showcase served as a high-stakes, nationally-broadcasted rematch between the two rivals following their clash in the 2025 NWSL Championship. The game’s decisive moment came in the 37th minute when Rose Lavelle scored the match-winning goal for Gotham. Off a turnover forced by Gotham's defensive press, Lavelle took a pass from Jaelin Howell and chipped the Spirit goalkeeper to lock in the 1–0 victory over Trinity Rodman and the Spirit.

The match was surrounded by a day-long celebration of women's soccer, anchored by a pre-match "Footy Fest" fan festival. The club hosted a FIFA World Cup semifinal watch party (England vs. Argentina), live podcast tapings, and the traditional torch-lighting ceremony that brought out prominent sports figures including Sue Bird and Donovan Mitchell. Gotham also announced their plans to move to Etihad Park, the future home of MLS’ New York City FC located across the street from Citi Field, in 2028.