Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman expressed reservations about playing the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) match against NJ/NY Gotham FC on Wednesday night, citing the poor air quality in the New York area due to wildfires in Canada. The game, which drew a record 42,175 fans to Citi Field, marked the largest attendance for a women's sporting event in New York City history.
"If we have to have a hydration break every 15 minutes, then we shouldn’t be playing the game, and that’s my opinion," Rodman said, as reported by The Athletic. "But at the end of the day, there’s 40,000 people. It’s a whole event, so it’s really tough. It’s just a really hard situation for everyone to work around."
The air quality in the tri-state area was classified as "unhealthy," and Rodman noted that the conditions were "rough" on top of near-triple-digit temperatures. She added that players on both teams were frequently requesting breaks.
Gotham FC, which is set to begin playing at a new stadium adjacent to Citi Field in 2028, currently shares a facility with the MLS team New York Red Bulls in New Jersey. NYCFC has also utilized Citi Field for some home games and is slated to move to the new Etihad Park.
Amidst the air quality concerns, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill directed transit authorities to make masks available to commuters. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani advised residents to seek cool environments and stay hydrated. The NWSL game concluded with Gotham FC defeating the Washington Spirit 1-0.
The potential impact of such air quality issues on future large-scale events, including the FIFA World Cup final scheduled for nearby MetLife Stadium, remains a consideration.