2025 Gotham FC player grades: Goalkeepers and defenders | OneFootball

2025 was another strong defensive year for Gotham, conceding just 25 goals in NWSL play in the regular season, the second fewest in the league. Only the record-breaking Kansas City Current conceded fewer goals in NWSL play, with just 13.

While there was a high roster turnover last offseason, the defensive group saw quite a few familiar faces return and continue to be key contributors for the Bats. The players were then supplemented by a few new faces as well as a few midseason acquisitions from last year, taking part in their first full season with the club.

So, here are the player grades for Gotham FC's goalkeepers and defenders in 2025.

Gotham FC goalkeepers

Ann-Katrin Berger

Grade: A+

Ann-Katrin Berger followed up a phenomenal 2024 with a remarkable 2025. She finished with 10 regular-season clean sheets, good for second in the league, and was nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year. She also kept two clean sheets in three NWSL playoff games, which is the most of any goalkeeper in club history.

Despite turning 35 in October, Berger has shown almost zero drop-off in form or quality since she arrived in April 2024. A key figure in not just preventing goals, but also in the team's overall style of play, given her on-the-ball abilities, fans should not be shocked if she continues her high-level performances through the 2026 season.

Shelby Hogan

Grade: B

In her first season in New Jersey, Shelby Hogan made just five appearances, significantly fewer than the 26 she made last season when she was with Portland Thorns FC. Part of that is due to being on the same team as Berger, but she also missed close to three months early in the season with a thumb injury.

Hogan did manage two clean sheets in those five appearances, including against the Washington Spirit in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. Having an experienced backup after the departure of both Abby Smith and Cassie Miller in the previous offseason was clearly a point of emphasis for Gotham, and Hogan filled that role well in 2025.

Ryan Campbell

Grade: B-

Being a backup is already tough enough; being a third-choice goalkeeper is even more of a difficult task, given the extreme lack of playing time. Ryan Campbell made just two appearances in 2025. She first saw out the final two minutes of a 3-0 win over Utah Royals FC before making her first start in the W Champions Cup away to Vancouver Rise FC Academy.

And while she did not cover herself in glory with the goal she conceded, she did eventually settle into the game and looked more and more comfortable as the match progressed. The Bats believe in Campbell, given in part to how many public appearances she makes on the club's behalf, but also the three-year contract extension she was given in August.

Gotham FC defenders

Bruninha

Grade: B+

After a rough 2024, Bruninha bounced back in a major way in 2025. Her starts and minutes in league play both nearly doubled from 2024 to 2025. She also played a huge role in the championship game, where she came on in the second half for Lilly Reale and managed to keep Trinity Rodman quiet for most of the second half. This was huge, not just for on-field reasons but also mentally for the Brazilian after her 2024 season ended with her earning a red card for a foul on Rodman.

Still only 23, Bruninha still has plenty of room to grow, and this 2025 season is an excellent base for her to build off of going forward. 2026 could be a big year for her as the starting right-back spot will be something she will aim to win over the course of the campaign.

Jess Carter

Grade: B

With injuries plaguing the backline, Jess Carter was thrust into a starting role in 2025. It is something she is obviously used to during her time at Chelsea, but there was probably an expectation of more of a rotation at center-back, given the club has three starting-caliber players for just two positions. While Carter had her ups and downs throughout the season, she showed up when it mattered most, playing every minute of the playoffs at an incredibly high level.

Tierna Davidson

Grade: N/A

After being voted club captain by her teammates before the season, Tierna Davidson tore her ACL in just the third NWSL fixture, keeping her out for the rest of the year. While she was present throughout the season and lifted the NWSL Championship trophy with Mandy Freeman in San Jose, it would not be fair to give her a grade since she played less than 250 minutes for the season.

Kayla Duran

Grade: C+

After finishing her final year of college eligibility with the University of Southern California in December 2023, Kayla Duran signed a national team replacement player contract with Gotham in July, 18 months after last playing in a game. While Duran was not expected to be a key player for the club, she filled in where needed and even scored her first pro goal in a 2-0 win over Alianza Women FC.

Mandy Freeman

Grade: A

Freeman again put together a great season, this time pretty much exclusively as a full-back. Her crowning achievement, though, was starting, captaining, and playing the full 90 minutes in the championship game, all things she was not able to do in the team's 2023 championship win.

Gotham's longest tenured player continues to develop and refine her game under head coach Juan Carlos Amorós. And for many fans, seeing her continued improvement as a player and commitment to the club serves as a nice metaphor for the team as a whole and just how far they have come since the darker times of the Sky Blue FC days.

Lilly Reale

Grade: A+

Winning Rookie of the Year and being named to the NWSL Second XI, it's hard to imagine a better season for the UCLA alum. Moving from center-back to left-back, Reale quickly earned herself a spot in Amorós' starting lineup and very rarely found her way out of it. She adapted to the pro-game almost immediately and even found herself taking on certain leadership responsibilities as the season progressed. Her club exploits also saw her earn six caps with the USWNT, and she looks to be the favorite for the starting left-back role for the World Cup coming in 18 months' time.

Emily Sonnett

Grade: A++

After being considered by many as a snub for the Defender of the Year nominations, Emily Sonnett put up one of her best seasons at 31. She started all 26 NWSL games and came up just one short of playing every minute of the season.

She was relied upon for not just her defensive abilities, but very often she was the one starting the attacks as the NJ/NY side played their way from the backline to the frontline, completing the most passes and having the most touches in games consistently. Sonnett was crucial to Gotham FC's success in 2025, and fans shouldn't expect that to change for 2026.