The Gotham FC state of the club: The end of the 2025 season edition | OneFootball

After more than a month removed from their NWSL Championship win, NJ/NY Gotham FC is fully into the offseason mode. The club has already made a few moves, as they signed college free agent and rookie Talia Sommer from Butler University, re-signed Midge Purce, and announced the departure of Ella Stevens, who has since signed with expansion side Boston Legacy. There is, of course, an expectation of more to come, but the ongoing saga between Trinity Rodman, the Washington Spirit, and the NWSL is potentially holding up many teams' offseason activities.

While last season was historic for the club, there is still room to grow and improve. Goal-scoring issues and, at times, inconsistency in regular-season results saw Gotham again get into the playoffs as the bottom seed, as they did in 2023. Ironing out these issues is what general manager Yael Averbuch West will be looking to fix as she maps out the club's moves this offseason.

Let's take a look at where Gotham FC sits and where things could go as free agency progresses.

Gotham FC: domestic and continental champions

Gotham FC became the first women's club in CONCACAF to be both continental and domestic champions in the same season. Their championship win is obviously still fresh on everybody's mind, but memories of their W Champions Cup win back in May have potentially been forgotten about.

This continued success caps off an incredible three-year run under Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós. An NWSL Championship win in 2023, a club record 2024 regular season, and a double win in 2025 can be deemed as one of the most successful three-year runs in league history. After an offseason of change and some concerning runs of form throughout the season, Amorós once again found a way to get the most out of the team and continue to establish himself as one of the premier coaches in the world of women's soccer.

Considering where this team was back in the Sky Blue FC and early Gotham days, it is truly remarkable to see the level of success and what it has done to this club's image. Now, the team is one of the preeminent sides not just in NWSL but arguably around the world.

What areas will Gotham target in free agency?

As mentioned earlier, things have been relatively quiet for Gotham on the free agency front. That should not be the case for much longer, with preseason just a few weeks away. While the Starting XI for next season is arguably already set, there are still multiple areas that need to be addressed.

A true backup for players like Esther González, Jaelin Howell, and additional depth on the backline are the most likely spots fans will see the NJ/NY side add to. They currently have six open roster spots, which means they have enough room to make one addition in each of the four positions listed above. Plus, they will have room to add two players, due to others being injured or out on loan, to the roster.

Potential improvement from the 2025 rookie class

Gotham FC was one of the main beneficiaries of the elimination of the college draft. Not only did they have a large rookie class with seven on the roster come the end of the season, but they also received standout seasons from two of them.

Midfielder Sarah Schupansky finished tied for second in the league in assists, and left-back Lilly Reale won Rookie of the Year. Add to that players like Sofia Cook, Khyah Harper, and Josefine Hasbo, who all showed flashes throughout the season, and it is hard not to be excited about what this group could develop into. Fans should expect many of these players to continue to develop and become key contributors in 2026.

A brief preview of Gotham FC in 2026

Depending on how they progress through certain competitions, Gotham could play as many as 42 games in 2026, seven more than they played this year. In addition to the 30 game NWSL regular season, up from 26 in 2025, they have the FIFA Women's Champions Cup at the end of January, the NWSL Challenge Cup against the Kansas City Current in February, the 2025-26 CONCACAF W Champions Cup semifinals and finals or third-place game in May, the 2026-27 W Champions Cup group stage in the late summer and early fall, and up to three NWSL playoff games.

While Gotham FC did have their injury issues throughout this season, they had just enough depth to manage with their busiest season to date. They'll need to do the same in 2026 for an even longer season with even more travel.