Slow down, Gotham FC: Team extends Savannah McCaskill early in the season | OneFootball

After extending Jaelin Howell on Thursday, NJ/NY Gotham FC was not done this week. On Friday, the team announced that they also extended Savannah McCaskill through the 2028 season. This comes after just five matches with the Bats in her second stint with the club. Fans will recall that she was with the team in 2018, back when the name was Sky Blue FC.

McCaskill returned to Gotham via a trade with San Diego Wave FC for intraleague funds before the start of the 2026 season. Her addition was interesting, since the NJ/NY side had a strong midfield. In addition, Juan Carlos Amorós' lineups often had more offensive-minded players in the midfield, with Howell playing as the number 6. With McCaskill, the team has switched that, for she has played more as a defensive midfielder in the past few years.

Gotham FC should have waited to extend Savannah McCaskill

The midfielder has been decent so far in the young 2026 season. However, Gotham FC is 1-2-2, which is not an ideal record. If things do not work out the way they are supposed to this season, then some players might need to leave in the offseason. Extending McCaskill early on t makes it more likely that she would not leave.

Plus, what if she goes through something similar to Gabi Portilho, who left the Bats via a trade after only a year with the club? The Brazilian started well, but injury and some lackluster play ultimately meant that she was not the right player.

Some might argue that McCaskill could be traded if things do not work out, but the difference is that her contract is now longer compared to Portilho. As such, this is a risky move by Gotham FC. Truthfully, they should have waited until they saw the midfielder play more games. There are also no guarantees that the 2026 campaign will be a successful one, even though the team has a strong roster.

McCaskill could easily be in the middle of a honeymoon period with her new teammates. Some of her younger teammates could persuade Amorós that they should start over her. If that is the case, then the move to extend her may look silly. And yes, that is a way of trying to be kind.

However, with that being said, the midfielder has been a good acquisition at this moment. She is a team player and fits in with the squad. The issue is that the extension is too soon. Gotham FC should have waited.