3 things that Gotham FC must do when the 2026 season resumes | OneFootball

The NWSL break is not as long as the MLS break, which means that NJ/NY Gotham FC will be back this week. After ending the first part of the 2026 campaign in a mixed fashion by not winning either game in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup, but then winning the last NWSL match, the Bats will seek to continue their more positive trends from the season.

Now, the team will return this week for the NWSL Challenge Cup. Then, next week, the NWSL regular season will be back. As it tends to be, the pressure will be on Gotham FC to climb higher up the table. Currently, the side is in fifth place with 21 points. That is four points behind the leaders, San Diego Wave FC, who they will face on Independence Day.

Hence, there are some things that Gotham must do for the rest of the 2026 season.

Gotham FC needs another defender

This one is pretty obvious, but Gotham FC absolutely needs another defender. The club recently traded Lilly Reale to Boston Legacy FC. As such, they are down a player in an already thin backline. They have also faced injury problems all season long, forcing Midge Purce to play as the right-back. Guro Reiten has also been playing as the left-back, but after Reale returned from injury, it appears this was the choice made by Juan Carlos Amorós.

Nevertheless, not having Reale hurts the backline even more. That is why one of the first moves the team should make is to sign a defender. It would be good to sign another versatile player who can play all over the backline. Any full-back or center-back will help, though.

Esther González needs to score

Unquestionably, Esther González is a talented striker. She is known for going through stretches when she is quiet in front of the goal. But this year, the Spanish international has not been her usual self in regards to scoring for Gotham.

In 11 NWSL matches, she has only scored two goals. Then, she scored the lone goal in the Champions Cup knockout round back in May. While the NJ/NY side is unbeaten in their last six games, they need the striker to regularly score to compete for the NWSL shield. Otherwise, it is quite possible she might find herself on the outside looking in.

González is too talented, though, not to be scoring. Yes, she is getting older, but the sudden drop does not make sense. Ideally, Gotham can find a way to help her find the back of the net more often again.

It might be time for Gotham FC to make medical changes

One of the top priorities for the rest of the season should be involving the training and medical staff and their methods. It is not to say that someone should be fired, but based on the injuries over the last few years, especially the ACL tears, it is vital for the Bats to investigate the way the team handles everything, from the training to the injury prevention.

Listen, injuries are a part of sports. That is understandable. But Gotham FC sometimes has too many players out. Maybe there is something that can be changed to reduce the injuries in the future.