Looking back at the 2025 predictions for Gotham FC in the NWSL | OneFootball

Before the 2025 season, nobody expected that NJ/NY Gotham FC would look very different.  A crazy roster turnover highlighted the offseason, and there were questions about the club.  With so many new players, could the Bats continue what they did in 2024, in which they had the best regular season in the NWSL in team history?  Would fans even recognize the team on the pitch?

Regardless of some things being up in the air, predictions for 2025 still had to be made. Hence, three were made, and they were about players and how Gotham FC would do in the NWSL.

Ultimately, the 2025 campaign was a roller coaster ride.  There were highs, including some incredible wins like the away match against the Washington Spirit, the CONCACAF W Champions Cup win, and the 2025 NWSL Championship.  There were also lows, like a few winless streaks and the end of the regular season.  But thankfully, the upset playoff run made up for any of the struggles throughout the year.

How did Skyscraper Blues do with the predictions?  Here is a look at what was predicted in 2025 and the outcome for Gotham FC.

Looking back at the 2025 predictions for Gotham FC

3. Esther González will score the most goals for Gotham

The first prediction was an easy one to make.  The belief was that the team’s leading scorer from 2024, Esther González would score the most goals on the NJ/NY side.  It was thought that she would not compete for the Golden Boot, but she would at least score 12 goals in the regular season and at least 15 in all competitions.

And guess what?  Most of this prediction was spot on.  She led Gotham FC with the most goals, scoring 13 in the regular season and 15 overall.  She competed for the Golden Boot, but sadly, an injury kept her out of the last few matches in the regular season.  Plus, she was going through a slight drought and struggled to find the back of the net.

Of course, González is known for being streaky, and she was again this season.  A few forwards that were expected to score more also scored less than expected.  There were also a few injuries throughout the league.  As a result, the Spanish international was in the Golden Boot conversation all season long.

The Gotham striker truly was a difference-maker, and the fact that there were a few matches that she won for the Bats made the difference in why the team made the playoffs.  She was expected to be influential, and she was.

2. Gotham FC will finish anywhere from third to fifth place

In 2024, Gotham finished in third place in the NWSL standings.  At the same time, there were multiple new players in 2025.  Some of the stars from the previous season were still with the team.  Hence, it was easy to think that there could be some growing pains, but believe that the Bats could still finish in the top part of the table.  That is why another prediction was that they would end the year in third, fourth, or fifth place.

But as it is known, Gotham had an up-and-down season, and there was some doubt about whether they could be successful in the playoffs due to the not-so-great end to the regular season.  This led the NJ/NY side to finish the regular season in eighth place, which was also the last spot in the postseason.

Therefore, this prediction was not correct by any means.  Although, the ladies did compete for a top spot.  However, the ladies went 0-2-2 in the final four fixtures, and this ultimately led to the eighth-place finish.  Additionally, teams in third place through eighth place were separated by a mere four points.  If the Bats won one more game, then they would have ended the year in fifth place due to goal differential.

Nevertheless, they still had the incredible playoff run despite ending the year in the last postseason spot.  Gotham FC’s 2025 NWSL Championship is one that fans will remember for a long time.  So, maybe it worked out in the end that the prediction was wrong.

1. A Gotham rookie will shine for the team

When some of the top players left in the offseason, Gotham FC went out and signed five rookies from colleges.  Mak Whitham, who was signed in 2024, officially began her rookie contract as well.  There were starting spots available, and any of the new players, including the younger ones who were starting their first professional season, could take a spot.

With that knowledge and Juan Carlos Amorós’ track record of developing players, it was predicted that a rookie would shine in 2025.  In a way, two did so for Gotham: Lilly Reale and Sarah Schupansky.

Schupansky did see her playing time decrease in the second half of the season, but there is no question she was impactful for the Bats.  She also started two of the three playoff matches.  More importantly, she helped fill in for Rose Lavelle when the star midfielder was out for the first part of the year.  Also, she had five assists in the NWSL season, with her first coming in the fixture against Angel City FC in April.

Reale, on the other hand, played in every single fixture in the regular season and playoffs, and then in four of the six Champions Cup matches she could have played in.  In total, she played in 33 games, starting the majority of them.

And, Reale was the rookie who was arguably the best this season.  Her defensive work as the left-back was comparable to some of the top left-backs in the NWSL.  She was also willing to move forward into the final third and added to the threat to opposing teams.  She might not have been as great offensively as Jenna Nighswonger, but she did have a goal and an assist in the NWSL.

The young player’s work in 2025 subsequently led to her being named the Rookie of the Year.  Reale deserved this, and between her and Schupansky, this prediction came true.  Gotham FC is lucky to have the two players on the team.