Gotham FC out for redemption after wasting chance at championship

Less than three months ago, Gotham FC found themselves overwhelmed with disappointment. 

They were loaded with talent and considered one of the NWSL’s “super teams” but didn’t have a trophy to show for it. 

A year after completing an epic worst-to-first turnaround and winning the 2023 NWSL championship, Gotham FC was eliminated by the Washington Spirit in the semifinals on penalty kicks in November. 

There was a feeling even still Monday at Gotham’s media day that last year’s team left a chance at a championship on the table. 

“We didn’t, in my opinion, get to reach where this group can be or that group would have been,” defender Emily Sonnett said. 

Fellow defender Tierna Davidson agreed. 

“Everyone on this team pretty much has that same feeling and knows that we had both the talent and we were in form to be able to reach that championship game,” she said. 

A team with so much potential falling short, though, is part of the beauty and pain of sports.

Sometimes the expected result is not what actually happens. And Davidson said that in Gotham’s case, last season’s semifinals exit “leaves us wanting more.” 

Success sometimes brings high expectations, and star midfielder Rose Lavelle said they welcome the pressure. 

“Obviously [last season] didn’t end the way we would’ve liked. Sometimes it’s hard in this league to not have your season contingent on how the last game went because you always want to win the championship, make the final,” Lavelle said. “But I think that game aside, you look back and we had such a great season, which was so fun and we’re looking to keep building on that. 

“That’s the standard we want to keep pushing for this club — to continually be competing for top of the table and be in contention to win the Shield [which is awarded to the NWSL team that accrues the most points in the regular season] and win the championship. So I think we want that to be our new standard.” 

The Gotham FC team that gathered in Brooklyn for the team’s media day was not the same team it was just a few short months ago. 

Yes, there were plenty of familiar faces, including some of the team’s 2024 top goal scorers, Ella Stevens and Lavelle, back in Gotham kits. 

But Gotham has also added several new exciting players, including Brazilian star Gabi Portilho and Jaelin Howell, after a few high-profile departures this offseason. Forwards Lynn Williams, Yazmeen Ryan and Delanie Sheehan will be suiting up for other clubs this season. 

Stevens said she was “sad” to not be sharing a locker room with her former teammates, though she added player movement is “the nature of the sport we’re in.” 

Gotham players who spoke Monday didn’t want to dwell on who was gone from the 2024 squad. Instead, many expressed excitement for the new additions, especially Portilho, who helped Brazil win silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

“It’s better to play with her than be playing against her,” forward Jessica Silva said. 

Gotham will be boarding a plane Tuesday to Spain, where the team will train for the next 2 ½ weeks.

This preseason trip offers an important opportunity for Gotham to lay the groundwork for what it wants to do this season. 

“I’m really confident in this group,” Davidson said. “But mostly I’m looking forward to us building some good chemistry on the field and I think that’s much more than just talent. I think that’s understanding each other and taking time to really learn each other’s game. … That’s what preseason is for.” 

Losing in the semifinals was a major letdown for Gotham. But the team has come back with a renewed sense of urgency and determination. 

“There’s no limit to our potential,” Martin said. “We just have to see how we gel together and where each individual piece of talent fits in.” 

Gotham opens its season on the road March 15 against the Seattle Reign at Lumen Field.