Halfway through 2025, what has and has not gone right for Gotham FC? | OneFootball

To say 2025 has been a mixed bag for NJ/NY Gotham FC is an understatement. The team won the inaugural CONCACAF W Champions Cup in May, they have the NWSL Golden Boot leader at the midway point in Esther González, the captain Tierna Davidson tore her ACL in just the third game of the season, and they have lost more league games than they did in all of 2024. Things have been up and down to say the least.

While the team is clearly not the same consistent juggernaut it was last season, the players are still good enough to compete and make the playoffs. While some aspects of this year have gone according to plan, others have not, with a fair amount of it out of the team's control.

So, here's some of what has and has not gone right for Gotham FC so far this season, and some possible solutions for a strong second half.

What has gone right for Gotham FC

Another piece of silverware

Even if the NWSL season ends with an early playoff exit or even no playoffs at all, this season can still be viewed as a success thanks to the Bats' win over Tigres UANL Femenil in the Champions Cup final. After coming up short in the Challenge Cup, Summer Cup, and NWSL Playoffs in 2024, Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós was finally able to add a second trophy in his third season as the head coach for Gotham FC after his NWSL Championship win in 2023.

González's incredible goal-scoring form

After a strong end to 2024 that saw her vault into the top five in the NWSL Golden Boot race, González has continued her great form into 2025. With 10 goals in 13 league matches, she has already passed her league total from last season. Adding in her Champions Cup and international matches for Spain, she has 19 goals in 21 games, which has her not only leading the NWSL but the Women's Euros Golden Boot race as well.

The kids are alright

With the abolishment of the NWSL Draft this past offseason, Gotham has been one of the most active players in the college free agent market, making six signings. Two of which, Lilly Reale and Sarah Schupansky, have made an immediate impact. Reale very quickly earned the starting left-back role and has since parlayed that into her first two caps for the USWNT.

Meanwhile, Schupansky is currently tied for second in the NWSL in assists and did more than good enough filling in for Rose Lavelle, who missed most of the beginning of the season after offseason surgery. And there is potentially more to come with Sofia Cook returning from injury and the midseason signing Josefine Hasbo getting up to speed. More rookies could play big roles in the second half of the season.

What has not gone right for Gotham FC

Injuries, injuries, and more injuries

In addition to the aforementioned injury to Davidson and Lavelle's absense to start the season, Gotham FC has been heavily affected by the injury bug. Forwards Midge Purce and Gabi Portilho and defenders Jess Carter and Mandy Freeman have all missd time, which has at times forced Nealy Martin into the backline due to the lack of defensive depth.

Add this to Ann-Katrin Berger playing through a foot injury for most of the season, and it at times feels like this team is being held together with duct tape and glue. Thankfully, Lavelle has returned to play, and Portilho is playing games with Brazil, which could mean Gotham is close to full health going into the second half.

Lack of secondary scoring

When González was at times in a dry spell or out with injury in 2024, Gotham did not always feel the effects of this, given their great secondary scoring. However, that has changed for 2025, though, as the likes of Yazmeen Ryan and Lynn Williams (now Biyendolo) are on new teams. Plus, Lavelle missing time and Ella Stevens not having the same production as last season have hurt them.

This has led to long goal-scoring droughts and inconsistent results, resulting in the Bats being right around the playoff cut line for most of the year. Lavelle's return to full fitness should help not just because of the goals she can add directly, but also by taking attention away from her teammates and creating more space for those around her.

Lack of depth

This goes hand in hand with the last two points, but Gotham FC's lack of depth in 2025 has bitten them at times. From not having a natural replacement for Davidson or Lavelle to having to play players like Martin and Bruninha out of position, Amorós has been trying to fit square pegs in round holes for pretty much the whole season.

Adding another defender for the rest of the season would go a long way, but it is far from a guarantee. Adding Hasbo and having Lavelle and Cook now ready to play should also help the midfield depth. And forward-wise, having this break should benefit Purce as she is not too far removed from her return from an ACL injury.

The lack of depth may come back to bite the Bats later in the year, but overall, this is still a very talented side. One should expect a strong end to the season if Gotham FC can stay healthy and if another defender is added.