Jaelin Howell knows that it’s going to take everyone if Gotham FC are to repeat as NWSL champions.
South Ward Central spoke one-on-one with the 26-year-old midfielder at Gotham FC’s Whippany, New Jersey, training ground on Wednesday, where Howell explained that every player on the roster is performing a valuable role even if they aren’t featuring in matches.
According to Howell, everyone is pulling in the same direction whether they’re playing 90 minutes every weekend or are an unused substitute. That unity is a key ingredient in Gotham reaching the NWSL playoff semifinal round, where the Bats will host the Kansas City Current on Sunday.
Howell: ‘One of Our Biggest Strengths Is Everybody Supporting Each Other’
“One of our biggest strengths is just our locker room and everybody supporting each other and having each other’s backs and fulfilling roles,” Howell said. “When we say it takes everybody, it literally takes every single person.
“If it’s on the training field or in games, each and every moment makes a difference. So we’re big believers in that, and I think in our player group, a huge strength is just the culture that we’ve created together.”
While observing Gotham at its training facility, it’s clear that the bonds within the squad run deep. There’s plenty of jokes and playful banter between drills, but there’s also serious application when the whistle blows.
It’s one thing to have a talented roster and another to have a talented roster that is united in their goals and their support of one another. Howell credited Gotham FC president of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West for assembling a roster of players who fit the team-first mold.
“Yael has done an amazing job bringing players in and honestly just keeping the culture great,” Howell said.
Howell is counted on by head coach Juan Carlos Amorós as part of Gotham FC’s leadership group alongside Tierna Davidson, Mandy Freeman, Emily Sonnett, Ann-Katrin Berger, Jess Carter, Rose Lavelle and Midge Purce.
Highly experienced additions throughout the year include Denise O’Sullivan, Guro Reiten, Meredith Speck, Savannah McCaskill and Sam Kerr, who have bolstered Gotham’s wealth of seasoned professionals.
Shared Leadership Is Fueling Gotham’s Success
Howell’s leadership potential was recognized in her second season with Racing Louisville FC when she was named club captain at 23.
“At Racing, I was named captain at a super young age,” Howell recalled. “It was a lot of responsibility and kind of finding my way through it. I learned a lot.”
Now in her second season at Gotham, Howell appreciates the shared leadership dynamic.
“It was nice coming into this club,” Howell said. “There’s a lot of experienced veteran leadership that I can learn from and lean on and kind of find my own way through that. So that’s been great just being in the room with them. It’s a testament — the coaching staff, leadership group, just everybody. Even our rookies and young players are just great and mature.
“So I think for us, I always say the ups and downs through the season doesn’t really affect the team as much as we could let it. So I think that’s a huge part just to the veteran leadership and experience that we have on this team.”
Alongside Carter, Howell jointly set a single-season Gotham record by appearing in 30 regular-season matches in 2026. Howell also recorded a club-record 2,593 regular-season minutes.
That number would have been higher had Howell not gone off injured due to a right ankle injury in the November 1 Decision Day victory over the Utah Royals, which clinched the Bats’ first NWSL Shield.
Howell Discusses Her Ongoing Ankle Injury Recovery
Over a week’s span, she recovered enough to take part for 66 minutes in last Sunday’s quarterfinal victory over Seattle Reign FC.
“I was working day and night, me and the medical staff trying to get it right,” Howell explained. “We had a week to turn it around, and so we knew it was going to be tight. I researched a couple of machines through some friends, a machine that I can wear when I’m sleeping and doing exercise during the day. I was in the facility a lot doing rehab, recovery, literally anything I could do just to get it right.
“I don’t think I was myself necessarily for that game, but it was good enough that I wanted to help and support the team. Either way, I knew the team could get it done, and so I just wanted to contribute what I could.”
Howell is hopeful that the ankle continues to heal ahead of Sunday.
“Yeah, it’s definitely progressing,” she said. “We’ve just got to see. It’s still pretty day by day. It’s gotten better every day, so hopefully just keep building this week.”
Sunday’s semifinal meeting against the Kansas City Current at Icahn Stadium is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. The match will be broadcast nationally on ABC and ESPN Deportes.
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