Gotham FC goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger finished runner-up for the Women’s Yashin Trophy at the 70th Ballon d’Or Gala.
Though Cata Coll of Barcelona Femení scooped the Yashin Trophy, Berger’s value to club and country cannot be overstated.
Since joining the Bats in April 2024, Berger has played a pivotal role in helping Gotham win the 2024-25 Concacaf W Champions Cup, the 2025 NWSL championship and the 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup.
On Sunday’s NWSL Decision Day, the acrobatic 36-year-old shot-stopper will have the opportunity to add a first-ever NWSL Shield to Gotham’s trophy cabinet. A win or a draw against the visiting Utah Royals would clinch the Shield for Gotham.
Should Gotham lift the Shield in front of their supporters at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Sunday, the club will be two-thirds of the way toward completing a historic treble.
No NWSL club has captured the NWSL Challenge Cup, NWSL Shield and NWSL championship in a single season — and Gotham could become the first.
Through 26 regular-season games, Berger has made 81 saves and ranks second in the NWSL with 10 shutouts. Only Washington Spirit goalkeeper Sandy MacIver has recorded more clean sheets (11), though MacIver has appeared in all 29 regular-season games so far.
Berger’s 0.88 goals-against average trails only Utah keeper Mia Justus’ league-leading GAA of 0.87, though Justus has only featured in seven regular-season matches.
Gotham FC Goalkeeping Coach Michelle Betos Explains What Makes Berger ‘All-World’
Earlier this season, Gotham FC assistant goalkeeper coach and team culture lead Michelle Betos discussed the qualities that place Berger in the all-world bracket.
“I think that Anne is exceptional,” Betos told South Ward Central during an August sit-down interview. “I think there’s probably not a category she wouldn’t be pretty high up in, but I think two of the things that make her truly special and able to play at the level she’s playing at for so long are her ability to read the game, both on the ball and off the ball.”
Betos: ‘Berger’s Reading of the Game Is Among the Top 1 Percent’
Betos complimented Berger’s rare ability to move the ball with the control of a central midfielder and described her reading of the game as “among the top one percent in the world.”
“On the ball, she is a playmaker — she is playing like a center midfielder. She was a forward a lot of her life, and that ability on the ball, the comfortability on the ball, it allows us to play with 11 players. She is so comfortable, she’s able to read presses really well, she’s able to see what the other team is doing and manipulate them and help her teammates to do that. It’s at a very, very, very high level.
“She’s a great shot stopper, she’s great on 1v1s, but I probably think the thing that makes her super special is her preventative nature. She’s going to be high off her line, she’s going to see a through ball before it’s coming, and she’s going to be positioned well to come get it. Her preventative ability in crosses is elite.
“Her range is exceptional, but it’s mostly because she reads spaces and she reads the ball really well. Anne probably could be up for Save of the Week once a week or every other week, but I think it’s actually the stuff she does before a save that really, really makes her that top one percent in the world. Her ability to read the game is not like anyone I’ve truly encountered thus far.”
Berger’s second overall finish in the 2026 Yashin Trophy voting placed her ahead of Manchester City’s Ayaka Yamashita, Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton and the Kansas City Current’s Lorena.
Rose Lavelle Finishes 27th in Ballon d’Or Féminin Voting
Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle was among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Féminin.
The 31-year-old American midfielder placed 27th.
Through 24 regular-season games, Lavelle has contributed three goals and four assists. She was held out of this past Sunday’s 2-1 road victory over the Orlando Pride due to a neck injury.
It is unclear if Lavelle will be involved on Decision Day as Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amorós is taking all precautions to ensure that Lavelle and Jaedyn Shaw (knee) are fit for the NWSL playoffs.
Gotham FC will close out the 2026 NWSL regular season at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Sunday. The Decision Day match is scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
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