Gotham FC announced its 26-player roster ahead of the 2026 NWSL season, which soon kicks off on March 14 against expansion club Boston Legacy FC.

The Bats return a mostly intact squad following last season’s championship double, where they lifted the 2025 NWSL Championship and won the 2024-25 Concacaf W Champions Cup. Twenty-one current Gotham players were a part of last season’s squad.

Tierna Davidson reclaims the captain’s armband after missing almost all of last season due to a season-ending knee injury sustained last March. Veteran defender Mandy Freeman served admirably as interim captain in Davidson’s absence.

Gotham FC Leadership Group Confirmed for 2026

Head coach Juan Carlos Amorós will call on Davidson, Freeman, Jess Carter, Jaelin Howell, Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett to form Gotham’s six-player leadership group.

Lavelle’s 80th-minute goal decided the NWSL championship for Gotham in a victory over the Washington Spirit at PayPal Park in San Jose.

Gotham added several promising rookies during the offseason. Forward Jordynn Dudley, attacker Talia Sommer, forward Andrea Kitahata and goaltender Teagan Wy were recruited by club general manager and head of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West as the next wave of exciting youngsters.

Gotham FC’s 26-Player Roster Unveiled

Goalkeepers: Ann-Katrin Berger (INTL), Ryan Campbell, Shelby Hogan, Teagan Wy

Defenders: Bruninha (INTL), Jess Carter, Tierna Davidson (captain), Kayla Duran, Mandy Freeman, Lilly Reale, Emily Sonnett

Midfielders: Sofia Cook, Jaelin Howell, Rose Lavelle, Savannah McCaskill, Sarah Schupansky, Jaedyn Shaw, Talia Sommer, Taryn Torres (SEI)

Forwards: Jordynn Dudley, Esther González, Khyah Harper, Andrea Kitahata, Katie Lampson, Midge Purce, McKenna Whitham (U18)

After Gotham’s NWSL season-opener against Boston on March 14, they will host their home opener against the North Carolina Courage on March 21.

The home-opening match at Sports Illustrated Stadium will be preceded by a ring ceremony before the match kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET.

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