Reigning NWSL champions Gotham FC has weathered the challenges brought by key injuries and a packed 2026 schedule to sit in fifth overall in the league table through 11 matches played.
The Bats have been on a break from competitive matches since earning a 1-0 home victory on May 31 against the Houston Dash, and own the NWSL’s best defensive record, having only conceded five goals.
One player who will no longer contribute to Gotham’s vaunted backline is 2025 NWSL Rookie of the Year Lilly Reale. Last Wednesday, the 22-year-old defender was sent to Boston Legacy FC in exchange for $350,000 in allocation money and $50,000 in intraleague transfer fee funds.
Some of those funds have already been set aside to reacquire world-class striker Sam Kerr. According to The Athletic, the 32-year-old goal getter will join Gotham once her contract with Chelsea expires this summer.
Gotham FC president of soccer operations, Yael Averbuch West, will have the opportunity to continue to reshape the roster in the coming months until the secondary transfer window closes on September 7.
For now, let’s take a closer look at the five Gotham players who have performed the brightest so far in the 2026 campaign.
1) Ann-Katrin Berger
The 5-foot-11 shot stopper leads the NWSL with a 0.50 goals against average and seven shutouts.
Berger’s consistency, reading of play, distribution and acrobatic save-making ability haven’t diminished as she approaches her 36th birthday.
After suffering an abdominal injury in the Concacaf W Champions Cup semifinal, Berger returned to international duty for Germany on June 5 in a 2-0 shutout victory over Norway in the FIFA Women’s World Cup UEFA qualifiers.
She will be available for selection for Friday’s 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup clash against the Kansas City Current.
2) Jaelin Howell
The 26-year-old has excelled in a defensive midfield role with her engine-like presence. Howell has made 19 interceptions, 19 tackles, 68 recoveries and won 15 headed duels.
She has completed 86 percent of passes and has successfully teamed with Savannah McCaskill to shield the back line as a double pivot, which allows star midfielder Rose Lavelle to move into advanced positions and generate scoring chances.
Her role might not be flashy, but she has provided tremendous value across 976 NWSL minutes played.
3) Jaedyn Shaw
The United States international has continually improved her sharpness in front of goal since she was acquired by the Bats last September from the North Carolina Courage.
Shaw has chipped in four goals through eight NWSL appearances this season. She has a habit of popping up at the right place at the right time.
“She sees the game in a special way and has technical qualities under pressure that are unique,” head coach Juan Carlos Amorós said in May.
“Being in the right place at the right time is invaluable, and she does that consistently. She keeps growing and has so much potential. There are still many things we can help her improve, and the great thing is that she wants to improve.”
4) Rose Lavelle
Lavelle is the most valuable player on Gotham’s current roster. Time and time again, she delivers match-changing goals, key passes and momentum-shifting tackles.
The only thing that holds her back from being higher on this list is time missed due to injury.
Lavelle was named to the NWSL’s Best XI for the month of April. Her box-to-box efforts inspire her teammates to dig deep and follow her lead.
“She’s been fantastic,” Amorós said in May. “The way she’s playing, helping in the fluidity, helping without the ball — she’s setting the standard and the example.”
Expect the energetic 5-foot-4 midfielder to claim more awards as the season wears on.
5) Jess Carter
Watch Carter closely, and you’ll notice that she rarely puts a foot wrong. Her steady presence has been crucial to Gotham’s league-best defensive metrics.
When Gotham’s back line was hit by injuries to Tierna Davidson, Mandy Freeman, Emily Sonnett, Bruninha, Kayla Duran (out for the remainder of the season) and Reale, the 28-year-old England international stepped up with confident displays and versatility.
Honorable Mentions
Rookie of the Year candidate Jordynn Dudley, inspirational captain Tierna Davidson and fast-adapting signing Guro Reiten all made convincing cases to make the top 5.
Check back at season’s end for South Ward Central’s final Gotham FC player rankings.
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