February 3, 2025 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
NJ/NY Gotham FC News Release
The following is a letter to Gotham FC fans from Yael Averbuch West, Gotham FC general manager and head of soccer operations…
As I sit in Spain, with our team now beginning preseason, I’m reflecting on the highs and lows of the past year, and I’m aware of the outside narratives surrounding our roster moves. One of the most challenging aspects of my job is seeing these external perspectives contrast with the deep confidence and belief we have in what we’re building at Gotham FC.
I want to share my reflections with you because your support makes everything we do possible. We see you and we hear you, and I want you to know that our commitment to excellence-on and off the field-remains stronger than ever.
Last year was a landmark season for us. We set attendance records, earned our best-ever regular season finish and hosted our first-ever home playoff match. We made history as the first NWSL team to visit the White House and reached the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals.
In just a few short years, the NWSL has transformed from trying to demonstrate its proof of concept to securing hundreds of millions of dollars in expansion fees and media deals and introducing big-name investors. This new landscape, shaped by a historic collective bargaining agreement that established full free agency, has pushed all NWSL clubs to adjust to embrace new opportunities. At Gotham FC, the ethos is simple: Always building, never finished.
Heading into 2024, we took seriously our ambition to constantly improve, and with feedback from players and staff, we took action. We strengthened our roster with world-class talent, improved our training facilities, hired a performance dietician and chef and invested in medical, performance and operational support. Yet much like owning a home, building an organization is an ongoing process. No matter what you work on or upgrade, there is always the next project. Throughout the year, based on our assessment, we determined a need to (1) better articulate our club’s philosophy and values to players and staff; (2) further support players and staff to navigate a fiercely competitive environment; and (3) continue to refine our team mentality.
Our goal was never to form a “super team” but to establish Gotham FC as a perennial title contender, positioning the club to one day be an iconic global sports franchise that plays attractive, entertaining soccer. We fully understand…