The title holders have assembled a team set for sustainable success in a traditionally hectic league
Yael Averbuch West spent, in her estimation, about 10 minutes celebrating. Then, it was back to work. It was November 2023, and NY/NJ Gotham had just won a first NWSL championship in club history, rattling off three straight playoff wins after sneaking into the postseason on the final matchday. They really shouldn't have been there. The title winners stumbled their way through the last few months of the campaign, but strung together results when it really mattered. This was the unlikeliest of runs.
In the eyes of Averbuch West, Gotham's general manager, it was a moment for celebration, but by no means the culmination of the project. For months, she had been working behind the scenes to build the roster for years to come. Anticipating a loaded free-agent class, and accounting for the standard switching of talent that comes with the league's landscape, Averbuch West already had a vision of how her squad could look from day one this season.
And after a hectic but meticulously planned few months, her vision has come to fruition. Gotham is not, as she and head coach Juan Carlos Amoros insist, a superteam. But it has pieced together one of the most complete rosters in league history – not only gearing itself up for a strong title defence but also giving itself a platform of success that might just turn a long-struggling franchise into a full-blown dynasty.
Getty Images'We added some pretty incredible extra pieces'
This was always the plan. Gotham had been working for months to assemble a strong side. With free-agency lurking – and a strong class to boot – Averbuch West and her team went about targeting some of the top names in the women's game. What wasn't expected – at least to the outside world – was just how many of them would actually come to New York.
First, it was Tierna Davidson. Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett were next. With every name announced, eyes turned more intently towards Red Bull Arena. But Crystal Dunn was the big one. The jewel of the free-agent market, and perhaps biggest name available, had dragged out her decision for weeks. Gotham managed to secure her signature.
"We identified multiple players within each role that bring slightly different qualities but fit the profile of what they are looking for to build on this style," Averbuch West told GOAL.
Suddenly, this team, one that had finished last in the NWSL in 2022, had a roster that could comfortably make up half of a full-strength USWNT line-up.
"We added some pretty incredible extra pieces to the team," USWNT defender Kelley O'Hara said. "So just getting them all integrated and on board and just learning the tactics and our processes and getting them in the mix. It's it's been good."
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This process – one of squad building and sustainability – has its roots in the 2022 season. Gotham had finished last in the league, something the former Sky Blue FC – the franchise that predated Gotham – midfielder took issue with.
"We were disappointed. Our fans were disappointed," she said. "And we wanted to not only just turn it around, but also create sustainable success."
And that's why championship celebrations were so brief. Averbuch West had known for months that captain and defensive stalwart Ali Krieger would retire at the end of the campaign. Five others would also depart. And although two players – Ellie Jean and Taryn Torres – were offered new deals, this was a roster that needed fine-tuning.
"We were focused on strengthening our centerback area. Losing our leader and our captain Ali Krieger, who was just playing out of this world. We definitely realized, from a leadership perspective, we were going to be missing that," Averbuch West continued.
That loss was addressed in the form of Davidson, a 2019 world champion and former Red Stars stalwart. Sam Hiatt also arrived, while Gotham used its first round NWSL draft pick on UNC defender Maycee Bell.
Preparations elsewhere had already begun. While the side's regular-season record started to crumble, the front office identified key names who could come in immediately. Maitane Lopez, Esther – a 2023 World Cup winner – and Katie Stengel all made an impact in the short term, and gave the front line a boost.
And that has only continued – with Amoros being a consistent part of the conversation.
"It's constantly a partnership to understand what they feel like they need to succeed and for the team to win, and then for us to match that with the scouting and, and analysis we've done," Averbuch West explained. The results are clear to see.
'Players are looking for a new opportunity'
Averbuch West knew what this all meant. A longtime NWSL star and former USWNT international, she had experienced the ups and downs of having a career in an emerging league.
"There's a lot of dissatisfaction in players. At the end of each season, players are looking for a new opportunity," she said.
Turbulence has simply been part of the landscape. Contracts rarely last more than two years, while player salaries have been a point of contention for a while. And while improvements have been made, questions of sustainability remain.
NWSL finance rules were tweaked in the offseason, the league nearly doubling the salary cap to $2.7 million. That expansion not only opened up the room for Gotham's big spending, but also gave the platform to adjust the long-term issues that have plagued even the biggest teams in the league. They could now back up their vision with strong financial support.
"For me the idea that players would want to stay on our team if they're on our team and not want to leave. And also that they would help spread the word and make it a place where other players want to come play is so valuable to us as a club," Averbuch West said.
Getty Images'Every single player on our roster is truly world class'
In early February, Gotham released its full roster list ahead of the season. The first element of surprise was the depth on display. The second was some positional oddities. Among them was Dunn, a world-class midfielder, also used as a full-back, was listed as a forward. Amoros had developed a reputation for his hyper-specific tactics. But even this seemed odd. Still, it was all part of a plan.
"I think realistically, every single player on our roster is truly world class," Averbuch West said. "It's almost now a daunting task to make sure it all fits together well.
Amoros dubs it "organized chaos". Gotham play a risky brand of soccer. They press high, suffocate teams, and win the ball in the attacking third more than any team in league. With the trickery of Midge Purce on one wing and the pace of Lynn Williams stretching the defence, this is theoretically a dominant attacking side.
And, crucially, anyone can get in it – regardless of prestige or experience. Having a historically deep roster, then, matters little to a coach who has become notorious for his heavy rotation. Decisions on the starting XI are made on a week-by-week basis. Amoros showed, at various points last season, that big names can be sat. There is no such thing as guaranteed continuity in this side.
"Some people thought probably some names were going to be in the teams and some other players were on it," he told GOAL.
It's a message that has been preached to his squad from day one this season, too.
"They know that nobody has that place guaranteed, that they need to earn it. I think everyone that has played football knows that sometimes the coaches just play some people that are not training well and that lose a bit of the trust of the team," Amoros said. "So I think it is important for us to be what we consider fair. You can be fair 100% because it's a subjective vision. At the end of the day, it's objective."