Gotham FC’s journey in the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season has been a rollercoaster marked by challenges, changes, and a remarkable resurgence led by a rising star. Although often labeled as underdogs, Gotham FC are far from newcomers to success, having reached the NWSL semifinals for three consecutive years and clinching the championship in 2023. However, the 2025 season brought its own set of struggles, including inconsistency on the field and significant shifts in attacking personnel, which led to a disappointing eighth-place finish in the regular season. Yet, as they prepare to face the Washington Spirit in Saturday’s NWSL Championship match, Gotham finds itself fueled by a newfound energy and hope, largely thanks to the explosive emergence of Jaedyn Shaw.
The offseason departures of key attacking players like Yazmeen Ryan and Lynn Biyendolo posed a significant challenge to Gotham’s offensive firepower. Ryan, who left for Houston Dash, had contributed five goals and six assists in 2024, while Biyendolo moved to the Seattle Reign after scoring four goals and providing three assists. Their exits left gaps in Gotham’s attack that the new additions—Gabi Portillo, Geyse, and Midge Purce—have struggled to fill consistently. Portillo and Geyse have managed moderate contributions with three goals and three assists, and two goals and two assists respectively, while Purce has been limited by an ACL injury, returning with just one goal and one assist so far this season.
This decline in offensive output has been reflected in Gotham’s overall attacking statistics. The team’s shots per game dropped from 14.1 in 2024 to 11.4 in 2025, placing them 11th in the league. Expected goals per game also fell from 1.6 to 1.2, and actual goals scored dropped from 1.6 to 1.3 per match. This slump significantly hindered their ability to secure wins consistently during the regular season. Despite these offensive struggles, Gotham’s defense remained a pillar of strength. Even after losing center back Tierna Davidson to a season-ending ACL injury just three weeks into the campaign, the team maintained impressive defensive numbers, conceding an average of only 0.9 goals per game and holding their expected goals against close to one. This defensive stability, under head coach Juan Carlos Amoros, has been integral to Gotham’s ability to stay competitive in tightly contested matches.
Amid these difficulties, Jaedyn Shaw’s arrival in September from the North Carolina Courage has injected the team with a fresh burst of attacking threat and optimism. Although Shaw has played only nine games with Gotham so far, her impact has been immediate and profound. The 20-year-old U.S. Women’s National Team talent has been the standout figure in Gotham’s surprising playoff run, scoring crucial goals against the Kansas City Current and Orlando Pride, two top contenders on their path to the championship game. Her performance has been so impactful that she has become the face of Gotham’s resurgence, transforming the team’s attacking fortunes almost singlehandedly.
Shaw’s rise to prominence was perhaps best exemplified in Gotham’s tense playoff victory over Kansas City. With Gotham’s star striker Esther Gonzalez sidelined due to a hip injury, Shaw stepped up as the game-changing force. Over the course of 120 minutes, she was the most active attacker on the pitch, creating five chances, taking four shots, scoring the opening goal, and assisting Katie Stengel’s dramatic late winner. Her fearless display not only secured Gotham’s place in the final but also challenged the narrative that Gotham were underdogs. Shaw famously declared after the Kansas City win, “Underdog my ass. We’re not an underdog,” a statement that encapsulates her confidence and the team’s renewed belief.
Tactically, Shaw’s move to Gotham has allowed her to flourish in ways that were less evident during her time with the Courage. She has found a better fit within Gotham’s system, gaining more playing time and responsibilities, which have translated into improved statistical outputs. Shaw’s shot rate has increased from an average of 1.7 shots per game in 2024 with the San Diego Wave to 2.2 shots per game in her nine matches with Gotham. Similarly, her chance creation has surged from 1.2 to 1.7 chances per game, highlighting her growing