Gotham FC – Page 2 – Women's Soccer Express

NWSL News of Note: Gotham signs Gabi Portilho, Shelby Hogan traded from Thorns to Gotham, Bay FC signs Cal’s Karlie Lema, Royals signs Texas goalkeeper Mia Justus, Jéssica Silva signs half-season extension with Gotham, Nicole Barnhart announces retirement

Leading the notables for the last two days of 2024 are Gotham’s signing of Brazilian international forward Gabi Portilho and its acquisition of goalkeeper Shelby Hogan. Hogan was acquired via a trade with the Portland Thorns, who received an international roster spot for 2025.

Also, two clubs announced the signings of recent NCAA players:

Forward Karlie Lema, who is the 2024 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, has been signed by Bay FC after four seasons at the University of California, Berkeley.
The Utah Royals have bolstered their goalkeeping corps with the addition of Mia Justus, who played for the University of Texas and Florida State.

Meanwhile, Portuguese international forward Jéssica Silva has committed to another half-season with Gotham FC.

Additionally, former United States Women’s National Team goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart announced her retirement from professional soccer.

NWSL News of Note, Signings Edition: Angel City inks Mississippi State’s Macey Hodge, Gotham signs Pitt’s Sarah Schupansky, Bella Bixby re-ups with Thorns, Hillary Beall extends with Wave

During the last full week of 2024, two NWSL clubs announced the signing of collegiate players and two other clubs announced the re-signing of goalkeepers.

The two players who recently wrapped up their NCAA careers are Mississippi State midfielder Macey Hodge, who signed with Angel City, and University of Pittsburgh forward Sarah Schupansky, who is joining Gotham FC.

Meanwhile, the Portland Thorns retained their 2023 starting goalkeeper, Bella Bixby, who missed all of the 2024 season due to maternity leave, and the San Diego Wave have re-signed back-up ‘keeper Hillary Beall.

NWSL News of Note, Transfers Edition: Gotham trades forward Yazmeen Ryan to Dash, Current acquire Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena, Gotham gets Ghanian midfielder Stella Nyamekeye

Leading the notable transfers announced during the last full week of 2024 is the trade of newly minted United States Women’s National team player Yazmeen Ryan from NJ/NY Gotham FC to the Houston Dash for a record amount of allocation money, plus other consideration.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Current have secured the services of Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena via a transfer from Brazil’s Grêmio.

Also, Gotham has added 19-year-old midfielder Stella Nyamekeye via a transfer from Dreamz Ladies FC of her native Ghana.

NWSL News of Note: Gotham-Reign trade sees Lynn Williams and Cassie Miller go west while Jaelin Howell goes east; Rocky Rodríguez traded from Angel City to Kansas City; San Francisco ratifies lease of training facility land to Bay FC; Katie Johnson retires

Headlining this Friday night edition of the notables is the confirmed trade of USWNT forward Lynn Williams from NJ/NY Gotham FC to the Seattle Reign. Joining Williams in that trade is goalkeeper Cassie Miller. Meanwhile, the Reign sent midfielder Jaelin Howell to Gotham, along with $70,000 in allocation money plus an international roster spot for the 2025 season.

One additional trade was announced on Friday: Angel City has sent Costa Rican midfielder Rocky Rodríguez to the Kansas City Current for a $100,000 intra-league transfer fee.

In other player news, former Mexican international, forward Katie Johnson, who most recently played for Angel City during this past season, announced her retirement from professional soccer.

In team news, Bay FC now has a fully approved lease of the land on Treasure Island for its dedicated training facility.

NWSL News of Note: Loera traded from Bay to Utah; USC’s Courtnall signs with Courage; Ivory moves to KC; Dash announce Briede contract; Westphal updates Dash contract; Freeman re-ups at Gotham

Leading this edition of the notables is the news that Bay’s FC first player, Alex Loera, has been traded to the Utah Royals, and that a team other than the San Diego Wave have signed a collegiate player: On Thursday, the North Carolina Courage announced the signing of Southern California defender Brooklyn Courtnall.

In other player news, the Kansas City Current officially have a goalkeeper on their books with the free agent signing of Laurel Ivory.

Additionally, the Houston Dash announced that recently acquired defender Christen Westphal has been signed a new contract that adds another year to her planned stay in Houston. The Dash also confirmed that midfielder Belle Briede, who was included in the club’s end-of-season roster, has a one-year contract for 2025. Meanwhile, Gotham FC have retained veteran defender Mandy Freeman.

In front office news, Matt Potter is officially Bay FC’s Sporting Director after holding an “interim” title since June.

NWSL News of Note: Wave sign UCLA’s Quincy McMahon, Thorns acquire Brazilian Daiane, Spirit re-sign Kaylie Collins, Courage CSO departs, “Gotham FC Alliance” announced

On Friday, two clubs announced additions: The San Diego Wave have signed UCLA defender Quincy McMahon, and the Portland Thorns have acquired Brazilian center-back Daiane via a transfer from CR Flamengo.

Additionally, the Washington Spirit have retained goalkeeper Kaylie Collins for the 2025 season.

In team news, the North Carolina Courage’s front office is without a Chief Soccer Officer after the departure of Curt Johnson.

Also, Gotham FC have announced a “Gotham FC Alliance” program for youth clubs which will involve player identification and development opportunities in order “to create a professional player pathway”.

NWSL News of Note: Royals sign 15-year-old KK Ream, Wave trade Christen Westphal to Dash, Kat Asman signed by Pride, Red Bull Arena is now “Sports Illustrated Stadium”

Here are the notables from December 10th and 11th:

On Tuesday, the only last-minute trade before end-of-season roster announcements involved the San Diego Wave sending veteran defender Christen Westphal to the Houston Dash in exchange for an international spot and allocation money.
On Wednesday, the Utah Royals announced the signing of their first U18 player, forward KK Ream, who won the 2024 Concacaf Girls Under-15 Championship as a member of the United States squad.
Also on Wednesday, the Orlando Pride announced the signing of goalkeeper Kat Asman, who recently finished her rookie season with the Portland Thorns.
In non-player news, Gotham FC’s home stadium has a new name.

Note: Recent re-signings will be covered in a separate post.

NWSL: End-Of-Season Roster Updates for All 14 Clubs (10-Dec-2024)

On Tuesday, December 10th, all 14 NWSL teams published their initial offseason rosters. This post includes the announced roster for each club, in a standardized format.

The lists for each club are organized as follows:

Currently Signed: All players signed to a contract (for at least part of 2025) but not presently loaned to another club.
Out on Loan: Signed players that have current loan agreements.
Loan Expired: Players on loan from other clubs who have returned to their home club.
In Negotiations: Free agent players that the club acknowledges as still negotiating.
Free Agents: Players with expiring contracts that have not been retained and/or with options that have not been exercised.
Retired: Players that have announced their retirements from professional club soccer.

NWSL News of Note: Free Agency Moves — Delanie Sheehan to Dash, Madison Curry to Reign, Maitane López to Red Stars, Sam Hiatt to Portland, Madison Ayson signs with Canberra

Leading the free agency moves for the first week of December is midfielder Delanie Sheehan signing with the Houston Dash after being a regular starter for Gotham FC since May 2023. Gotham also lost a second midfielder this week, Maitane López, who switched over to the Chicago Red Stars, as well as a defender, Sam Hiatt, who is now a Portland Thorns player.

Defender Madison Curry, a regular starter for Angel City this year as a rookie, has signed a three-year contract with the Seattle Reign.

Additionally, rookie defender Madison Ayson, who was on the Houston Dash roster this season, but only saw limited minutes, signed with Canberra United at the end of November.

USWNT News of Note: Lily Yohannes commits to the USA, Sophia Smith ankle injury update, Trinity Rodman goes the full 120, Tierna Davidson returns to Gotham’s line-up

This post was originally going to be centered around fitness updates on a few players, but stop the presses… Ajax midfielder Lily Yohannes, who does not turn eighteen until next June, has chosen to represent the United States.

In not-so-good news, Portland Thorns head coach Rob Gale made some comments regarding Sophia Smith’s recent ankle injury that raises the question of whether she should be called up for the USWNT’s upcoming European friendlies against England and the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, two Olympic gold medalists who were left off of the USWNT’s roster for its trio of October friendlies due to injury issues played full matches over the weekend: Gotham FC center-back Tierna Davidson returned for her first match in almost a month, while forward Trinity Rodman played the full 120 minutes in the Washington Spirit’s extra-time victory over Bay FC.