What a difference a year makes.
Last March, we previewed a Gotham FC that was looking to put their league-worst performance in 2022 behind them. The club had a new head coach in Juan Carlos Amóros, and nine newly-signed players in preseason training. Hope was in the air.
But surely nobody expected Gotham to win the 2023 title, which they went on to do in November. Or for Amóros to be named Coach the Year, defender Jenna Nighswonger named NWSL Rookie of the Year, and defender Ali Krieger, forward Lynn Williams, and Nighswonger named to the NWSL Best XI.
The Gotham that defied the odds to lift silverware last year has been overhauled by what is arguably the most ambitious round of free-agent signings in the history of the league. The Goths signed USWNT superstar Crystal Dunn from the Portland Thorns on December 31. They then added three more USWNT starters in defender Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), midfielder Rose Lavelle (OL Reign, now Seattle Reign FC), and defender Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns). If the 2023 squad exceeded expectations, this 2024 Gotham are the presumed title favorites.
