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2025 was most definitely a mixed bag when it came to the NJ/NY Gotham FC attack. From attacking outbursts to drawn-out barren periods, it was quite often difficult to get a good read on just what to expect from the Bats on a game-to-game basis.
While both of these areas of the roster saw a large turnover in the offseason, the players brought in did a great job at meshing with the returning talent. This included a great rookie class and two bounce-back performers who were huge contributors to Gotham's NWSL Championship victory.
Here are the player grades for Gotham FC's midfielders and forwards in 2025.
Gotham FC midfielders
Sofia Cook
Grade: C+
One of the five rookies, Sofia Cook, had what was probably an unsatisfactory rookie season. Struggling with injuries to begin the year, she never managed to break into the Starting XI as the other starters managed to stay healthy. She did get a chance to show who she is as a player in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup games. The potential ability and talent that made Gotham FC sign her were on display, albeit with areas still to work on and develop.
Cook was the only college free agent signed by the club who still had college eligibility, meaning she was always going to be a long-term developmental project. She is perhaps the most interesting second-year player at Gotham in 2026, as taking a big step in her development could give the NJ/NY team yet another weapon in their midfield Swiss Army Knife.
Josefine Hasbo
Grade: B
A midseason signing, Josefine Hasbo pretty quickly became an important piece in Juan Carlos Amorós' midfield. Playing everywhere in the midfield, Hasbo acquitted herself well and showed why she already had 30 caps with the Danish Women's National Team.
While she does not put up the flashy numbers, she is a player who puts in the dirty work and is a facilitator for the team's other attacking midfielders and forwards. Hasbo will benefit from a preseason with the club going into the 2026 season, and she provides a level of flexibility that both the front office and coaching staff value in players.
Jaelin Howell
Grade: A+
Arguably Gotham's best acquisition, Jaelin Howell managed to finally put together the season many expected from following her stellar college career. After being traded partway through 2024 from Racing Louisville FC to the Seattle Reign FC, then again in the offseason from Seattle to Gotham, Howell finally landed with a team that had enough talent around her that she did not need to do everything for the NWSL side.
The midfielder not only played well in both the eight and defensive midfield positions, but she also found her goal-scoring touch. After scoring just one goal in 71 previous club appearances, she found the back of the net four times this season, which was more than the player she had been traded for, NWSL's all-time leading goal-scorer, Lynn Biyendolo. Even Emma Hayes couldn't ignore Howell's stellar 2025 season, handing her her first USWNT call-up in over three years.
Rose Lavelle
Grade: A
After missing the beginning of the season due to offseason surgery, Rose Lavelle came back and looked like her usual self fairly quickly. A few cameos before the summer break were then followed by her starting on a more consistent basis. Her strong performances eventually resulted in consistent goal contributions, none more important than the goal she scored against the Washington Spirit that sealed the club's 2025 NWSL Championship.
Other than offseason surgeries prior to each of her two seasons with Gotham, Lavelle has stayed healthy, which was the one major concern when she was signed. So far, all indications are that a third successive offseason surgery is not on the cards, which could mean she is set to have her first season at the club where she is available for the full year.
Sarah Schupansky
Grade: B+
After an incredibly strong first half of the season playing in place of Lavelle, Sarah Schupansky hit a little bit of a rookie wall, which is normal for most first-year professionals. Nevertheless, she still finished tied for second in assists in NWSL with five and played very well in her two playoff starts, including the championship game.
Schupansky is a prime candidate for a true breakout season in 2026. A more consistent starting spot is potentially hers for the taking, and having the experience of a full professional season under her belt would seem to do wonders for her development.
Jaedyn Shaw
Grade: B+
Despite playing just 12 games for Gotham after a midseason trade, Jaedyn Shaw certainly made an impact. From scoring in both the quarter and semifinal games to providing the quote of the season, the young star provided that last spark that the Bats needed to get over the finish line. With her also signing a contract extension through 2029, she is not just a part of this team's present, but their future as well.
Taryn Torres
Grade: B
After missing the entire 2023 NWSL season with an ACL injury, Taryn Torres spent most of the 2024 season just trying to get back into playing shape. 2025 started positively for her as she started to see more and more consistent playing time and got close to forcing her way into the Starting XI. Unfortunately, she suffered another ACL tear in September, missing the rest of the season and potentially also forcing her to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season as well.
Gotham FC forwards
Geyse
Grade: C+
Geyse was initially an exciting addition to the squad. However, the struggles that she had with Manchester United continued with Gotham. She was not consistent in her play despite showing glimpses of her talent. As such, the Brazilian received the grade that she did. Plus, it makes sense why her loan deal did not turn into a permanent transfer.
Esther González
Grade: A
Finishing second in the Golden Boot race with 13 goals, Esther González put together her most complete goal-scoring season with Gotham to date. After a late-season scoring surge in 2024 that saw her vault into the top five of the top scorers list, 2025 saw her goals more evenly spread out throughout the season.
González signed a contract extension last year, and the new deal reportedly made her one of the highest-paid players in the league, keeping her at the club through the 2027 season. In addition to her club goal-scoring exploits, she was also the top scorer at this past summer's Euros. The consistent goal-scoring form she showed in 2025 into 2026 will be crucial to Gotham's success as a club this upcoming season.
Khyah Harper
Grade: B-
After a breakout senior season at the University of Minnesota, Khyah Harper saw pretty minimal playtime in 2025 for the Bats. She did have a spike in form midseason when she netted her only two goals of the year, including one in her first-ever NWSL start. She unfortunately could not parlay this into more playing time as the season went on, however.
2026 is a big year for Harper. She is on another one-year deal, and with the departure of Ella Stevens, she could be the main backup at striker. This would give her more opportunities compared to last year, but having the opportunity is one thing; actually doing something with it is another.
Gabi Portilho
Grade: C+
After scoring the club's first goal of the season, it was a slightly disappointing season for Gabi Portilho. She did miss around a quarter of the year with injury, but it just never felt like she got into any sort of roll, managing just six goal contributions in 22 games. And with the potential emergence of other players on the attacking line, which also saw her not leave the bench in the championship game, opportunities for Portilho might be fewer and farther between in 2026.
Midge Purce
Grade: B
After missing most of 2024 with an ACL injury, Midge Purce made her return to play about one month into the season. Her progression throughout the season was also pretty noticeable. From only making short cameos off the bench and not fully trusting her knee, to starting and playing every minute of the playoffs and looking more and more like her old self, the prospect of seeing Purce back to her best in 2026 is exciting to say the least. She only had three goal contributions in 2025, but expect that number to take a significant jump next season.
Katie Stengel
Grade: B-
Returning after a season with Crystal Palace in the WSL, Katie Stengel came back midseason and played the role of playoff hero again. After scoring a 107th-minute winner against Portland Thorns FC in the 2023 semifinals, Stengel scored a 120th-minute winner in this year's quarterfinals to knock out the best regular-season team of all time in the Kansas City Current.
She also came into the team at a time when the games were coming thick and fast and provided crucial minutes for the team when they arguably needed her most. While she has never put up gaudy goal-scoring numbers, Stengel will forever be remembered as a cult hero amongst Gotham fans.
Ella Stevens
Grade: B-
A tough season for Stevens saw her snake-bitten in front of goal to start the season before a knee injury knocked her out for the season from June onwards. The 28-year-old has since signed with 2026 expansion side Boston Legacy and will look to rebound to her 2024 form that saw her average nearly a goal contribution every other game in all competitions.
Mak Whitham
Grade: N/A
In her first full season as a professional, 15-year-old Mak Whitham was mainly relegated to single-minute cameos before making her first-ever pro start against Vancouver Rise FC Academy in the W Champions Cup in September. It will be interesting to see how much of an increased role Whitham has in 2026 and where she is in her development curve with Gotham FC.