3 realistic predictions for Gotham FC in the 2026 NWSL season

The NWSL season is officially less than a week away, and NJ/NY Gotham FC will begin their 2026 season this Saturday when they travel to play one of the newest teams, Boston Legacy FC.  The Bats will seek to defend their NWSL Championship title this year, but they will also seek to better their regular-season finish, for they finished 2025 in eighth place. 

One positive entering this season compared to the last is that Gotham FC had very little turnover.  21 players are back, and there were no major departures.  Sure, Gabi Portilho left after a year via a trade, but the Brazilian’s time was slightly disappointing.  Then, the team did not sign any major stars, but Savannah McCaskill was a great veteran to add.

Consistency is always a good thing, but there is that question now whether the NJ/NY side has the roster to compete for the NWSL Shield.  Truthfully, the results should have been better with the roster that they had in 2025.  The issue could have been the chemistry during the first half of the season, and clearly, the ladies got hot at the right time with their playoff run.  However, there is no question that others have to step up offensively, and hopefully, some of the younger players will contribute in the final third.

There are unknowns, but fans should also be excited for the upcoming campaign.  Therefore, like it is done every year, here are three predictions for Gotham FC’s upcoming 2026 season.

3 predictions for Gotham FC

3. Gotham FC will finish in the top four of the NWSL

Last season, as mentioned, the Bats finished in eighth place.  It was predicted that the team would end the season in third, fourth, or fifth place, which obviously did not happen.  Inconsistency and the issue of scoring multiple goals led to the eighth-place finish.  In addition, Sports Illustrated Stadium was not the fortress that it was in 2024.

Arguably, Gotham FC sometimes played below their expected level based on the roster.  As such, the hope is that the consistency with the squad, the NJ/NY team will finish higher.  That is why the prediction is that the Bats will finish in the top four of the NWSL.

The reason why there is leeway with the prediction is simple: the league can sometimes end in tight finishes.  Just look at last year.  Third through eighth place were separated by four points.  Hence, two more wins for Gotham could have led to a third-place finish.  Since it is believed that the team will be better in 2026, and the roster is full of talent, then the team can win more games and be higher in the standings.

At the same time, the NWSL is competitive.  There can be multiple favorites to win the league, and unless someone pulls what the Kansas City Current did and runs away with the NWSL Shield, fans should assume that the competition for first and even the top four should go well into the final week or two of the season.

In complete honesty, Gotham could still finish lower than fourth, for there are unknowns.  Injuries could also hurt the team.  Nevertheless, a top-four finish to the regular season is likely.

2. Sports Illustrated Stadium will become a fortress again

As mentioned, the Bats struggled at home in 2025.  They went 4-4-5, which is not acceptable when playing at home.  This was a major change from 2024, when they went 8-3-2.  Yes, in the past, they have not had the best home record in many seasons, especially in 2022, in which they won only one match.  However, Gotham FC is a different team, and one that is supposed to compete for trophies and to be the best in the NWSL.

Home is a place where they should be getting positive results.  So, the next prediction is that Sports Illustrated Stadium will become a fortress again, and the NJ/NY side will win the majority of their games.

As a reminder, due to the expansion teams, the season has been extended to 30 matches.  That means the Bats will play most of the 15 games at home at Sports Illustrated Stadium, with a couple of exceptions.  Still, for the 15 labeled home games, Gotham should, at a minimum, win 9 or 10 of them.  It would be incredible for the team to go unbeaten at home, especially with the return of Tierna Davidson in the backline.

Alas, the NWSL is extremely competitive compared to other leagues, so that would be a difficult task.  But if Gotham can limit the losses to one or two, then that would be a successful season at home.

1. Gotham FC will have four players combine for 30 plus goals

Esther González led the team with 13 goals.  She was in the fight for the Golden Boot almost all season until she was impacted by injury toward the end.  Gotham is lucky to have her, but there is no question that help is needed.  Sometimes, the team went quiet on the goal-scoring front, and others must step up.

Yes, the NJ/NY team brought back Katie Lampson (formerly Stengel) and has another backup striker in Jordynn Dudley, who might replace González in the future.  But when it comes to starters, Rose Lavelle, Midge Purce, and Jaedyn Shaw should all start multiple NWSL matches.  As such, between them and the Spaniard, the final prediction is that the four players will score 30 or more goals in the NWSL, both in the regular season and postseason.

Some might say this is crazy, but think about it.  If González scores 13 again, then the other three would have to score at least 17.  Purce is finally coming back into her own after tearing her ACL in 2024, and can score five or more goals when healthy.  Lavelle missed a portion of last year, limiting her chances to score.  Remember, between the regular season and playoffs, Lavelle scored eight and six goals in 2024 and 2025, respectively.  Then, Shaw had six, including two in the playoffs.  She is comfortable with the Bats, so she could easily add more.  But if the three add six each, then that would lead to more than 30 goals.

This might be a prediction that comes back to haunt Skyscraper Blues, but Gotham FC can score more goals this year.  That is something this roster is capable of.