3 things we learned from Gotham FC's Decision Day win over Utah Royals

Well, NJ/NY Gotham FC has done it. For the first time in club history, the Bats have won the NWSL Shield. They finished in first place, with an 18-5-7 record and 61 points. This is something that many fans could only dream of, as there were so many tough years in the team’s history. Yet, the day is finally here.

Moreover, it is fitting that the Bats won the Shield on Decision Day. Drama has been a part of their recent years, and of course Gotham FC had to win or draw on the final day of the season to lift the trophy. They did this by beating Utah Royals FC 2-0. It was not easy, and it was not the Bats’ best game by any means. But like last week against the Orlando Pride, they played well enough to get the win.

Guro Reiten scored in the first half, and Jaedyn Shaw, who came on as a substitute, scored in the second half to seal the deal. The NJ/NY side also defended well, limiting Utah to six shots.

This was an exciting game, especially since the Bats won the NWSL Shield. Here are three things we learned from Gotham FC’s win against the Utah Royals.

What Rose Lavelle and Jaedyn Shaw mean to Gotham FC

Listen, without Rose Lavelle and Shaw, Gotham FC is a great team. With them, the team is absolutely brilliant. Despite Reiten’s first-half goal, the first 45 minutes were a little tough, especially when Jaelin Howell was taken off with an ankle injury. But the Bats improved after halftime, gaining more possession and threatening Utah.

However, the NJ/NY side truly improved the most once Shaw came on the pitch, and later on, Lavelle. The movement in the midfield was better, and the transition from there to the final third was fantastic. Having Shaw, Sam Kerr, and Midge Purce up front created more of a scoring dynamic that eventually led to Shaw’s goal.

Lavelle began to control the midfield when she came on, and the movement up the pitch was smoother and more concise. Watching the game, it was like Gotham was a different team. Both players made an impact when they came on, and it shows how important they are to the team.

Concerns about Jaelin Howell

During the first half, Howell, who started every regular-season game, went down injured. It was a noncontact injury, so everyone was immediately concerned. The emotion on Howell’s face was vivid, and it was immediately recognizable that she would not continue.

The midfielder was able to walk off the pitch, but based on her reaction, the worst fear likely crossed everyone’s minds, such as a rupture of the Achilles tendon. However, the ESPN commentators later updated everyone watching on TV, easing those concerns.

Per the club, the injury is not what it was feared to be, and Howell suffered an ankle injury. The severity and whether she will be available for the postseason are unknown at this time. Notably, during the NWSL Shield celebrations, she did have a boot on.

Hopefully, Howell will be okay. Like Lavelle and Shaw, she is vital to Gotham. Without these players, it is very possible the Shield would belong to San Diego Wave FC.

Gotham FC has another goal

Winning the NWSL Shield for the first time in club history is an incredible accomplishment. This means that the Bats have won every domestic trophy that is available. Moreover, this is the first time that they ended the season in first place, highlighting that they are the best of the best.

In all honesty, it would not be terrible if Gotham did not win the NWSL Championship since they won last year and now have won the Shield. Yet, they have another goal in mind, and that is to win back-to-back years of the NWSL Championship. It has not been done since the 2018 and 2019 seasons, when the North Carolina Courage won in those two years.

That would also be an amazing thing to do. It will not be easy, though, as there are teams the Bats might have to face that have caused problems in 2026. But then again, the postseason is like a new season. Look at last year? Did anyone think the eighth-place team would win, especially in the quarterfinals? Probably not many, but Gotham FC knows what they have to do.

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