Gotham FC news roundup: Another international break and Jess Carter

The start to the 2026 NWSL season has not been the greatest for NJ/NY Gotham FC. The team is 1-2-2, and has not won since the season opener against Boston Legacy FC. They have also scored only two goals, breaking the scoring drought in the loss to the Kansas City Current last weekend.

The Bats should be doing better based on the roster, but that is not the case. At the very least, they have looked better in their last two matches despite only picking up one point.

Now, the NJ/NY side does not have a game until the end of April because of the international break. Hopefully, the pause will be a positive for the team, and not a negative. In the meantime, check out the latest Gotham FC news roundup.

Many Gotham FC players are away

Multiple Gotham FC players are away on international duty. With 14 players away, only about half of the team will be training with the club, while everyone else is with their national teams.

Of the 14, nine are with the United States women's national team or the U-23 team. Tierna Davidson, Rose Lavelle, Lilly Reale, Jaedyn Shaw, and Emily Sonnett are with the first team, in which they will face Japan three times during this window. Then, Sofia Cook, Jordynn Dudley, Andrea Kitahata, and Sarah Schupansky will be with the U-23 USWNT, in which they will play the U-23 teams of the Netherlands, Denmark, and either France or Scotland.

Additionally to the US players, five others will represent five different countries. Ann-Katrin Berger will be with Germany to face Austria twice, Jess Carter will be with England and will play Spain and Iceland, Esther González will represent Spain in the matches against England and Ukraine, Guro Reiten and her Norway side will face Slovenia twice, and Talia Sommer and Israel will play Luxembourg twice. All of these fixtures are 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying matches.

Ideally, the players will do well with their national teams and return to Gotham FC and play well there.

Jess Carter's monthly honors

Carter has been stellar for the Bats and is part of the reason why the team has three clean sheets in five games. So, it was not shocking that she was named to the NWSL Best XI of the Month for March.

The center-back will likely see her time as a center-back dwindle when Davidson is fully healthy. Still, Carter will get playing time, even as a right-back. If she continues to play at a high level, then she might be someone who will be considered for the Defender of the Year.