Gotham were underachievers, until they were champions – Equalizer Soccer

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Speaking during last week’s Media Day, Gotham FC keeper Ann-Katrin Berger said the team was “too late” finding its stride for 2025. Asked to clarify, Berger confirmed that it was not too late but was indeed later than anyone wanted. The language barrier reared its ugly head.

As it turns out, too late could have better been said as “just in time.” Though they were the eighth seed in an eight-team playoff field, meaning they did not even finish in the top half of the National Women’s Soccer League, but when the playoffs began, the team was up to the task. After slaying the 21-win Shield holders Kansas City Current, they went to Orlando and won again, and beat the Washington Spirit last weekend to finish off what was a circuitous route to a second NWSL Championship in three years.

“I keep saying we all know that we underperformed especially at the end of the season,” NWSL Championship MVP Rose Lavelle said following Saturday’s title-clincher. “That was not the end that we wanted to have.”