Gotham FC is on the verge of an unprecedented achievement in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), aiming to become the first club to win all three major trophies in a single season. Following their victory in the NWSL Shield on Sunday, the team is preparing for the championship quarterfinals, seeking to add the ultimate prize to their already impressive haul.
Coach Juan Carlos Amorós acknowledged the historic nature of the Shield win, stating it was a "historic day for the club." He emphasized the team's current status, "champions of the championship, champions of the Challenge Cup … now we are champions of the Shield, which means that basically we’re winners of everything and we’re going to try to win the championship again." Their quest continues Sunday as they host the Seattle Reign in the quarterfinals.
Gotham FC has already set new franchise records this season with 18 wins and 61 points. Historically, only a few clubs have managed to win both the NWSL Shield and the championship in the same year, with the Orlando Pride achieving this in 2024 and the North Carolina Courage in 2018 and 2019. However, since the inception of the Challenge Cup in 2020, no team has successfully completed the "treble" by winning all three titles.
Players have expressed their strong desire to achieve this historic feat. Defender Mandy Freeman told The Post that "everyone here definitely wants to win the championship," while forward Midge Purce noted that for an American player, winning the championship holds particular significance. Freeman added that while the Shield signifies consistency, "you kind of forget about it after the championship because it’s the team holding the trophy at the end that gets remembered."
This season marks a departure from Gotham's previous championship runs, where they entered the playoffs as the final seed with single-digit regular-season wins. This year, they have been the most consistent team throughout the regular season. Amorós reflected on the challenges faced, including player injuries and managing the team during his paternity leave, highlighting the collective effort that led to sustained success. "Against everything, against everyone, we were able to do that," he said. The focus now shifts to navigating the playoffs and securing championship glory.