Gotham opened free agency with groundbreaking news that 2021 NWSL Champion and DC resident Kelley O’Hara will be returning to New Jersey, where she played from 2013-2017. The author would like to note that as of publishing, this has yet to be confirmed by the league. She was confirmed to have been signed to a two-year contract in late January.
Gotham hasn’t shied away from the opportunities free agency brings, bringing back free agent Taylor Smith, a mid-season defensive pickup who quickly made a name for herself in Jersey, despite coming into a season many fans had written off. Forward Ifeoma Onumonu and Defender Mandy Freeman will also be staying with the club. Freeman has signed on for two years, while Onumonu and Taylor Smith have each been signed for three.
Goalie Abby Smith joins Gotham from Portland and Defender Kristen Edmonds returns to her native New Jersey from Kansas City, notably two teams who faced off in last season’s NWSL Championship. Abby Smith has signed on for three years with the club, as has Edmonds.
Midfielder McCall Zerboni was confirmed to be rejoining the Gotham squad on a one-year contract on January 13, 2023.
If it feels like Gotham is making moves, that’s because they are – those are just the free agents!
Gotham has also signed Defender Nealy Martin, who was waived by Racing Louisville. Martin has signed on for the 2023 season, with an option for 2024.
Midfielder Victoria Pickett was traded to Gotham FC mid-season from Kansas City and has signed a three-year contract.
Early in the off-season, Gotham FC named Juan Carlos Amorós their Head Coach moving into 2023. He was signed to a three-year contract.
After a season in the Damallsvenskan, Goalkeeper Mandy Haught has signed a two-year deal with Gotham FC, that includes a mutual option for a third.
Icelandic International Svava Rós Guðmundsdóttir was signed to a two-year contract at the end of January, bringing a boost to Gotham’s forward pool.
Who won’t be returning to Gotham in 2023?
The team announced in October that Nicole Baxter, Jennifer Cudjoe, Domi Richardson, and Kumi Yokoyama would not be returning for the 2023 season. In November, Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris retired.
On January 18, 2023, Gotham FC waived Forward Cameron Tucker.
Let’s talk Draft
In early January a trade involving the Portland Thorns and Angel City, Gotham received Yazmeen Ryan and $250,000 in allocation money for the number one overall pick in the Draft. Ryan was later signed to a three-year contract with an option for 2026.
Gotham also traded their natural fourth-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft and $350,000 in allocation money to Orlando for the second overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft.
Come Draft Day, the moves didn’t stop.
Gotham recieved the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft from Racing Louisville in exchange for Paige Monaghan, a 2023 International Slot, and $150,000 in allocation money. This pick was used to select Attacking Midfielder Jenna Nighswonger of Florida State University, who was signed by the team on March 17, 2023 to a three-year contract.
The team traded the 13th overall pick to San Diego Wave FC for $100,000 in allocation money.
Shocking the crowd in Philadelphia, Gotham traded the second overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft to the Kansas City Current in exchange for Forward Lynn Williams.
Ultimately, Gotham only selected one other player in the 2023 NWSL Draft: Defensive Midfielder Iliana Hocking out of Arizona. The team shared that Hocking’s rights had been waived in their March 6th Pre-Season Roster Update.
Nighswonger was signed shortly before the 2023 NWSL season commenced to a three-year contract with Gotham.
Offseason Injuries
Midfielder Taryn Torres suffered a season-ending ACL injury during pre-season.
Sinead Farrelly rejoins the NWSL.
90 minutes prior to the season kicking off on March 25, 2023, Gotham FC announced that Sinead Farrelly, a key whistleblower in the NWSL abuse scandals that were exposed in late 2021, has signed a one year contract with an option.