Under the lights of Sports Illustrated Stadium, Gotham defender Tierna Davidson took the silver NWSL Shield from commissioner Jessica Berman's hands Sunday evening. She shared it with Mandy Freeman, the club's longest-tenured player who was there when playoff berths didn't seem so guaranteed.
On the count of three, the duo thrust the silver platter into the air. Their teammates jumped and cheered around them.
Fireworks erupted behind the stage, offering a glittery backdrop to a historic moment.
Gotham secured the club's first NWSL Shield on the final day of the regular season with a 2-0 win against the playoff-bound Utah Royals.
"Oh my gosh, it felt amazing," Freeman said. "We've talked all year about really wanting to be in this position, to be able to compete for a Shield. Winning the championship last year wasn't good enough. We have this thing of being from last to first, but we want to feel and finish first to first."
Top-seeded Gotham, the defending champions, will open the playoffs Sunday when they host the eighth-seeded Seattle Reign.
Gotham FC forward Midge Purce, left, and defender Mandy Freeman celebrate their NWSL shield win, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Harrison, N.J. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Gotham has been on an upward trajectory over the past few years. They've earned the reputation of being the club no one wants to face in November, having won two of the past three NWSL championships, despite being the lowest playoff seed.
But Gotham president of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West made it clear before this season that the club had higher expectations.
"We want consistency," she wrote in a letter to fans. "We want to be playing our best soccer in the playoffs, and we want our regular-season performance to reflect the championship standards we hold."
Gotham finished the regular season with an 18-5-7 record and 61 points, setting a new club record for points in a single season.
Gotham FC forward Guro Reiten celebrates after scoring a goal against the Utah Royals in Harrison, N.J., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. Noah K. Murray for NY Post
It hasn't been an easy year by any means. Gotham started their preseason Jan. 2 — far earlier than other clubs — to prepare for the FIFA Women's Champions Cup in London.
Gotham lost several key players over the past 11 months. Emily Sonnett, Jordynn Dudley and Bruninha all suffered season-ending injuries. Esther Gonzalez left Gotham in July and later signed with a club abroad.
Juan Carlos Amorós also stepped away for five weeks midseason for paternity leave.
Gotham's resilience was tested. But the club stuck together and continued to find success.
The Shield is proof that Gotham was the most consistent club throughout the 30-game season.
Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle (16) celebrates after winning against the Utah Royals in Harrison, N.J., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
"It doesn't matter if we have star players or every single one matters because you can see the league is really hard and is very long and there's a lot of injuries and everything," said Ann-Katrin Berger, who recorded a franchise record 11 clean sheets this season. "Over the time, we now prove that we are a top team because if you remember last season, people were like, yeah, we're the underdogs. We're not. And that's our standard and I think that's why it's even better that we won the Shield now and now I really hope that people are taking us very serious because that's what they should."
Gotham — whose motto is "always building, never finished" — remains far from satisfied.
Gotham FC defender Tierna Davidson celebrates the NWSL Shield win at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
"I think we did improve our consistency a lot this year and we still can be such a better soccer team," Averbuch West said. "We're so proud of what we've done, and we still have our sights set on getting better and more consistent."
Midge Purce, who assisted on two goals Sunday, feels the same way.
"I like the Shield," Purce said. "I'm American, though. I want the championship."
