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    Your home for NWSL coverage on The Local W — news, match analysis, and features from across the National Women’s Soccer League.

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    PWHL Takeover: Team Canada 2026 Olympic Roster Announced

    PWHL New York Sirens promotional graphic for the Madison Square Garden debut on April 4. Features forwards Casey O'Brien (#26) and Kristýna Kaltounková (#98) in the teal and navy Sirens home jerseys with "Full Volume Hockey" text.

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    New York Sirens Star Kristýna Kaltounková Named to Czechia Olympic Roster for Milano Cortina 2026

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    WNBA

    Your source for WNBA news and analysis on The Local W — league-wide coverage, trade breakdowns, draft previews, and deep-dive reporting.

    WNBA game between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty

    WNBA Playoff Power Rankings: How Each Team Stacks Up

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    The Incredible Consistency of Breanna Stewart

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NWSL

NWSL

The definitive guide to the NWSL — 2026 season preview, standings, expansion news, and analysis. From Gotham FC to the league's future.

2026 Season Overview

The NWSL enters 2026 with 14 teams. Attendance records continue to fall across the league. TLW's NWSL coverage is anchored by Gotham FC — our local team.

📊 All NWSL teams, players & standings on Catch the W

Teams

TLW covers Gotham FC as our flagship NWSL team. Our league-wide coverage focuses on expansion, CBA updates, and the stories that shape women's soccer.

NWSL Growth & Business

  • Attendance records — the league is growing fast
  • Expansion continues — new markets, new teams
  • Media deal and broadcast landscape

History & Culture

Founded in 2012, the NWSL has grown from a struggling startup to the premier women's soccer league in the world. From the 2021 abuse scandal that reshaped the league's governance to the record-breaking 2023 season, the NWSL's story is one of resilience and growth.

Related

  • NWSL on Catch the W — all teams, players, standings
  • Gotham FC Hub — our flagship team
Rose Lavelle
Joe · January 16, 2026 · 6 min read

The Gilded Bats: Rose Lavelle and Lilly Reale Make History with U.S. Soccer Player of the Year Sweep

The trophy truck just made another delivery to New Jersey—and this time, it brought individual hardware to match the championship rings. In a historic announcement,…
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Mandy Freeman, Rose Lavelle, and Tierna Davidson celebrate Gotham FC’s championship reign at City Hall.
Joe · January 15, 2026 · 6 min read

Gotham FC 2026 Schedule: National TV, Expansion Rivals, and the Road to a Dynasty

The roadmap to an NWSL dynasty is officially on the board, and for the rest of the league, it reads like a thriller. With the…
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Princess Ademiluyi Gotham FC 2026 Preseason Training Spain
Joe · January 9, 2026 · 4 min read

Gotham FC Recalls Ademiluyi and Nyamekye for FIFA Women’s Champions Cup; Adds Kat Jordan

The reigning NWSL Champions aren’t just preparing for a new season—they are preparing to conquer the world. As NJ/NY Gotham FC settles into their January…
Read More
Tierna Davidson and Jenna Nighswonger at USWNT vs China game
Joe · January 2, 2024 · 3 min read

Gotham FC Lands a Legend: Why the Tierna Davidson Signing Changes Everything

So, Gotham FC went out and got themselves a superhero. She has no cape and no Batmobile. Instead, she brings a pair of cleats, a…
Read More
Crystal Dunn
Joe · December 31, 2023 · 3 min read

The Rich Get Richer: Why Crystal Dunn Joining Gotham FC is a League-Wide Warning

Well, the rich just got filthy. The reigning NWSL champs, Gotham FC, recently looked at their trophy and their roster and decided it wasn’t quite…
Read More
Jenna Tonelli · November 20, 2023 · 3 min read

Jenna Nighswonger, Midge Purce, and Lynn Williams called into USWNT camp

Fresh off their 2023 NWSL Championship win, NJ/NY Gotham FC players Midge Purce, Lynn Williams, and Jenna Nighswonger have been named to the U.S. women’s…
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Gotham FC 2023 NWSL Championship winners
Sara Ach · November 13, 2023 · 9 min read

The Hollywood Script: How NJ/NY Gotham FC Won the 2023 NWSL Championship

It was the script no one would believe if it wasn’t real: A team that finished dead last in 2022, a retiring legend playing her…
Read More
Fans at the Gotham FC NWSL Championship match
Jenna Tonelli · November 13, 2023 · 6 min read

Packed Championship Watch Parties A Catharsis for Local Gotham FC Fans

On Saturday, November 11th, fans gathered at bars and watch parties around the city to cheer on NJ/NY Gotham FC as they faced OL Reign…
Read More
Lynn Williams
Sara Ach · October 3, 2023 · 6 min read

Gotham FC Home Win Streak Snapped with 0-2 loss to Houston Dash

HARRISON, NJ – On Sunday October 1st, NJ/NY Gotham FC snapped their seven game home unbeaten streak with a 2-0 loss against the Houston Dash.…
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Margaret "Midge” Purce
Alexis Juarez · September 19, 2023 · 8 min read

A Tale of Two Halves: Gotham secures a hard fought point away at North Carolina

On September 2nd, NJ/NY Gotham FC traveled to Cary, North Carolina for the final time in the regular season to face off against the North…
Read More
Gotham FC
Sara Ach · September 19, 2023 · 5 min read

Esther González’s Home Debut Brace Gives Gotham FC 3 Important Points

HARRISON, NJ – On Saturday September 16, NJ/NY Gotham FC tallied three significant points with a 2-0 win against Washington Spirit. With the victory, Gotham…
Read More
Esther Gonzalez, Yael Averbuch West, Juan Carlos Amoros
Jenna Tonelli · September 15, 2023 · 4 min read

Welcome to New York, Esther González

On Thursday, September 14th, World Cup Winner Esther González met media at Mercado Little Spain in New York City just two days before her home…
Read More
Gotham FC v. Racing Louisville August 27, 2023
Jenna Tonelli · August 28, 2023 · 3 min read

Gotham FC shows team support for Jenni Hermoso at home

HARRISON, NJ – NJ/NY Gotham FC came away with a single point following a scoreless draw against Racing Louisville on Sunday night at Red Bull…
Read More
NWSL soccer ball at Gotham FC game
Jenna Tonelli · August 25, 2023 · 4 min read

Gotham FC releases statement of support for Jenni Hermoso and Spanish National Team

HARRISON, NJ – On Friday night, NJ/NY Gotham FC released a team statement supporting Spanish National Team player Jenni Hermoso and her teammates after the…
Read More
Sara Ach · July 5, 2023 · 6 min read

Gotham FC Veterans Make NWSL History in 0-0 Draw against Angel City

On another rainy evening in New York and New Jersey, the clouds unexpectedly parted above Red Bull Arena, allowing Gotham FC to host Angel City…
Read More

NWSL Standings

TeamW-D-LPts
NJ/NY Gotham FC16-6-454
San Diego Wave FC15-3-848
Washington Spirit14-4-846
Utah Royals FC14-3-945
Portland Thorns FC12-7-743
Angel City FC12-6-842
Kansas City Current12-5-941
Seattle Reign FC12-4-1040
North Carolina Courage12-3-1139
Denver Summit FC9-8-935
Orlando Pride10-3-1333
Houston Dash8-6-1230
Bay FC7-5-1426
Boston Legacy FC7-5-1426
Racing Louisville FC7-2-1723
Chicago Stars FC5-2-1917

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The W: A History of the WNBA by Tamryn Spruill - book cover
The W: A History of the WNBA
Tamryn Spruill’s 496-page history of the league’s first three decades. Out Sept. 22 (Abrams Press).
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WNBA game between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty

WNBA Playoff Power Rankings: How Each Team Stacks Up

Breanna Stewart blocks a shot for the NY Liberty

The Incredible Consistency of Breanna Stewart

Golden State Valkyries guard Kaitlyn Chen

The Present and Future of AAPI Athletes in the WNBA

Satou Sabally is ready to take the Liberty to new heights

Pauline Astier shines for the Liberty

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