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Yael Averbuch West, general manager of NJ/NY Gotham FC, penned a letter to supporters addressing concerns and “outside narratives” over recent roster departures and offseason questions ahead of the 2025 National Women’s Soccer League season.
This offseason has seen nearly a dozen departures from the New York-New Jersey club just over a year after the team won the 2023 NWSL Championship and spent last offseason adding international talent to its roster. Among the departures from the club in recent weeks were forward Lynn Biyendolo (née Williams) and midfielders Crystal Dunn; and Yazmeen Ryan.
“I can’t even find the words to express how incredibly sad I am,” Dunn said upon her departure from the team last week. Dunn had arrived last offseason as a marquee signing. She and Gotham agreed to a mutual contract termination last week. Biyendolo said recently that she and Gotham “were not a good fit.”
That, combined with a major trade that sent Ryan to the Houston Dash in December, has painted a concerning external view of Gotham, which appeared to prompt Averbuch West’s letter.
“One of the most challenging aspects of my job is seeing these external perspectives contrast with the deep confidence and belief we have in what we’re building at Gotham FC,” Averbuch West said in the letter released by the club on Monday.
Dunn recently signed with Paris Saint-Germain, while the others made in-league signings: Biyendolo joined the Seattle Reign, Ryan — along with midfielder Delanie Sheehan and goalkeeper Abby Smith — went to Houston, Hiatt signed with the Portland Thorns and Maitane López joined the Chicago Red Stars.
In a post on her social media account, Biyendolo stated that her trade from Gotham to Seattle came as a shock.
“I truly never thought I would be moving again,” her post read. “I thought I would be a one (maybe two) team kind of player. But that’s the beauty of this sport — it takes you to unforeseeable places and allows you to gather incredible memories along the way.”
Averbuch West, who wrote the letter while Gotham begins preseason training in Spain, stated that the offseason brought “changes to the roster and staff, as we work to transition from a team with moments of success to a club with a sustainable, winning culture.”
“We recognize not every player’s journey will align perfectly with our club’s path,” Averbuch West wrote in the letter, which is on Gotham FC’s website. “Some will thrive and grow with us for years while others may desire to move on to other opportunities. Sometimes we’ll decide to move in a different direction, too. This is the nature of professional sports.”
The turbulent offseason comes just a hear after Gotham backed up a surprising first NWSL title by signing four U.S. internationals in free agency: Dunn, Emily Sonnett, Tierna Davidson and Rose Lavelle. Combined with the team’s existing talent, Gotham’s attempted buildout was dubbed a rare NWSL “super team
“Our goal was never to form a ‘super team,'” Averbuch West said in her letter.
She highlighted key roster additions to the 2025 roster, including midfielder Jaelin Howell, Brazilian defender Gabi Portilho and Ghanian midfielder Stella Nyamekye. The team also signed collegiate players Sarah Schupansky from the University of Pittsburgh, Lilly Reale and Ryan Cambell from UCLA, and Khyah Harper from the University of Minnesota.
Midge Purce, who won the 2023 NWSL Championship MVP award, remains a free agent despite preseason getting underway.
“I know this offseason has been a time of uncertainty for our fans, and I want you to know we’ve worked tirelessly to build a team you’ll be excited to stand behind in 2025 and every season after,” Averbuch West wrote. “And we aren’t done yet. Our mission is clear: Reaching Gotham FC’s potential as one of the best clubs in the world.”
Gotham finished the 2024 regular-season in third place, clinching a spot in the NWSL playoffs. The team lost in the semifinals to the Washington Spirit.
