Gotham FC finished third in the inaugural Champions Cup, but they will be of little value to a team with the ambition of being a global brand.
However, the reality is that the competition was skewed against them. Played in the middle of the NWSL offseason, Gotham had to call players back into their orbit before the minimum 28-day off-season break required by the collective bargaining agreement between the NWSL and the players’ association. Their preseason has been disrupted as a result, with the time off needing to be reallocated before the new season begins. As if that wasn’t enough, to play in the tournament the NWSL side had to travel to London, the home city of Arsenal, who had a big advantage as a result.
