The report says Gotham is treating a new deal for Rose Lavelle as a priority, with conversations ongoing. That does not guarantee an agreement, but it highlights the midfielder’s importance to a team still building around her creativity and experience.
Lavelle joined Gotham in 2024 and quickly became one of the squad’s key attacking references. She missed the first half of 2025 after ankle surgery before returning to help the club claim another NWSL title. Her presence has also featured prominently in Gotham’s promotional plans for the move to Etihad Park in Queens, scheduled for 2028.
“We’re working on it every day,” Averbuch West said, reinforcing the message that retaining Lavelle is a live priority rather than a distant ambition.
Gotham’s planning extends well beyond one contract. The club must preserve a championship-level core while working within the NWSL’s salary-cap structure.
That mix gives Gotham momentum, but also creates difficult decisions as the front office weighs continuity against flexibility.
Gotham returned from the summer break with a reported 2-0 defeat against San Diego and sits seventh after an inconsistent run. The next test comes away to Utah, followed by the Queens Classic against Washington Spirit on 15 July.
Those matches could sharpen the club’s sporting priorities-and make the future of Lavelle even more central to the next phase of Gotham’s project.