Bats take down Kansas City 2-0, set eyes on the Queens Classic

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

COLUMBUS, OH – Gotham Football Club are NWSL Challenge Cup Champions! The Bats earned more silverware over the weekend, taking down the Kansas City Current 2-0 for their first Challenge Cup title.

The competition was introduced in 2020 before becoming a supercup in 2024, pitting the previous season’s regular season winners against the eventual playoff champion. In the inaugural supercup, 2023 champions Gotham played against San Diego Wave FC, falling 1-0 at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.

This time Gotham would not be denied. They followed up last year’s historic upset playoff win with a shutout victory against KC (Gotham became the first 8-seed to beat the #1 team in the NWSL playoffs). 

Stellar goalkeeping by Ann-Katrin Berger kept the game scoreless in the opening 10 minutes, getting her leg out to redirect a point-blank shot into the crossbar. Berger made a few more stops and before the halftime whistle, Gotham were awarded a penalty for a foul at the top of the box. Esther Gonzales stepped forward and scored the spot kick, sending the Current keeper the wrong way as she tucked the ball into the back of the net on her left side.

With the lead, Gotham locked in on defense, with Berger coming to the rescue a few more times to finish the half and keep the Current off the scoresheet in the 2nd half. 

The defensive work was once again rewarded as Jordynn Dudley picked the pocket of Kansas City defender Kayla Sharples. Dudley spun her defender around before lashing a shot into the bottom left corner.

The second goal sealed the match, with the final whistle blowing 15 minutes later. Gotham lifted the first NWSL silverware of the season, but now it’s right back to work with the 2026 season nearing its halfway point.

This weekend Gotham FC is in California for a 4th of July contest against San Diego. Then next Friday they head to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Royals before heading back to the northeast for a pair of pivotal matches.

Queens Classic coming up in July

The Bats aren’t done making a scene this Summer. In just a few weeks Gotham will be at Citi Field, playing in the biggest women’s sporting event in New York City history. Over 29,000 seats will be filled for the Queens Classic as Gotham plays hosts to the rival Washington Spirit. It’s sure to be a blast, with the star studded affair featuring countless World Cup legends.