Gotham FC has faced a challenging start to the 2026 NWSL season, particularly in maintaining defensive stability and tactical fluidity while Bruninha (hamstring) and Mandy Freeman (lower leg) remain sidelined.
The team currently holds a (1-1-1 record), with a 1-0 win against expansion side Boston Legacy, a 0-0 draw against the North Carolina Courage, and a 2-0 loss to another new NWSL side, Denver Summit FC. The Bats sit in ninth place in the NWSL standings with four points. The absence of Gotham’s first-choice right-backs has played a significant role in those early results, forcing adjustments across the backline and affecting both defensive structure and attacking rhythm.
Right-Back Adjustments
With both natural right-back options out, coach Juan Carlos Amorós has been forced to experiment. In the season opener against Boston Legacy, Midge Purce, traditionally a forward, was tasked with dropping into the right-back position. While she held her own defensively, moving one of Gotham’s key attackers into a defensive position limited the team’s offensive threat. In the following two matches, Kayla Duran, a center-back who can fill in at right-back, got the nod against the Courage and Summit. Although she showed competence, she struggled with the pace of opposing wingers and lost several ground duels, leaving Gotham more exposed in wide areas.
Bruninha’s Tactical Impact and Build-up Play
Bruninha is one of the central figures in Gotham’s transition game. In 2025, she established herself as one of the league’s premier progressing defenders, using her passing to drive the team forward across three distinct ranges. Her short-to-medium passes serve as a primary “release valve,” linking center-backs with central midfielders even under pressure, and she completed 74.2 percent of her passes over 1,544 minutes last season. Her long-range accuracy, with 40 percent of long balls finding their target, allows Gotham to bypass mid-blocks and create instant one-on-one opportunities for attackers.
In the final third, Bruninha remains a threat despite being a defender, creating 14 chances and two big chances in 2025. Her overlapping runs, combined with her ability to deliver whipped crosses or low, hard cutbacks, give Gotham’s attack a more vertical dimension when she is on the pitch. Without her presence, the team has struggled to progress the ball efficiently, and the attack has at times been stagnant, as seen in the scoreless draw against the North Carolina Courage.
Freeman’s Defensive Impact and Presence
Bruninha’s absence has left a clear gap in Gotham’s attacking progression, but the impact on the defensive side has been equally noticeable. Without Freeman, the team is missing a stabilizing presence that normally allows the backline to stay compact and control risky situations.
Freeman provides the structural stability that balances Gotham’s high-pressure system. During the 2025 season, she recorded 61 clearances, 15 tackles, and 15 interceptions, showcasing her ability to read the game and disrupt opposing attacks. Her positional discipline allows Gotham to maintain defensive shape, particularly when Bruninha pushes high on the right flank.
Freeman is also highly effective in physical contests, winning 55.3 percent of her total duels and 50 percent of her aerial duels. This consistency in one-on-one situations has been critical in slowing down fast, expansion-side wingers and preventing dangerous chances in recent matches.
In addition to her defensive reliability, Freeman contributes to ball retention and the team’s build-up play. She completed 430 successful passes with a 71.9 percent accuracy rate in 2025, helping Gotham maintain possession and avoid high-risk turnovers that could lead to transition goals. Her presence in the backline allows other defenders and midfielders to play with confidence, knowing that there is a steady hand guarding the defensive structure.
How Gotham Can Adjust
Navigating these absences will require Gotham to find consistency within an adjusted defensive structure rather than relying on a direct replacement. Establishing a stable option at right-back could help improve communication and positioning across the backline, even if it comes at the cost of some pace in wide areas. For now, keeping Duran in the role provides the most stability and allows Purce to remain in her advanced position, preserving one of Gotham’s biggest offensive threats.
Midfield support will also be critical. Dropping deeper in defensive phases can help close gaps on the right side and reduce one-on-one situations against opposing attackers. This added protection allows the backline to stay compact and limits exposure in transition.
In possession, Gotham may need to be more controlled. Prioritizing ball retention and reducing turnovers can limit the number of defensive recovery situations, an area where the absence of Bruninha’s pace and Freeman’s positioning is most noticeable.
Looking Ahead
With Bruninha and Freeman sidelined, Amorós faces the task of finding the right balance between offense and defense. He must manage the backline to cover gaps while keeping the attack effective, rotating players carefully without losing cohesion. How he navigates these challenges until one or both defenders return will be critical for Gotham’s ability to stabilize results and maintain competitiveness in the early season.
