SP Minisode: Inside Gotham FC’s Championship Push

Gotham FC, New York and New Jersey’s Women’s Soccer team, has already made history as the #8 seed heading to the 2025 NWSL Championship in San Jose after knocking out the top-ranked Kansas City Current. But can they bring home the gold? In this She Pivots Minisode, host Emily Tisch Sussman taps soccer experts, World Cup champions, Gotham’s GM, team ownership, and devoted and new fans alike to break down why this run is electrifying women’s sports.

From Ali Krieger and Kelley O’Hara to Gotham FC GM Yael Averbuch West and co-owner Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, this special edition explores Gotham’s underdog mentality and grit, the cultural momentum behind women’s soccer, and why now is the moment to tune in.

Gotham FC vs. Washington Spirit: Saturday 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.

Support women. Support women’s sports. Go Gotham.

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She Pivots was created by host Emily Tisch Sussman to highlight women, their stories, and how their pivot became their success. Join the Pivoter community and follow us on Instagram @ShePivotsThePodcast or visit shepivotsthepodcast.com.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
We're back with a special treat for you because the
NWSL Championship is this weekend. We want to give you
the inside word. Gotham FC is making a historic run
for the championship. So I talked to some experts as
well as some new fans. Women's soccer is the moment
and it all comes down to Saturday night.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
So let's start with some experts.

Speaker 1 (00:30):
Here's Ali Kreeger, ESPN Soccer Studio analyst, two time FIFA
World Cup champion, twenty twenty three NWSL title holder, former
Gotham FC captain and former she Pivots guest.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
So now, Alie, why should people tune in?

Speaker 3 (00:45):
Like?

Speaker 2 (00:45):
Is it fun to watch?

Speaker 4 (00:46):
Yeah? I mean women's football is such an incredible game.
It's really fun to watch the energy, the excitement, the
atmosphere surrounding women's football right now. If you're not a
part of it, you're going to be missing out. And
so I would get you, know, I would, I would
get yourself together and get to a game.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
And if not to.

Speaker 4 (01:07):
A game, then watch on TV. They should really tune
it or they want joy, if they want excitement, exhilaration,
if they want to feel more like themselves, they should
definitely tune in.

Speaker 1 (01:18):
Next we have Kelly O'Hara, two time FIFA World Cup champion,
Olympic gold medalist, former Gotham EPs player and host of
the Sports Are Fun podcast. I spoke to her shortly
after Gotham's historic win against Kansas City Current in the quarterfinals,
where the unseeded the number one seed to advance to
the semis. Take a listen, Kellymara, Why should people tune

(01:43):
in and watch them in soccer?

Speaker 2 (01:44):
Will it be fun? You'll have the best time.

Speaker 5 (01:46):
What have you been doing with your life if you
haven't been tuning M one hundred percent?

Speaker 1 (01:50):
How did it feel when you picked Gotham as the
underdog last week to prove everyone right?

Speaker 2 (01:56):
Well, it felt.

Speaker 5 (01:57):
Great when you're right.

Speaker 6 (01:58):
No.

Speaker 5 (01:59):
I was so happy for Gotham to get that win.
They obviously were walking into a stadium that is a
bit formidable, cold cold, also against a team that you know,
clear and away was the best team this season. But
give you ninety minutes you can do anything.

Speaker 2 (02:15):
You know, could Gotham go all the way this year?

Speaker 1 (02:19):
I also spoke to yah Elle Aberbush West, former professional
soccer player formerly the executive director of the NWSL Players
Association and current general manager of Gotham FC. Here's yeah
Elle's take.

Speaker 7 (02:31):
For those of you who aren't familiar with watching Gotham FC.
We play a really fun, attacking style soccer. You get
to see who steps up in the big moments, who
becomes the star of the game, and really anyone can
win on a given day, So you should tune in
and be on the edge of your seat because it's
going to be a really fun and exciting game with
a lot of goalscoring opportunities.

Speaker 1 (02:51):
Let's hear from the owner's side of things. Here's Gotham
FC co owner Past she Pivots guest and my sister
Carolyn Tish Blodgett.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
Carolyn, Welcome to she Pivots. Thank you.

Speaker 1 (03:01):
We are here in San Jose. We are at the Championship.
Gotam is locking in, getting ready. What do you think
people can expect from Gotam in the championship this year?

Speaker 8 (03:10):
So I think every championship team needs a reason to
be in the Championship and needs a reason to win.
And if you think about this, you know what makes Gotham,
what makes this Gotham's year. I think about this kind
of underdog mentality that we've really embraced. And you know,
I think all year we've had really good performances, we've
had really good moments, we've had some that weren't and

(03:31):
it kind of made the rest of the world to
question us and how good we could be. But Gotham,
the locker room, the team, the staff never questioned that
we would be in the championship one day, and so
this kind of underdog mentality I think has fueled the
team and made us want to prove to the world
what we've known all along, which is this is a
championship team.

Speaker 1 (03:49):
I feel like all the conversation on that hardly conversation
on the field. At for the last couple of wins,
it's more like screaming, hugging, and yelling.

Speaker 2 (03:56):
But it's been a lot of like we do it
our way, yeah, very much.

Speaker 1 (03:59):
So.

Speaker 8 (03:59):
We've we had you know, this team has traveled to
more games than any other team. We've had more obstacles,
we've had injuries, we've had setbacks, and we've been on
the road this entire time. So if you think about
what has other people's road to the championship has looked
a little easier, you know, they've had home playoff games.

Speaker 2 (04:17):
They've gotten to sleep in their own bed.

Speaker 8 (04:18):
We've flown to Kansas City in the middle of a
government shut down when planes were getting canceled. But then
we turned around and we flew to Orlando again, you know,
planes being canceled. We flew straight to San Jose. This
team hasn't been in their own bed. They've had the fields.

Speaker 2 (04:32):
Were screwed up. We had to change practice.

Speaker 8 (04:33):
I mean, we have had obstacle after obstacle, and that
is the Gotham way. It is a gritty team who
shows up even when every obstacle has thrown our way.

Speaker 1 (04:41):
Okay, I feel like I'm going to cry just asking
you this question. But what does it mean to you
to lead a championship team?

Speaker 7 (04:47):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (04:47):
I'm going to cry thinking about it.

Speaker 8 (04:48):
So we were obviously came in as new owners in
twenty twenty three, and although we had been involved kind
of behind the scenes, we hadn't really been, you know,
front and center. So while it was incredibly exciting to win,
I don't think had the same meaning as it feels today.
I feel like I personally, and I think I can
speak on behalf of the entire team have just given

(05:09):
so much to this team, and I think each person
on our team has looked themselves in the mirror and said,
what can I individually do to give this team the
best chance of success?

Speaker 2 (05:17):
And I know I personally feel that way.

Speaker 8 (05:19):
So to be able to feel like we are all
giving it, are all and hopefully going to walk away
with with a trophy, I will definitely be crying. I
will crying thinking about it. Prediction for the game score Okay,
I hadn't gotten that far. Well, obviously Gotham winning. I'm
going for one nothing Gotham. Ooh, keep it a nail fighter. Yeah,

(05:41):
I think it's going to be a nail bighter. I
think Jaden Shaw is going to find the back of
the net like she has every other playoff game, and
Anne obviously is not letting anything past her.

Speaker 2 (05:51):
Love that. Okay, When can people tune in.

Speaker 8 (05:54):
Eight o'clock CBS Saturday Night. All right, thank you, Carolyn,
thank you.

Speaker 1 (05:59):
Next, we have a new women's soccer fan to talk
about the fan experience.

Speaker 2 (06:04):
Here's Gabby Katz, who are a newer fan. Yeah, tell
me about it.

Speaker 3 (06:07):
I'm going to promote that people go to the stadium
and actually go irl because what I will tell you
is not only is the community like infectious and I
love all different like types of walks of life and
all everyone coming together supporting women's sports, which I think
is really important. I wanted for nothing. My needs were met,

(06:28):
I was comfortable.

Speaker 2 (06:29):
And I was having fun. The food is good, the
food is optimal. Yeah, don't sleep on it. Don't sleep
on it. Yeah, the food is That's my pitch for Okay, Gotham.

Speaker 6 (06:37):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (06:37):
But here's the thing. I love Lady Gotham. Okay, So
should people student? Oh well, we have to tune in.

Speaker 3 (06:43):
It's a must win situation, so that's really important.

Speaker 2 (06:46):
To test well, get a parade. I'll see you at
the bar.

Speaker 1 (06:50):
I also talked to a long time women's soccer fan
about Gotham being in the Championship. Here's Reesa Whipple.

Speaker 6 (06:56):
As a longtime Gotham fan, I could not be more
out of this team. They have such grit and heart
and resilience and skill. I am so excited to watch
them play in the Championship and I'm so proud of
all they've accomplished this season, especially in the most recent weeks.
As a lifelong soccer player myself and someone who now

(07:20):
coaches youth soccer. They are such an inspiration to the kids,
especially girls who are playing soccer, and we want to
keep them in the game. And watching a team like
Gotham fight as hard as they do every game and
show up the way they do for the fans is
so incredibly inspiring and I will never ever forget this

(07:42):
season in particular, this.

Speaker 1 (07:47):
Has been a sheepivot special minisode. Thank you for joining
me and I'll see you tuning in to Gotham FC
versus Washington Spirit NWSL championship game at eight pm Eastern,
five pm Pacific on c VS and Paramount Plus Support
Women Support women's sports, Go Gotham. I'll catch you next time.