Gotham FC Signs Midfielder Tess Boade
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Aug. 20, 2026) — Gotham FC has signed free agent midfielder Tess Boade through the end of the 2026 season, the club announced Thursday in partnership with Dove.
Boade joins Gotham FC as a free agent after two and a half seasons with Bay FC. She will wear No. 28.
The move brings Boade back to the club that originally drafted her with the 40th overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft. Boade elected to return to Duke University for an additional season of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic before beginning her professional career with the North Carolina Courage in 2022.
“Returning to the club that first drafted me is an exciting full-circle moment,” said Boade. “I’ve long admired Gotham FC for their play style, professionalism and commitment to winning. I’m eager and excited for what the rest of this season will bring.”
“Tess brings NWSL experience and a strong understanding of what it takes to compete in this league,” said Yael Averbuch West, the president of soccer operations for Gotham FC. “We’re happy to welcome her to Gotham and look forward to having her join the group.”
Boade, 27, has made 63 career NWSL regular season appearances, including 48 starts, totaling 4,105 minutes with six goals and five assists. She began her professional career with the Courage in 2022 and was part of the club’s NWSL Challenge Cup-winning teams in both 2022 and 2023.
Boade joined Bay FC as one of the club’s three expansion draft selections ahead of its inaugural 2024 season. She tallied three goals and two assists during her time in the Bay Area, including the assist on the first goal in Bay FC history, the match-winner on March 17, 2024, at Angel City FC. She appeared in two matches for Bay FC this season.
Prior to turning professional, Boade played five seasons at Duke, finishing her career tied for fourth in program history with 93 appearances and tied for eighth with 10 game-winning goals. She earned All-ACC First Team honors as a graduate student in 2021 after recording eight goals and five assists.
Boade represented the United States at the U-17 level and trained with the U.S. at the U-18 and U-19 levels.
