Star Midfielder Rose Lavelle Extends with Gotham FC Through 2029

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Sept. 29, 2026) - Gotham FC has signed world-class midfielder Rose Lavelle to a contract extension through the 2029 NWSL season, the club announced Tuesday in partnership with Dove.

Lavelle, a 2026 Ballon d’Or nominee and the reigning U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, has established herself as a centerpiece of Gotham FC since joining the club prior to the 2024 season. She played a defining role in Gotham FC’s historic 2025 campaign, helping the club capture the NWSL Championship and Concacaf W Champions Cup while earning NWSL Championship MVP honors.

The 31-year-old Lavelle solidified her future with Gotham FC as the team prepares to relocate its home matchdays to the new Etihad Park in Queens, starting with the 2028 season.

“I’m incredibly happy to extend my time with Gotham FC,” said Lavelle. “From the moment I arrived, this club has challenged me to keep growing and has given me the opportunity to compete for championships alongside a great group of players and staff. I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished together, but I feel like there is still so much ahead of us. I’m excited to continue building something special here.”

“Rose is one of the best players in the world, and we’re proud that she has committed her future to Gotham FC,” said Yael Averbuch West, the president of soccer operations for Gotham FC. “She has an extraordinary ability to change games, and we’ve seen her deliver for this club in the biggest moments. Just as importantly, Rose embodies the ambition and competitive standard we want at Gotham FC. We’re thrilled that she will continue to be such an important part of what we’re building.”

Lavelle has continued to make an impact at the heart of Gotham FC’s midfield in 2026, appearing in 22 regular season matches with 20 starts while recording four goals and two assists. Her performances follow a standout 2025 campaign in which she produced five goals and two assists in 16 matches and finished second on the team in scoring.

Her 2025 season culminated in a decisive performance on the NWSL’s biggest stage. Lavelle scored the game-winning goal in the NWSL Championship to secure Gotham FC’s second league title in three seasons and was named NWSL Championship MVP. The goal was her second in an NWSL Championship after previously scoring in the 2023 final with Seattle, making her the fourth player to score for multiple clubs in an NWSL Championship.

Since joining Gotham FC in 2024, Lavelle has appeared in 69 matches across all competitions, including 55 starts, scoring 18 goals and recording five assists. She has scored eight game-winning goals for the club. In NWSL competition, she has made 65 appearances and 55 starts, logging 4,726 minutes with 18 goals and five assists.

Lavelle’s first season with Gotham FC also produced one of the most prolific scoring campaigns of her career. She scored a career-high seven regular season goals in 2024, led Gotham FC with 28 shots on goal and 55 total shots and earned NWSL Best XI of the Month honors in June. She was named to the NWSL Second XI following the season.

One of the most accomplished midfielders of her generation, Lavelle has earned 122 caps for the U.S. Women’s National Team, recording 29 goals and 29 assists. She is a FIFA Women’s World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist, helping the United States win the 2019 World Cup and gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Lavelle scored three goals at the 2019 World Cup and earned the Bronze Ball as the tournament’s third-best player. She also helped the U.S. earn bronze at the Tokyo Olympics and has earned honors including a place on the 2019 FIFA FIFPro World XI and the 2022 Concacaf W Championship Best XI.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NWSL Draft, Lavelle began her professional career with the Boston Breakers before playing for the Washington Spirit and Seattle Reign FC. Her NWSL honors include a 2019 Best XI selection and Second XI selections in 2022 and 2024.

A native of Cincinnati, Lavelle starred collegiately at Wisconsin from 2013-16, starting 61 of 62 matches and recording 19 goals and 14 assists. She was a two-time Big Ten Midfielder of the Year, a four-time First Team All-Big Ten selection and earned First Team All-America honors in 2015.