Show notes
David Gass welcomes Gotham FC President Of Soccer Operations Yael Averbuch West to the show! Gotham FC are preparing to face-off against Kansas City Current in the 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup in Columbus, OH on June 26. Yael and David talk about managing the volume of cup competitions to play in, building NWSL rosters in 2026 without the college draft, the function of the HIP Rule, building the necessary infrastructure for the women’s game and the future of the sport as Yael sees fit.Producer’s Note: This interview was recorded on May 27, 2026.00:26 - Preparing for the 2026 Challenge Cup and other title challenges02:31 - Playing in new markets and preparing for incoming expansion teams08:32 - Building rosters without the College Draft11:19 - Learning from the 2024 Season and the “Super Team"14:06 - The Future of Youth Development of the Women’s Game and Academies17:41 - The High Impact Player rule and it’s impact on roster construction21:18 - Personal opinions on future roster construction decisions22:53 - Big picture thoughts on the future of the NWSL and the Women’s Game26:37 - Emotions when players are called into National Teams