Republic of Ireland international Denise O’Sullivan has claimed her fourth National Women’s Soccer League Shield, and first with Gotham FC, after the New York-based side topped the league on Sunday.
Gotham just needed a draw to secure enough points to win the title but went one better and defeated Utah Royals 2-0. Former Chelsea ace Guro Reiten kicked off the scoring with United States international Jaedyn Shaw getting their second late in the second half.
“League champions. Truly deserved for an incredible group of people from top to bottom,” O’Sullivan said on social media.
O’Sullivan started the game and played all 90 minutes. Her performance was pivotal to their success with much of the play flowing through her and Savannah McCaskill in midfield.
She previously won three league titles with North Carolina Courage who she played with for nine seasons.
Gotham will now enter the post-season where they will face Seattle Reign in the NWSL Championship quarter-finals. This is the first Shield that Gotham have won but they have secured two of the past three Championships.
If Gotham retain the Shield, they will be first side to go back-to-back since O’Sullivan’s North Carolina Courage did so in 2018 and 2019.
O’Sullivan joined Gotham in July on a one-year loan from Liverpool.
The Irish midfielder subsequently talked about how she had struggled with the move to the Women’s Super League permanently (she had previously had loan spells during the off-season) and how supportive Liverpool were in helping her return to the NWSL where she has spent the majority of her career.
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