Denise O'Sullivan celebrates first trophy with Gotham - 'everything filtered through her'

O'Sullivan's performance on NWSL 'Decision Day'  was lauded in the USA media 

MIDFIELD MAESTRO: Jameese Joseph of the Utah Royals takes on Denise O'Sullivan of Gotham FC at Sports Illustrated Stadium on November 1, 2026 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Vincent Carchietta/Getty Images)

Denise O'Sullivan has celebrated her first trophy with New York club Gotham FC - having joined on loan from Liverpool in July.

Gotham FC claimed the NWSL Shield on Sunday - the prize for the best regular-season record. They overcame Utah Royals 2-0 on the NWSL's 'Decision Day', with O'Sullivan excelling in her customary midfield role. 

Gotham, with an overall 18-5-7 record, are now top seed for the NWSL playoffs - giving them home advantage all the way to  a possible final. They first face No. 8 seed Seattle Reign next Sunday in the quarter-final.

Triumphing once again in the playoffs would make current champs Gotham the first back-to-back NWSL champions since O'Sullivan's North Carolina in 2018 and 2019. It would also make them the NWSL's first-domestic treble winners, having won the Challenge Cup and the Shield.

Former Chelsea Norwegian star Guro Reiten and USA youngster Jaedyn Shaw scored for Gotham, with Ann-Katrin Berger making two crucial saves for her 11th clean sheet of the season.

O'Sullivan's performance was lauded in the USA media, with The Sporting News reporting: "Midseason acquisition Denise O'Sullivan and substitute Savannah McCaskill were excellent in the engine room, with McCaskill coming on to replace an injured Jaelin Howell midway through the first half."

"O'Sullivan was brilliant in midfield both on and off the ball, as everything seemed to filter through her in possession."

The Irishwoman, who joined Gotham midway through the campaign, afterwards posted on X.

"League Champions. Truly deserved for an incredible group of people from top to bottom."

League Champions 🏆🤑 Truly deserved for an incredible group of people from top to bottom. pic.twitter.com/K6IxZNvdYe

— Denise O'Sullivan (@OSullivanDenise) November 2, 2026

It's a star-studded Gotham lineup, also featuring US superstars Tierna Davidson and Rose Lavelle, ex-Chelsea Australian Sam Kerr, as well as England regular Jess Carter.

Last month, O'Sullivan told the Irish Examiner's John Fallon: “The calibre of players on the team is world class. It’s a challenge, I can’t get complacent there, the spots are up for grabs.

“It’s really good, a great environment to be part of and, of course, living in New York as well is a big bonus."

O'Sullivan has already won two NWSL championships, three NWSL Shields and two NWSL Challenge Cups during her time with North Carolina Courage.

But speaking before the game with New York publication South Ward Central, she insisted her hunger for success hasn't dimmed in the slightest. 

“I think I bring the high standards every day to training and I want to push myself and I want to push the players around me.

“We are in a really good position as a team. But I think this league is so competitive that you can’t stop and you don’t want to stop improving.

“Leadership is about sharing that responsibility

“I think those are the best leaders when they give other players responsibility, too. I feel like I have that here. I have a voice, which is really important, and I’m able to lead.

“But for me, I’ve always been a lead-by-example kind of leader. I think I can do that here with Gotham as well. It’s just pushing the standards every day and learning as well from Tierna, from Jess. 

"They’re absolutely great leaders, and I can take some advice from them too. It’s just great to be around world-class players.”

With Associated Press