Yael Averbuch West has never been particularly interested in standing still. As a player, entrepreneur and now one of the most influential executives in women’s soccer, she has built a career around the belief that there is always another level to reach.Now, Averbuch West is taking on an even bigger title at Gotham FC. The club has promoted its general manager and head of soccer operations to president of soccer operations, a move that reflects her central role in building one of the NWSL’s most ambitious and successful organizations. The move recognizes Averbuch West’s influence over virtually every aspect of Gotham’s sporting operation, from roster construction and player recruitment to long-term strategic planning.The title may be new, but the mission remains unchanged: building Gotham into a global women’s soccer powerhouse, on and off the field. “Ultimately, my responsibility remains very much the same,” Averbuch West told The Athletic. “As we progress as a club, I will continue to carry a large responsibility to push forward the overall club strategy and to represent our club in a number of capacities.”The promotion comes at a pivotal moment for both Gotham and the NWSL.The club is building a state-of-the-art training facility, exploring a future move into New York City FC’s Etihad Park in Queens, and positioning itself as one of the league’s premier destinations for elite talent. When she took the helm at Gotham FC in 2021, Averbuch West became the first former U.S. Women’s National Team player to be named general manager of an NWSL club. Since then, she has built a reputation as one of the best general managers in the league after leading Gotham to a championship in 2023, 2025 and the Concacaf W Champions Cup (2024–25) title.Gotham FC players pose for a team photo with the trophy and the Key to the City at City Hall during the NWSL 2025 Champions Parade (Ira L. Black/Getty Images)For Averbuch West, who retired as a player in 2017 before launching the technical training platform Techne Football, the rise of women’s soccer has already exceeded what she imagined possible during her own playing career. “At a certain point in my playing career, I accepted that this is what women’s soccer looks like,” she said. “This is the type of stadium you might play in, this is the type of training environment. We’ve flown past that. Not just as a club, not just as a league, but the world of women’s soccer.”