Summer recap

The NWSL’s 6-week summer hiatus has nearly come to an end, which means it’s time for us to give you a recap of what Gotham has been up to this summer.

Bats on international duty

Gotham has had 11 players called up to represent their countries during this window. Here’s what each of them got up to.

Jess Carter: Jess Carter had maybe the most eventful summer break so far, having won the UEFA Women’s European Championship on Sunday. Carter played in all 6 matches of the Lionesses’ campaign, having started in 5, and even earned herself an assist in the team’s pre-tournament friendly match against Jamaica. Carter had a very strong showing in the tournament final against Spain, bouncing back after revealing that she had been the target of racist abuse online during the Euros. 

Jess’ best moment: Defending on the endline against two-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati in the dying minutes of extra time without giving up the corner.

Esther González: Esther also spent her summer at the Euros with her national side, and finished the tournament as the top scorer. The NWSL golden boot leader played in all 6 of Spain’s matches this tournament, including their final against England, starting in 5 and scoring 4 goals. 

Esther’s best moment: The finish on her first goal of the tournament in Spain’s opening match against Portugal.

Stella Nyamekye: Nyamekye is also coming home with some hardware—she won a bronze medal at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament with Ghana last Friday. Nyamekye played in 4 of Ghana’s 6 matches, starting in all 3 of the Black Queens’ knockout stage matches and earning a goal and an assist. 

Stella’s best moment: This banger of a goal (that was unfortunately called off due an offside infraction in the buildup).

Ann-Katrin Berger: Berger and Germany made it to the semi-finals of the Euros, but unfortunately were knocked out against Spain in extra time. Berger played in goal for all 5 of Germany’s Euros matches, made 22 saves, allowed 7 goals on 8.0 xG, kept one clean sheet, and won a penalty shootout where she made two saves and even converted one of the penalty kicks.

AKB’s best moment: This extra time save in the quarterfinal against France that kept her team in the game.

Gabi Portilho: Portilho’s journey in the Copa América Femenina continues on Saturday as Brazil face Colombia in the tournament final. Portilho has started in __ of Brazil’s 5 matches, missing only their group stage matchup against Paraguay due to yellow card accumulation. Tune in on Fox Sports to watch Brazil take on Colombia in the Copa América final on Saturday, August 2nd at 5 PM ET.

Gabi’s best moment (so far): Saving the ball from going out of bounds by delivering an excellent almost-assist.

Rose Lavelle: Lavelle started 2 matches and came off the bench in 1 of the USWNT’s most recent slate of friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Canada. She scored 1 goal and bagged 2 assists across the three matches.

Rose’s best moment: Scoring her 25th international goal.

Lilly Reale: Reale made her USWNT debut this summer, starting in 2 matches of the team’s most recent slate of friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Canada and earning her first national team assist.

Lilly’s best moment: Intercepting a pass and turning to deliver a perfect assist in her USWNT debut.

Emily Sonnett: Sonnett started for the USWNT in 2 of their 3 recent friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Canada.

Josefine Hasbo: Hasbo was named to Denmark’s squad for the 2025 Euros. She played in all 3 and started 1 of Denmark’s group stage matches.

Sarah Schupansky: Schupansky was called up to the June/July training camp for the U-23 USWNT.

Mak Whitham: Whitham was called up to the June/July training camp for the U-17 USWNT.

Contract updates

The front office has picked up the pace a little more since we last checked in, but not quite as much as we’d hoped.

Today, Gotham announced that defender Bruninha has agreed to a two-year contract extension that keeps her with the club through the 2027 season. On July 16th, the club announced that center back Tierna Davidson had signed a deal with Gotham FC that restructured her existing three-year contract and extended her through the 2027 season. Then, two days later it was announced that midfielder Taryn Torres had agreed to a similar deal that also restructured her existing three-year contract and extended her through 2027. We’re not exactly sure what this restructuring entails, so the best we can do is hope that it frees up space to sign another defender.

Please. Gotham if you’re reading this, please sign another defender.

Other stuff

Gotham played a closed-door scrimmage on Wednesday, July 23rd, and that is all the details we know about that. The team then closed out the day by ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

Midge Purce and Emily Sonnett went on a side quest to Late Night with Seth Meyers on Thursday, July 24th—if you missed it, you can catch their segment here.

Finally, Midge Purce has posted 10 TikToks and counting this summer with various teammates, keeping the content coming during the break.

Looking ahead to next match

The NWSL returns this Friday, August 1st, and Gotham will be playing the Chicago Stars at 8 PM ET on NWSL+. The Chicago Stars currently sit in 13th in league standings, with 1 win, 3 draws, and 9 losses, but have promising attacking talent in Ludmila and Jameese Joseph. Chicago has had a busy summer, signing defenders Kathrin Hendrich and Samantha Angel and parting ways with interim head coach Masaki Hemmi and putting Ella Masar in charge in his place, so the team looks a little different than the last time the Bats saw them. 

Gotham will be shorthanded in this match, likely missing Esther as she recovers from the Euros, maybe missing first-string goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, and definitely missing forward Gabi Portilho as Brazil’s Copa América campaign doesn’t end until Saturday. Jess Carter’s status is up in the air, as she posted on Instagram, “Gotham has quickly become a family and a team to me that I truly enjoy being part of so coming back to them straight away to prep for our upcoming game was a decision I made myself, which is why I wasn't present at the celebrations back in England.” This could mean that we see her play on Friday, but it’s also still possible that she needs some rest.

If Carter is out, we’ll likely see another Nealy Martin stint at center back, but luckily she’s had a lot more practice in this position since Gotham’s first matchup against the Stars. On the forward line, Ella Stevens is the most likely candidate to step up and play the striker role in Esther’s absence, provided she is injury-free. These absences will make this match a tough one for the Bats, but hopefully they can pull out a win to kick off the back half of the season.

Thumbnail courtesy of Gotham FC.