In the early moments of Gotham FC’s 2-2 draw against the Portland Thorns on Friday, defender Emily Sonnett, who also plays for the United States women’s national team, was stretchered off due to a non-contact injury to her left knee.
In the seventh minute, while attempting to defend against an opposing player, Sonnett planted her left foot on the artificial turf at Providence Park, leading to her fall. She signaled to the trainers, who assessed her knee before she was taken off the field on a stretcher.
A spokesperson for Gotham FC provided an update, stating, “Emily Sonnett sustained a suspected left knee injury during Friday’s match in Portland and will undergo further evaluation in New Jersey.”
Gotham winger Midge Purce described Sonnett’s injury as “scary,” while fellow forward Sam Kerr remarked it “rattled us a little bit.”
Gotham’s acting head coach, Shaun Harris, commented, “It’s tough to lose one of our top players. Emily is a key organizer on the team, so losing her early in the match has a significant impact.” He emphasized her role as both a leader and a crucial player on the pitch.
Sonnett, a starting center back, is pivotal to Gotham’s strong defense, which has conceded only 10 goals in 15 matches so far this season. She is also one of the USWNT’s most experienced players, boasting 118 caps, including five this year, and is expected to feature in the squad for the 2027 World Cup.
Recently, she signed a new contract with Gotham FC, extending her stay through the 2028 NWSL season.
The match began with Purce scoring just two minutes in, quickly followed by Portland’s Renee Lyles equalizing in the 21st minute, marking her first professional goal. After halftime, Thorns midfielder Jessie Fleming put her team ahead, but Kerr leveled the score for Gotham in the 62nd minute, marking her first goal upon her return to the team, extending her league record to 78 regular-season goals.
Shortly after Kerr’s equalizer, Thorns defender Jayden Perry was shown a red card for a foul on Kerr that denied her a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Despite having a player advantage, Gotham could not clinch the win.
“To be honest, I thought we played poorly today,” Kerr said. “We were fortunate to escape with a draw in the end, but I suppose we should be glad we didn’t concede more.”
In a noteworthy moment, Thorns forward Morgan Weaver made her return from a major knee injury, stepping onto the pitch for the first time in 621 days, since November 2024, after facing complications during her recovery.