Gotham FC Extends Emily Sonnett’s Contract
Gotham FC is keeping U.S. Women’s National Team defender Emily Sonnett in the fold for a while longer. The team announced on Thursday that Sonnett has signed a contract extension that will keep her with the club until the 2028 season.
Expressing her enthusiasm, Sonnett stated, “I am truly excited to continue my work with Gotham FC. This is a special group that maintains high standards every day, and I look forward to building on what we have started here.”
It’s not hard to see why the championship-minded Gotham FC would want to secure Sonnett. She earned a spot on last season’s NWSL Best XI Second Team, showcasing her talent and commitment to the game.
The 32-year-old played a vital role in Gotham’s NWSL championship victory last year, notably making an impressive sliding tackle to thwart Lacey Santo’s shot. This season, her solid performance helped the team qualify for this year’s Challenge Cup, with an upcoming match against the reigning NWSL Shield champions, Kansas City Current, in Columbus.
Sonnett is now in her third season with Gotham, making eight appearances so far, five of which were starts.
As a two-time Olympian, she has established herself as a cornerstone in the team’s defense. Even after the injury of fellow center back Tianna Davidson, Sonnett has continued to help Gotham maintain one of the league’s top defenses. The team allowed just 25 goals in 26 games and set a club record by achieving 11 clean sheets.
Yael Apfelbusch-West, President of Basketball Operations, remarked, “Emily has been an integral part of our team’s success. Her standards of quality, consistency, and excellence will be of great value to our group, and we are excited to have her continue at Gotham FC.”
In total, Sonnett has played in 77 games, 70 of them for Gotham, and has been a consistent member of the U.S. Women’s National Team, even finding the back of the net during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games.
Despite a shaky start to their title defense—having been unable to clinch the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup and CONCACAF W Champions Cup—Gotham FC appears to have regained form. They have won four of their last five matches and currently hold a overall record of 6-3-2, tying for sixth place in the league with 21 points alongside the Current and Washington Spirit.
This Friday’s Challenge Cup match will serve as a rematch of last year’s semifinal, where Gotham pulled off a surprise victory against the Current in Kansas City.
