Gotham’s players (at least some of them) lined up to receive their shiny new championship rings.
There were smiles, hugs, pictures and cheers from the home crowd.
However, that was last year’s team.
This year’s team is still figuring that out.
On Sunday night, work in progress on Gotham’s much-changed All-Star roster led to a 1-1 loss to the Kansas City Current in front of 8,573 fans in the team’s regular season opener at Red Bull Arena. It was a draw.
“If I were any team, I would look at our roster and say, ‘Oh my God, that’s scary,'” Gotham forward Lynn Williams said. “I think it will take us a little bit of time to get mixed up and find our way. With three games left…four points. [at 1-1-1]. It’s not terrible. ”
The game changed after halftime, with Crystal Dunn and Jenna Neiswonger brought on as substitutes, and Williams, who had been sidelined with a thigh injury, brought on to make her season debut.
“They’re probably the best in the league,” Kansas City coach Vlatko Andonovski said before the game. “They have one of the best players, [international-caliber players] In some places, if not in all places. This makes them very formidable opponents. ”
Esther González tied the score in the 51st minute with a beautiful header from a corner kick by Yazmeen Ryan.
Kansas City, who were at a perfect 3-0-0 with 11 total goals, took the lead in the 17th minute.
Temwa Chawinga hit something like a video game’s turbo button, zipping past five Gotham players and an otherwise undisturbed Kathy Miller.
“We played a little bit better in the second half, and I think that gave us a glimpse of what kind of team this team is. It’s a tough team for us to beat,” Dunn said.
Then, about five months after the fact of winning the trophy, the stage was brought out and the ring celebration began.
Ali Krieger, last season’s team captain, was the evening’s unofficial host and was welcomed accordingly.
Other members of the 2023 team were also there in street clothes.
Two high-profile free agent acquisitions in the offseason, Dunn and Teanna Davidson, have disappeared from the field.
Fellow newcomers Rose Lovell, Emily Sonnett, Sam Hyatt and newcomer Macy Bell watched from afar.
“This is for the girls who won last year, which is great,” Dunn said. “And you know, I’ve had success so far, won four championships, and I feel good about who I am and what I’ve accomplished. I feel like this is a moment to celebrate and feel connected to the group that won last year.”
And now they’re reminding those with new jewelry on their fingers and their bright additions, who have been given the chance to make even more history, of their 2024 goals.
“I’ve been playing this game long enough to know that sometimes at the beginning of the season you don’t really know the full picture of what’s about to blossom,” Dunn said.
