Gotham FC has signed U.S. Women's National Team defender Emily Sonnett to a contract extension that will keep her with the club through the 2028 season, the team announced Thursday. Sonnett, a key player in Gotham's 2023 NWSL championship victory, expressed her excitement to continue with the team.
"I’m really excited to continue with Gotham FC," Sonnett said in a statement. "This is a special group that holds itself to a high standard every day. I’m looking forward to building on what we’ve started here."
The 32-year-old was named to the NWSL Best XI Second Team last season and played an integral role in Gotham winning its first NWSL championship. Her defensive efforts, including a crucial sliding stop in the championship match, were instrumental in the team's success.
Gotham FC is set to face the Kansas City Current in the upcoming Challenge Cup on Friday. Sonnett is in her third season with Gotham, having made eight appearances this season, including five starts. She has appeared in 77 games for Gotham, with 70 starts.
Sonnett has established herself as a key anchor in Gotham's back line. Despite the loss of center-back Tierna Davidson to a season-ending ACL tear in March, the team has maintained one of the league's top defenses, conceding the second fewest goals and recording 11 clean sheets last season.
"Emily has been an essential part of our team’s success," said president of basketball operations Yael Averbuch West. "Her quality, consistency and standard of excellence have been incredibly valuable to our group, and we’re excited to have her continue with Gotham FC."
Beyond her club career, Sonnett is a two-time Olympian and was part of the U.S. Women's National Team that won the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Gotham's title defense began with challenges, as they did not win the FIFA Women's Champions Cup or the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. However, the team has shown recent improvement, winning four of their last five games. They currently hold a 6-3-2 overall record and are tied with the Current and Washington Spirit for sixth place in the league standings with 21 points.
The Challenge Cup game will be a rematch of last year's semifinals, where Gotham secured an upset victory against the Current in Kansas City.