Sam Kerr marked her return to Gotham FC with a victory, playing a role in the team's 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit on Wednesday night at Citi Field. The match was part of the Queens Classic, a regular-season NWSL game held in New York City for the first time.
Kerr entered the match in the 64th minute, making nine touches and registering one shot on goal during her team's win. This appearance signifies her second tenure with Gotham FC, a club that has undergone significant transformation since her last stint. In 2017, Kerr played for Sky Blue FC, the team's previous iteration, whose home games were held at Yurcak Field on the Rutgers campus.
Gotham FC is slated to share a permanent home with NYCFC at Etihad Park, located across from Citi Field, in two years. This move represents Gotham's transition from its New Jersey home to New York City's first soccer-specific stadium. The club now boasts two NWSL championships, a stark contrast to its earlier days.
During her time away from Gotham, Kerr achieved success in two World Cups and one Summer Olympics for Australia. She led the NWSL in all-time scoring until 2024 and continues to hold the regular-season career goals record. Internationally, she remains Australia’s top goal scorer with 73 goals.
Kerr expressed her desire to return to the NWSL, citing her enjoyment of her previous time in the league and a wish for a new challenge following changes at Chelsea. "I think it was really the only league that I saw myself in," Kerr stated.
The NWSL has experienced substantial growth, with attendance figures reaching new heights. The league set a record for opening weekend attendance this season, drawing 129,202 fans, and surpassed 2 million total season attendance for the first time in 2024. High-profile matches have been hosted in large venues, including MLB stadiums, with over 40,000 fans attending a Bay FC vs. Spirit game at Oracle Park last year.
Gotham FC head coach Juan Carlos Amorós highlighted the historical significance of playing at Citi Field. "It’s a day that definitely writing history for women’s soccer and women’s sport in the city of New York City and in the United States," Amorós said.
Kerr reflected on the progression of the league, noting the contrast between playing for Sky Blue FC in front of a few thousand fans and the current environment of sold-out stadiums. "There’s so many people that have done so many amazing things over the last six years while I’ve been gone that have allowed me to come back and live out my American dream," she commented.
Kerr's return is a significant boost for Gotham FC, which had scored 15 goals in 13 games prior to Wednesday's match. She reunites with former Chelsea teammates Jess Carter, Ann-Katrin Berger, and Guro Reiten, aiming to add to her scoring legacy and potentially reclaim her all-time scoring record in a major sports market.