Gotham FC's summer international break recap: gearing up for tournaments

The NWSL is in the middle of the summer break, but NJ/NY Gotham FC players remained busy with national team duty. Six were named to rosters for this summer's three international tournaments and are continuing to play or will play. These tournaments include the UEFA Women's Euro 2025, the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, and the 2025 Copa América Femenina.

Emily Sonnett, Lilly Reale, and the returning Rose Lavelle were named to the USWNT roster for friendlies against Ireland and Canada. Sarah Schupansky was named to the U-23 USWNT for a training camp in Colorado, and Mak Whitham was named to the U-17 USWNT for a pair of friendlies against Japan.

Then, six players were named to tournament rosters, four of which are for the Euros. Esther González was called up to represent Spain, Jess Carter for England, Ann-Katrin Berger for Germany, and Josefine Hasbo for Denmark. In addition, Stella Nyamekye is representing Ghana in AFCON, and Gabi Portilho is playing for Brazil in the Copa América.

While this season has not gone as well as their record-breaking 2024, having this many players named to international rosters is an obvious sign of the quality up and down the Gotham squad.

Gotham FC and the international break

Emily Sonnett: USWNT

Of the three matches the USWNT played in this window, Sonnett started and played the full 90 minutes in two of them. In the first of two 4-0 wins over Ireland, the player helped keep a clean sheet and completed 94% of her passes. And in the 3-0 win over Canada, she again helped keep a clean sheet and completed 97% of her passes.

Rose Lavelle: USWNT

It was an emphatic return to the USWNT for Lavelle, who played her first international matches since December 2024. Starting the first game against Ireland, Lavelle managed a goal and an assist in just 59 minutes of action. She then enjoyed a short three-minute cameo in the second 4-0 win over Ireland thanks to a little bit of persuasion from her home crowd in Cincinnati toward Head Coach Emma Hayes. She then started and assisted in the win against Canada in 68 minutes of action. After only just recently coming back from offseason surgery for Gotham FC, being able to get these minutes for the USWNT can only help Lavelle get back to full fitness.

Lilly Reale: USWNT

Reale's stellar rookie season for the Gotham defender has been rewarded with her first senior call-up and first two caps. She was handed her debut in the first of two friendlies against Ireland, where she played the full 90 minutes and managed an assist on the team's fourth goal. She then started and played the full 90 minutes against Canada as well.

Sarah Schupansky: USWNT U-23

The U-23s only had a training camp this window, the first four days of which were held alongside the senior national team. As such, Schupansky did not play a match.

Mak Whitham: USWNT U-17

Whitham came on as a halftime substitute in the first of two matches against Japan, which the U-17 team lost 3-0. The second game was played behind closed doors, so how that match went was not released to the public.

Jess Carter: England

In the lead-up to the Euros, a number of teams played friendlies to help prepare. England played Jamaica at home, where the Lionesses managed a 7-0 victory. Carter played the full 90 minutes at left-back, where she managed a clean sheet, an assist, an 89% pass accuracy, a key pass, and a big chance created.

Esther González: Spain

Spain hosted Japan for a Euros prep-match, where they came out on top 3-1. González came on at halftime and had a very quiet game, managing just 12 touches and one shot.

Gabi Portilho: Brazil

Portilho, who has missed multiple games for Gotham FC, was an unused substitute in Brazil's friendly against France. Her team lost 3-2.

Stella Nyamekye: Ghana

Ghana played two friendlies from the time Nyamekye was called up for Ghana: a 4-2 win over Benin and a 3-1 loss to Nigeria. Nyamake was on the bench for both games. Since the match was not available, it is unknown whether she played.

Note that Germany and Denmark did not play a friendly prior to the Euros.