Gotham FC will celebrate defender Mandy Freeman’s 10 memorable years at the club following Sunday’s 3 p.m. match against the Houston Dash at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
Head coach Juan Carlos Amorós praised the 31-year-old for her resilient nature, her reliability along the back line and for representing the Gotham organization with pride.
“She’s an example for everyone, not only because of her quality and what she brings on the pitch, but because of who she is off the pitch as well,” Amorós said during Saturday’s press conference. “If there’s someone who really embodies perseverance, grit and determination – the values of this club – it’s her.
“My first year here wasn’t easy for her. She could have gone one of two ways. She could have given up and gone somewhere else, or she could have pushed herself to be the best version of herself. She chose the second option.”
The 5-foot-8 defender captained the Bats to a trophy double in 2025 while first-choice captain Tierna Davidson was sidelined last season due to a left ACL tear. Freeman wore the armband and helped Gotham to spirited victories at the 2025 Concacaf W Champions Cup final over Tigres UANL Women and the 2025 NWSL Championship against the rival Washington Spirit.
“She didn’t play a major role on the field in the 2023 championship season, but in 2025 she was the captain starting in the final. That shows young players that being part of an elite team isn’t easy,” Amorós explained.
“How much you put yourself in the best position comes down to your commitment, effort, attitude and performances. Mandy embodies that. She’s a great human being. For me, it’s about who she is as a player and as a person. She’s an example not only for the younger players, but for senior players and staff as well. It’s a privilege for me to work with her and share these years together at Gotham.”
Freeman Among Gotham Players Pushing for a Return
It’s unclear if Freeman will be involved in Gotham’s matchday squad for Sunday’s meeting against Houston before the NWSL goes on break. Gotham is currently sixth place in the NWSL standings while the Dash are 11th overall. The 3 p.m. Eastern Time match will be broadcast on the ESPN app.
Freeman is one of several players including Rose Lavelle, Bruninha and Ann-Katrin Berger who are pushing to be available for selection.
UPDATE: Freeman (lower leg), Berger (abdomen), Bruninha (hamstring) are listed as out for Sunday’s game. Taryan Torres and Kayla Duran remain on the season-ending injury list due to knee injuries.
“Obviously, there are players who have been injured for a while,” Amorós said. “All of them are working really hard and participating in different parts of training with the group. We’ll have to wait until the last moment to see how everything goes. They’re all working really well. Honestly, we need to wait on a few things. We still need to meet. They’re all starting to look more and more positive.”
Midfielder Taryn Torres who last played for Gotham on September 2, 2025 has been participating in full-speed training drills in the build up to Sunday’s match. Torres suffered a torn left ACL on September 14, 2025 during training.
“Taryn probably still needs a little more time because she’s coming back from an ACL injury, but overall it’s looking good.”
Kitahata on Freeman: ‘Mandy Deserves All The Flowers’
Freeman last played for Gotham on February 1 when the Bats defeated AS FAR in the third place match of the 2026 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. A lower-leg injury has interrupted her 10th season in the league.
The veteran defender has spent her entire career with the Sky Blue FC/Gotham franchise since being selected 10th overall in the 2017 NWSL College Draft. Lately, Freeman has made a positive impact on versatile rookie Andrea Kitahata and other members of Gotham’s 2026 rookie class.
“Mandy deserves all the flowers,” Kitahata stated. “We’ve felt her absence heavily on the field this year and can’t wait to have her back. She’s been such a great mentor and leader for me personally, on and off the field, and she really deserves all of this recognition.
“Ten years is no easy feat, and to do it all with Gotham is incredible. She really lives and breathes this club and has been here through the ups and downs and ebbs and flows. She’s been so true to Gotham from day one. She’s an inspiration to me, and I hope maybe I can make it to 10 years at this club one day. That would be incredible.”
Gotham supporters will have the chance to show their appreciation for Freeman’s contributions to the club in a post-match ceremony following Sunday’s contest.
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