Gotham FC defender Emily Sonnett is set to miss the remainder of the 2026 season.
The 32-year-old underwent surgery earlier this week to repair the ruptured patellar tendon in her left knee.
“I think her surgery was [Tuesday] morning or [Monday],” acting head coach Shaun Harris previously revealed during his Tuesday press conference.
Long Road to Recovery Begins for Sonnett
Sonnett was stretchered off in the 11th minute of last Friday’s 2-2 draw against Portland Thorns FC.
The United States international went down with a non-contact injury in the seventh minute of the match at Providence Park. When Sonnett stepped up to challenge Thorns forward Pietra Tordin, her left knee buckled when she planted her left leg.
Sonnett has played in 13 NWSL matches this season, logging 919 minutes and helped Gotham lift the 2026 NWSL Challenge Cup.
Gotham FC’s president of soccer operations, Yael Averbuch West, expects Sonnett to bounce back strongly from this setback.
“Emily has the full support of everyone at the club, and we will be with her every step of the way throughout her recovery,” Averbuch West said. “She is incredibly resilient, and we know she will return stronger.”
Gotham’s Defensive Depth Stretched Even Thinner
Sonnett’s absence will place a further strain on a Gotham backline that has been beset by injuries throughout 2026.
The Bats currently only have four healthy natural defenders in captain Tierna Davidson, Jess Carter, Mandy Freeman and Bruninha. A right ACL injury forced Kayla Duran to miss the rest of the season.
Wingers Guro Reiten and Midge Purce have played outside back for much of the season.
Though Gotham is tied alongside the Washington Spirit for the fewest goals conceded in the NWSL regular season (12), it’s possible that Averbuch West could look to acquire defensive reinforcements.
The departures of forwards Khyah Harper and Esther González have opened up roster space on Gotham’s roster. Expect the roster to continue to evolve before the 2026 NWSL secondary transfer window closes on Monday, September 7, 2026.
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